Lou Bertignac has an IQ of 160 and a good friend called Lucas who gets her through the school day. At home her father cries in secret and her mother hasn't been out of their flat properly for years.
The Lou meets and becomes friends with No, a teenage girl living on the streets, and asks her parents if No can come to live with them. No's sudden presence within Lou's fractured family has an explosive force which will change the lives of Lou- and her parents- forever.
I really wasn't sure what to make of this book when I received it but I am pleased that I read it as I think it is great and extremely thought provoking. The book has been translated from the original French and is actually set in the city of Paris.Lou's relationship with No starts out as a school project but eventually their relationship seeps into every part of her life. Lou is different, she is only 13 years old but her IQ has placed her two years ahead and therefore surrounded by people older than her. No is 18 years old but Lou and her have an extremely strong connection, strong enough for Lou to ask her parents if No can come and live with them rather than sleeping on the streets.
Delphine de Vigan explores the huge difficulty that homeless people have in integrating into society again and just how desperate and frustrating their situations can be.
At first I felt that Lou simply wanted to help No but as the book progresses I started to see that Lou perhaps sees No as the answer to some of her problems especially those surrounding her parents.
No and Me is a very powerful book and I think that it is perfect for young adult readers as it raises so many questions. I would highly recommend this book, it would be great for a book group or for the starting point of exploring homelessness with young people.
This book was published yesterday by Bloomsbury.
