Title: A Thousand Broken Pieces
Author: Tillie Cole
Publication: July 23, 2024
Publisher: Bloom Books
Genre: Teens, YA Fiction
Pages: 336

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SYNOPSIS: (From Goodreads)

After losing her beloved sister three years ago, Savanna Litchfield has been living half a life. When Savannah’s therapist suggests joining a trip around the world for grieving teens she agrees to go clutching tightly to the unread journal her sister left behind. 

Seventeen-year-old Cael Woods is angry. One year after losing his older brother his life has spiraled. Once the most promising hockey player in the junior league, Cael can no longer step onto the ice. When his parents sign him up for a trip abroad no part of him wants to go. 

As Cael and Savannah embark on a journey they begin to find solace in each other. As they start to heal piece by broken piece, could this be the start of a love they never thought they’d feel again?

REVIEW:

I don’t even remember who recommended this book when we were picking out the books for the year for book club.  I had it on my radar since we read the first book in the series several years ago for book club.  That book was so good that I knew the second one had to be just as good.  I was excited to read it.

Savannah is struggling.  Like major struggling the last 4 years since her big sister Poppy died of cancer.  She has been lost.  Pouring herself into her studies but little else.  She has massive panic and anxiety attacks that absolutely crush her.  She is making little to no progress in therapy, group or one on one.  Cael is mad at the world and takes his rage out on everyone around him.  Parents, friends, everyone. He has quit the things that once brought him pleasure since his big brother killed himself in a car accident a year prior.  Sav and Cael are brought together when their respective therapists recommend a long intensive therapy program that travels the world and gives the teens a new perspective on their situation.  Including group therapy and one on one with new experiences designed to help them move past their grief.  Holy this book…..I sobbed and ugly cried my way through it.  I blame Kristin for this.  I knew the book would be good but wowza I was not expecting that.  The way that each location is picked out with careful consideration of what it will teach the teens that are on this trip.  From England and hiking peaks to show yourself that you can do it to India where they learn that death is celebrated as well as life.  Its not a forget you are dead thing, they are remembered and exalted in ways that are to be respected.  

This book brought to mind how differently people grieve a loved one.  My sister died in 2015 when she was struck by multiple vehicles walking across a highway at night while heavily intoxicated.  My mother retreated upon herself, she didn’t do anything unless my dad was involved and the sound of a medical helicopter would push her over the edge.  That isn’t me.  I have worked in emergency medicine for a fair amount of time.  I am able to handle things better and grieve in my way, picking apart things and addressing my grief one thing at a time.  I gave my youngest child my sisters middle name as her middle name, Alexandra.  It was my way of remembering her and honoring her.  I also got a tattoo to remind me of her on my wrist.  Sav and Cael needed to learn to grieve their losses in their own way and on their own terms so to speak.  Sav approached hers in a completely different manner than Cael did.  That is ok, not everyone is the same.  This book reflects that really well.  It is a sweeping novel that spans several continents and shows us that in a way love conquers all and grief doesn’t always have to win.