Pieces of Me tells the story of Maddie, a teenaged girl who runs away from home to escape her mother’s abusive boyfriend. After managing on her own for a few weeks, she forms a bond with Q, a homeless boy who offers companionship and a measure of safety, no strings attached. Despite the obvious challenges presented by their situation, things go quite well for the pair, until they become responsible for Dylan, a six-year-old child abandoned by his family. 

New Brunswick author Darlene Ryan tackles some serious issues – including homelessness, abuse, and child abandonment – in her latest book for young readers, but much of the story focuses on Maddie’s struggle to survive the streets and pursue her dream of going back to school. Rather than sliding into an abyss of drugs, promiscuity, and thievery, she sticks to her principles and finds creative ways to survive.

Unfortunately, for much of the first half of the novel, Maddie’s high level of morality rings false. There are only a couple of occasions when she appears less than saintly, such as when she loses her patience with Dylan’s whining, and when she decides to sleep with Q, who professes his love for her after only a week together.

Maddie becomes more believable as she begins to make tough decisions for the good of those who have come to depend on her. When serious conflict arises with Q, she blossoms into a much stronger character. However, Maddie pales in comparison with tough female protagonists presented by authors such as Deborah Ellis or Suzanne Collins.

Ryan’s simple prose and interesting storyline should attract readers (especially reluctant ones), but laboured dialogue and one-dimensional characters may undermine the appeal.