Fiction of the Week for July 13: Pieces of Me (Part 2)
Continuing from our conversation on Monday with Susan Ouriou, translator of Charlotte Gingras' Pieces of Me…
Elsa (E): What other books have you translated?
Susan (S): I love translating literature for young adults, in large part due to my many fond memories of reading as a child and teen myself. What's more, Quebec has some fabulous authors right now who are not afraid to broach "taboo" topics and who do so using the language of today's youth, which makes translating their work pure pleasure. Some of the other teen books I have translated are Marie-Francine Hébert's This side of the Sky (IBBY Honour List), Carole Fréchette's In the Key of Do and Carmen, and Michèle Marineau's The Road to Chlifa. I also translate books for children and adults and write fiction for adults (although a short story of mine for adults that just won a fiction award was originally intended for children.)
E: Do you have an all-time favourite book as a teen?
S: My all-time favourite teen book is Love Ya Like a Sister written by my 16-year-old daughter Katie Ouriou. It also happens to be a book I'm not sure I'll ever be able to read again because it is so much Katie and reading it is like losing her all over again. The book is actually a collection of emails, edited by Julie Johnson of Tundra books, that Katie wrote to her best friends in Calgary as we started out on what was to be a year's sabbatical in France. Katie's voice is funny and wise and caring, and her love for her friends seems to extend to us all. What she has to say is made all the more precious by the fact that her life was cut short by a rare and sudden form of leukemia only three months after we moved to France. Judging by the emails we have received over the years since publication, countless other people have been touched by her words, and so the book is one of the many gifts she has left us.
Elsa is a librarian at Toronto Public Library. She reads a lot of Canadian Young Adult fiction.
112 thoughts on “Fiction of the Week for July 13: Pieces of Me (Part 2)”
Omg! Suside Notes looks soo interesting. I can’t to read it!
Omg! Suside Notes looks soo interesting. I can’t to read it!
And Pieces of me was such a fantasic book. I loved it.
And Pieces of me was such a fantasic book. I loved it.
I want to read Suside Notes too, it sounds interesting.
I want to read Suside Notes too, it sounds interesting.
i wanna read suside note…
i wanna read suside note…
OMG! I finally got my hands on “Idental”. My friend told me it was great book.
OMG! I finally got my hands on “Idental”. My friend told me it was great book.
Btw, Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell, is such a great book. The title is misleading that’s about history, but it was written long after 1984, about what people thought the present would be like. It’s soo cool. (and a little confusing at fisrt)
Btw, Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell, is such a great book. The title is misleading that’s about history, but it was written long after 1984, about what people thought the present would be like. It’s soo cool. (and a little confusing at fisrt)
A Wrinkle in Time, is such a great book. I just finished reading it like two days ago. And it’s awesome! Try it!
A Wrinkle in Time, is such a great book. I just finished reading it like two days ago. And it’s awesome! Try it!
I remember reading “The Giver” a few years ago for school, and I want to read it again. It’s such a great book.
I remember reading “The Giver” a few years ago for school, and I want to read it again. It’s such a great book.
Life of Pi is another great book you guys can’try.
Life of Pi is another great book you guys can’try.
Brave new world is such a great book. I almost done reading it, and it’s awesome.
Brave new world is such a great book. I almost done reading it, and it’s awesome.
I was just looking through the chapters website, and I found out that ” Into The Wild” is a great book. Try it.
I was just looking through the chapters website, and I found out that ” Into The Wild” is a great book. Try it.
woot woot! I can’t wait to read it! i put a hold on it and it JUST came!
woot woot! I can’t wait to read it! i put a hold on it and it JUST came!
OMG… I CAN’T WAIT…. I AM DYING TO READ ABOUT IT… it sounds great
OMG… I CAN’T WAIT…. I AM DYING TO READ ABOUT IT… it sounds great
Also take a look at other translated books by Susan Ouriou. You may want to give them a try as well.
Also take a look at other translated books by Susan Ouriou. You may want to give them a try as well.
wow….Love ya like a sister definitely sounds like a touching book!
it might be a bit sad but i think i’ll read it because there’s always so much to learn from books like these and by the time i finish reading sad books, i end up being grateful for all the things that i have and being content and not unhappy and complaining about life!
wow….Love ya like a sister definitely sounds like a touching book!
it might be a bit sad but i think i’ll read it because there’s always so much to learn from books like these and by the time i finish reading sad books, i end up being grateful for all the things that i have and being content and not unhappy and complaining about life!
ohhh and if anyone’s interested, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold is a really good book! It’s so touching and it gets a bit sad in some parts but then the author has used humor in other parts too, so its really good 😀
and The Pearl by John Steinbeck is another short and awesome story that you can really learn alot from while enjoying the story!
ohhh and if anyone’s interested, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold is a really good book! It’s so touching and it gets a bit sad in some parts but then the author has used humor in other parts too, so its really good 😀
and The Pearl by John Steinbeck is another short and awesome story that you can really learn alot from while enjoying the story!
Lola, I have read Love Ya Like a Sister and I must say that it’s a very touching book. And you’re absolutely right about being grateful for all the things we have. The book is also about the value of friendship.
Lola, I have read Love Ya Like a Sister and I must say that it’s a very touching book. And you’re absolutely right about being grateful for all the things we have. The book is also about the value of friendship.
try ‘I cross my heart and hope to spy’ by Ally Carter. Awesome x2 🙂
try ‘I cross my heart and hope to spy’ by Ally Carter. Awesome x2 🙂
“I Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy”?!? That sounds hilarious!
“I Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy”?!? That sounds hilarious!
hey I read this awesome book and it is amazing to and you should read it every day and i would get really interesting
hey I read this awesome book and it is amazing to and you should read it every day and i would get really interesting
I so want to read it!!
I so want to read it!!
Thanks for another awesome book suggestion, Word Out!
To return the favour, I’d like to recommand “The Adoration of Jenna Fox”. It’s such a cool book! It’s about a girl named Jenna who loses 90% of her body and organs after a car accident. She undergoes a coma for a year, and one day she wakes up and finds that she has no memories of her past. Jenna later finds out that she’s actually a synthetic creation constructed with over five billion neurochips and only has 10% of her original brain left during a time where biotechnological advances are illegal. She struggles with accepting her new self and trying to remember the past.
Thanks for another awesome book suggestion, Word Out!
To return the favour, I’d like to recommand “The Adoration of Jenna Fox”. It’s such a cool book! It’s about a girl named Jenna who loses 90% of her body and organs after a car accident. She undergoes a coma for a year, and one day she wakes up and finds that she has no memories of her past. Jenna later finds out that she’s actually a synthetic creation constructed with over five billion neurochips and only has 10% of her original brain left during a time where biotechnological advances are illegal. She struggles with accepting her new self and trying to remember the past.
Wow! The Adoration of Jenna Fox sounds amazing! I read the Lovely bones by Aice Sebold and i can’t wait for the movie to come out(hope they don’t mess it up!). I also read Cross my Heart and Hope to spy and i really liked it! Did u know that there is a sequel called Don’t Judge a girl by her cover! I can’t wait to read it! I read the book that comes before it “I’d tell you I love you but then i’d have to kill you.” It was hilarious! This book is funny and at the same time serious! If you like spies, you really should read this book.
Wow! The Adoration of Jenna Fox sounds amazing! I read the Lovely bones by Aice Sebold and i can’t wait for the movie to come out(hope they don’t mess it up!). I also read Cross my Heart and Hope to spy and i really liked it! Did u know that there is a sequel called Don’t Judge a girl by her cover! I can’t wait to read it! I read the book that comes before it “I’d tell you I love you but then i’d have to kill you.” It was hilarious! This book is funny and at the same time serious! If you like spies, you really should read this book.
I read the book Pieces of me by Charlotte Gingras,and I loved it. It ususally takes me more than a week or so to read a book, because I always have a hard time finding a book that I really like, and I could not stop reading this book it’s really goood because it shows how damaged mira was, and most of the problems that she had to go through were realistic,specially the porblem with her dad and mom. She reminded me a lot of one of my friends, it was actually pretty scary…
I read the book Pieces of me by Charlotte Gingras,and I loved it. It ususally takes me more than a week or so to read a book, because I always have a hard time finding a book that I really like, and I could not stop reading this book it’s really goood because it shows how damaged mira was, and most of the problems that she had to go through were realistic,specially the porblem with her dad and mom. She reminded me a lot of one of my friends, it was actually pretty scary…
Pieces of me is an awesome book. I love it!
Pieces of me is an awesome book. I love it!
I started to read 1984 by George Orwell, and it’s okay too. Many people love it soo much, i guess it’s an ok book. Hope the ending is good.
I started to read 1984 by George Orwell, and it’s okay too. Many people love it soo much, i guess it’s an ok book. Hope the ending is good.
sounds like a good book i don’t usally read fiction but i`d love to give it a try
sounds like a good book i don’t usally read fiction but i`d love to give it a try
Hey Ruby! I had to read 1984 for school – though its a bit tedious, I liked the storyline. Have you read A Clockwork Orange? They seems similar in themes.
Hey Ruby! I had to read 1984 for school – though its a bit tedious, I liked the storyline. Have you read A Clockwork Orange? They seems similar in themes.
i heard about 1984 from a friend of mine when we had to choose a book for an important project. The plot that she told me was really amazing and i cant wait to get ahold of it. I also have read the Clockwork Orange and i agree with what Sarah who said that they both share common themes.
i heard about 1984 from a friend of mine when we had to choose a book for an important project. The plot that she told me was really amazing and i cant wait to get ahold of it. I also have read the Clockwork Orange and i agree with what Sarah who said that they both share common themes.
OMG… I can’t wait to get my hands on the book. It is taking forever to come to the library. Putting it on hold is the only way to picking up the book and getting a chance to read it. I hope I get many memories from the book about anyone. I love memories. Too many good ones!
OMG… I can’t wait to get my hands on the book. It is taking forever to come to the library. Putting it on hold is the only way to picking up the book and getting a chance to read it. I hope I get many memories from the book about anyone. I love memories. Too many good ones!
looking forward to read this book!!! (i’m prabally the last one to put it on hold cause everyone already had a hold of it…:P)
looking forward to read this book!!! (i’m prabally the last one to put it on hold cause everyone already had a hold of it…:P)
Hey has anyone read the Private novels…there by Kate Brian. The books are really good. It just seems 2 get more intense for Reed. I can’t wait for the next book Suspicion. U guys should really check it out!!! 😀
Hey has anyone read the Private novels…there by Kate Brian. The books are really good. It just seems 2 get more intense for Reed. I can’t wait for the next book Suspicion. U guys should really check it out!!! 😀
Pieces of me is such a great book, I wanna read it again.
Pieces of me is such a great book, I wanna read it again.
I read “Identical” half way through and it is an awesome book. It is written in the form of poetry, but u really understand whats happening. It’s real good. It’s about these two twins.
I read “Identical” half way through and it is an awesome book. It is written in the form of poetry, but u really understand whats happening. It’s real good. It’s about these two twins.
Pieces of me was so great, I wanna read more books by the same writer. I’m gonna put a few holds.
Pieces of me was so great, I wanna read more books by the same writer. I’m gonna put a few holds.
I am trying to finish Harry Potter and the OOTP and I’m quite slow at it. So for the next few weeks, or how long it takes me to read it, it will be the book I read for the Reading Club 🙂 I’m so lazy. Lol. Oh I have a question… where do I enter the code things from the back of the bookmarks?
I am trying to finish Harry Potter and the OOTP and I’m quite slow at it. So for the next few weeks, or how long it takes me to read it, it will be the book I read for the Reading Club 🙂 I’m so lazy. Lol. Oh I have a question… where do I enter the code things from the back of the bookmarks?
I am trying to finish Harry Potter and the OOTP and I’m quite slow at it. So for the next few weeks, or how long it takes me to read it, it will be the book I read for the Reading Club 🙂 I’m so lazy. Lol. Oh I have a question… where do I enter the code things from the back of the bookmarks?
I am trying to finish Harry Potter and the OOTP and I’m quite slow at it. So for the next few weeks, or how long it takes me to read it, it will be the book I read for the Reading Club 🙂 I’m so lazy. Lol. Oh I have a question… where do I enter the code things from the back of the bookmarks?
Pieces of me sounds interesting, I am trying to get my hands on this one. Since I’ve been busy with some other things I wasn’t able to read for the past week. I am going to start on this book: “The last Gospel”.
Pieces of me sounds interesting, I am trying to get my hands on this one. Since I’ve been busy with some other things I wasn’t able to read for the past week. I am going to start on this book: “The last Gospel”.
i can’t wait!!
i can’t wait!!
I loved this book really much!
I loved this book really much!
Actually, the book by Michele Marineau is The Road to Chlifa and she also has another one I translated called Lean Mean Machines. But if you ask for The Road to Machines, you’ll be out of luck!:)
Actually, the book by Michele Marineau is The Road to Chlifa and she also has another one I translated called Lean Mean Machines. But if you ask for The Road to Machines, you’ll be out of luck!:)
The Adoration of Jenna Fox sounds very interesting and Cross my heart and spy thingy sounds good too.I put a hold on Pieces of Me, but it might take a while…
The Adoration of Jenna Fox sounds very interesting and Cross my heart and spy thingy sounds good too.I put a hold on Pieces of Me, but it might take a while…
Like other i’ve just finished reading a book called ‘Invisible’ by Pete Hautman. It is a thrilling book although it is also sad.
This is just a little summary of it…
Lots of people think Dough Hanson is a freak-he gets beat up after school, and the girl he loves calls him a Worm. His best friend is Andy Morrow; popular football star who could date any girl in school. As Dough retreats deeper and deeper into his own reality, long-buried secrets threaten to destroy both Dough and Andy and everything else in Dough’s world…..
i highy recommed it …
Like other i’ve just finished reading a book called ‘Invisible’ by Pete Hautman. It is a thrilling book although it is also sad.
This is just a little summary of it…
Lots of people think Dough Hanson is a freak-he gets beat up after school, and the girl he loves calls him a Worm. His best friend is Andy Morrow; popular football star who could date any girl in school. As Dough retreats deeper and deeper into his own reality, long-buried secrets threaten to destroy both Dough and Andy and everything else in Dough’s world…..
i highy recommed it …
I’ve read pieces of me and it was wonderful, i was able to finish it quickly and was really intrested in the plot of the story and seeing how the girl is strugglin to come out of her shell that was made by her mother and herself. truly soemthign to read tog et you thinking about people
I’ve read pieces of me and it was wonderful, i was able to finish it quickly and was really intrested in the plot of the story and seeing how the girl is strugglin to come out of her shell that was made by her mother and herself. truly soemthign to read tog et you thinking about people
Defintely a book moost teen girls should check out especially the more shy ones
Defintely a book moost teen girls should check out especially the more shy ones
I read Pieces of Me and I thought it was sad that she didn’t have a friend at the beginning but when i continued to read i began to like it alot that she found a friend who understands her!!!
I read Pieces of Me and I thought it was sad that she didn’t have a friend at the beginning but when i continued to read i began to like it alot that she found a friend who understands her!!!
i started reading pieces of me and i finished it in one day its a great book
i started reading pieces of me and i finished it in one day its a great book
I read the book Bang by Norah Mc clintock and it was such a great book it was about two teenage wich a guy and the one who really killed the person blame all the things on his friend !!!
Is a really great book you should try it
I read the book Bang by Norah Mc clintock and it was such a great book it was about two teenage wich a guy and the one who really killed the person blame all the things on his friend !!!
Is a really great book you should try it
sorry i meant wich killed the guy
sorry i meant wich killed the guy
I read the book dawn by Norah mc clintock is a great book about bunch of teenagers you should really read it is awsome
I read the book dawn by Norah mc clintock is a great book about bunch of teenagers you should really read it is awsome
I love this tittle too!
I love this tittle too!
I really did think this book was pretty good. though in the begining it was odd because i wasn’t used to the writing style i grew to like it and found it becoming more and more interesting than i would have preveously thought
I really did think this book was pretty good. though in the begining it was odd because i wasn’t used to the writing style i grew to like it and found it becoming more and more interesting than i would have preveously thought
I havn’t had the chance to read this but everyone is saying it’s really good so i think i’ll just have to try and read it for myself before i can every truly know
I havn’t had the chance to read this but everyone is saying it’s really good so i think i’ll just have to try and read it for myself before i can every truly know
And the title is captivating definitely what first drew my interest
And the title is captivating definitely what first drew my interest
I agree as well i think the main two reason i first noticed this book was because of the intersting title. and the title page. it could have meant so much so ya a title chosen very well
I agree as well i think the main two reason i first noticed this book was because of the intersting title. and the title page. it could have meant so much so ya a title chosen very well
I’m happy Pieces of me is getting this kind of positive notice it was a decent book and should be read more for the moral of the story though but nontheless it should be read
I’m happy Pieces of me is getting this kind of positive notice it was a decent book and should be read more for the moral of the story though but nontheless it should be read