Pieces is a powerful and heartfelt contemporary novel that explores how a family learns to hold itself together when everything falls apart. When sisters Hannah and Noreen return from track practice and daily routines to find their father home from a medical mission in Syria, they realise nothing about their lives will ever be the same. Haunted by his experiences and struggling with PTSD, their father’s emotional wounds ripple through the family, forcing each member to confront fear, grief, and uncertainty.
Afshan Malik crafts an honest and moving story about resilience, identity, and the bonds that both strain and strengthen us. Through vivid characters navigating school pressures, fractured friendships, and personal challenges, Pieces offers both hope and insight into healing from trauma. It’s a novel that stays with you — emotional, authentic, and deeply human.
Perfect for lovers of character-driven YA fiction, book club selections, or readers seeking a compassionate and compelling coming-of-age story.
Reviews:
"This book was fantastic to read! Even though this is a young adult fiction book, I enjoyed reading it as an adult. It is fast-paced and the characters are multifaceted. I found myself relating to more than one character in the story. It is a great coming-of-age story that talks about real challenges that families face in an honest and charming way. I recommend it to anyone!" - Duna S.
"I love YA (young adult) books with substance! That’s what you’ll find in Pieces. Hannah is struggling with her Dad’s PTSD, who has come home from a service trip serving Syrian refugees. Not only that, he lost some team members during an attack. The entire family is facing a new normal, finding ways to help the Dad and move on with their lives. Lots of feelings and some tearful moments but you see the resilience of the human spirit come through. I loved Hannah and her family! And hope Afshan Malik comes up with a Part II, because I am not done reading about them!" - Khadija
"SO GOOD!!! Literally sped through it! The descriptions are stunning and I loved the stylistic choice in portraying PTSD when the writing was from Adam's perspective. I loved the plot development for each of the sisters and felt the whole book, the ending especially, was perfect. The interplay with religion, culture, mental health, and character dynamics was fantastic! The author does not waste words and delivers a poetic and impactful story. This is a must-read." - Patricia
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Author: Afshan Malik
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780999299012
Dimensions: 14 x 22 x 1cm
