We Come Apart

Jess is one of the tough girls at school: her gang are all about appearances, and Jess works hard to make it look like she doesn’t care about anything.

Nicu has just arrived in England from Romania. He’s come with his dad to find work and raise enough money for him to find a wife back home, but that isn’t really what he wants.

When they meet, picking litter for community service, Nicu chips away at Jess’ carefully managed exterior and shows her that it’s possible to trust – and love - someone. But Jess and Nicu are the victims of other people’s prejudices and desires. Will love be enough to save them both?

Being written in free verse means that this dual narrative story goes straight to the heart of Jess and Nicu’s friendship, exploring their feelings with immediacy and heart. Both are dealing with difficult circumstances, and readers will be rooting for their star-crossed romance from the beginning. Domestic abuse does feature in Jess’s story but is handled honestly and conscientiously.

Winner of the UKLA Book Award in 2018: 12-16 category.