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Available
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Bloomsbury USA Childrens (2010), 256 pages
Description
Precocious thirteen-year-old Lou meets a homeless eighteen-year-old girl on the streets of Paris and Lou's life is forever changed.
Media reviews
The book starts slowly, the observations veering from the banal to the insightful. Ever since The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, a similar crossover novel from the young adult market, the naive observation of the grown-up world can seem contrived.
Yet the second half of this novel
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is a thing of poetic beauty. As No descends into alcoholic despair, all parties break trust with each other to do the right thing. You could meditate on some of Lou’s hard-won wisdom as she is forced to change. She starts out absolute and ends in nuance. It is, as any parent has said to a child on forcing him or her to tip the crab out of the bucket, more complicated than it looks at first. Show Less
The book creaks a little at the start. But once the plot gets going, de Vigan’s account skirts the clichés of foundling literature with economy and grace.....
....Lou’s voice is both distinctive and direct, and the novel’s unshowy negotiation of a complex issue should give readers of all ages
....Lou’s voice is both distinctive and direct, and the novel’s unshowy negotiation of a complex issue should give readers of all ages
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something to consider. Show Less
Well-structured, with moments of tenderness and truth about family and home, inadequate parents and neglected children, No and Me is honest (as revealing and insightful about Lou and home life as it is about No and homelessness) but also at least partially reassuring. Lou's "large-scale experiment
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against fate" might not go quite according to plan, but De Vigan shows that things really can change, albeit not always in the ways we've anticipated, and not always in ways we can control. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member Whisper1
Going out on a limb early in 2011, I believe this will be one of my top reads this year. Thanks to Darryl (Kidzdoc) for sending this incredible book my way!
No and Me is poetically, stunningly, profoundly beautiful and incredibly structured. Originally written in French, it was translated into
Introverted, obsessive compulsive, precocious 13 year old Lou Bertignac possess an IQ of 160. Her mind races way ahead as she solves complex problems and tests, tracking variables and patterns until it seems her head will explode.
Ahead of her class, she rarely interacts, except marginally with one lone boy who sits in the back of the room. She and Lucas exchange furtive eye contact.
When she must give a dreaded oral presentation in a sociology class, she chooses homelessness as a subject.
Finding raggedy, dirty and street savvy 18 year old Nolween (No) in a railway station and interviewing her for her class project is a life-changing event for Lou. For the first time in her life, she discovers that not all problems have a predictable solution.
Soliciting the help of her classmate Lucas, they try to rescue No. With compassion, truth, honor and integrity, through No, Lou and Lucas, the author takes the reader on a realistic journey of the pervasive problems of homelessness and the complexity of this issue.
The author superbly compares the home life of Lou and Lucas with the homeless reality of No's struggles. This is written without sappiness and there is nothing trite about the depiction of the cold reality that sometimes good intentions and love are just not enough.
Highly Recommended
No and Me is poetically, stunningly, profoundly beautiful and incredibly structured. Originally written in French, it was translated into
Show More
English.Introverted, obsessive compulsive, precocious 13 year old Lou Bertignac possess an IQ of 160. Her mind races way ahead as she solves complex problems and tests, tracking variables and patterns until it seems her head will explode.
Ahead of her class, she rarely interacts, except marginally with one lone boy who sits in the back of the room. She and Lucas exchange furtive eye contact.
When she must give a dreaded oral presentation in a sociology class, she chooses homelessness as a subject.
Finding raggedy, dirty and street savvy 18 year old Nolween (No) in a railway station and interviewing her for her class project is a life-changing event for Lou. For the first time in her life, she discovers that not all problems have a predictable solution.
Soliciting the help of her classmate Lucas, they try to rescue No. With compassion, truth, honor and integrity, through No, Lou and Lucas, the author takes the reader on a realistic journey of the pervasive problems of homelessness and the complexity of this issue.
The author superbly compares the home life of Lou and Lucas with the homeless reality of No's struggles. This is written without sappiness and there is nothing trite about the depiction of the cold reality that sometimes good intentions and love are just not enough.
Highly Recommended
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LibraryThing member litaddictedbrit
I've struggled for some time since I finished this book on Friday about how to formulate this review because it is, after all, 'only' a novel. But it felt like a lot more than that to me. It forces you to look at how you respond to this emotive social issue but avoids being sanctimonious by a well
Lou is an incredible choice for the novel's narrator. At 13, she sees everything with moving simplicity. No is homeless. She has a home with a spare room. If No had a home, things would be better for her. The solution is simple to her - No lives in the spare room. I loved everything about her: her awkwardness; her compassion; her fragility and her unique kind of genius. What isn't said by her is often painfully obvious to an adult reader by her observations and I adored her for her naivety. Most of all, though, I loved how she kept fighting and trying to understand No. I always find it upsetting when I hear people say, "Oh, it's their own fault" or "They could always just get a job.." etc about homeless people and it was touchingly refreshing that this book bypassed that in Lou, who is almost baffled by how No came to be where she is:
"At what point is it too late? From what moment? The first time I met her? Six months ago, two years ago, five years? Can you get out of a fix like that? How do you find yourself at the age of eighteen out on the streets with nothing and no one?"
Although this is mostly about No and Lou, their relationships with Lou's parents and Lucas lend brilliant support and Lou's glimpses of others' interactions are often revelations for the reader, if not always for Lou.
One more obvious point is that this is written by a French author and is set in Paris. I have read criticism of this book for making too many cultural references. I disagree. Paris is one of my favourite places to visit and every time I go I love it more so I would have been more than happy to lose myself in reminders of its streets - worry not, this isn't the case. Amazingly, the book manages to depict the atmosphere of the city without making it a key factor. Part of the point of the book for me was that it could be any city in any country.
My favourite quote sums up the book, Lou and the issues they address perfectly:
"We can send supersonic planes into and rockets into space, and identify a criminal from a hair or a tiny flake of skin, and grow a
tomato you can keep in the fridge for three weeks without it getting a wrinkle, and store millions of pieces of information on a tiny chip. Yet we're capable of letting people die in the street."
Overall: This is in one way a very easy read - the narration is that of a teenager and is written in that style. It is, however, difficult to read without feeling somewhat guilty about the comfortable chair you're reading it in or the steaming mug of coffee you're sipping or the biscuits you're chomping...and I couldn't recommend it enough for that very reason!
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judged ending. I wouldn't have loved this book half as much if it had been all sunshine and light at the end and I think it would have been much less powerful. Lou is an incredible choice for the novel's narrator. At 13, she sees everything with moving simplicity. No is homeless. She has a home with a spare room. If No had a home, things would be better for her. The solution is simple to her - No lives in the spare room. I loved everything about her: her awkwardness; her compassion; her fragility and her unique kind of genius. What isn't said by her is often painfully obvious to an adult reader by her observations and I adored her for her naivety. Most of all, though, I loved how she kept fighting and trying to understand No. I always find it upsetting when I hear people say, "Oh, it's their own fault" or "They could always just get a job.." etc about homeless people and it was touchingly refreshing that this book bypassed that in Lou, who is almost baffled by how No came to be where she is:
"At what point is it too late? From what moment? The first time I met her? Six months ago, two years ago, five years? Can you get out of a fix like that? How do you find yourself at the age of eighteen out on the streets with nothing and no one?"
Although this is mostly about No and Lou, their relationships with Lou's parents and Lucas lend brilliant support and Lou's glimpses of others' interactions are often revelations for the reader, if not always for Lou.
One more obvious point is that this is written by a French author and is set in Paris. I have read criticism of this book for making too many cultural references. I disagree. Paris is one of my favourite places to visit and every time I go I love it more so I would have been more than happy to lose myself in reminders of its streets - worry not, this isn't the case. Amazingly, the book manages to depict the atmosphere of the city without making it a key factor. Part of the point of the book for me was that it could be any city in any country.
My favourite quote sums up the book, Lou and the issues they address perfectly:
"We can send supersonic planes into and rockets into space, and identify a criminal from a hair or a tiny flake of skin, and grow a
tomato you can keep in the fridge for three weeks without it getting a wrinkle, and store millions of pieces of information on a tiny chip. Yet we're capable of letting people die in the street."
Overall: This is in one way a very easy read - the narration is that of a teenager and is written in that style. It is, however, difficult to read without feeling somewhat guilty about the comfortable chair you're reading it in or the steaming mug of coffee you're sipping or the biscuits you're chomping...and I couldn't recommend it enough for that very reason!
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LibraryThing member DubaiReader
Poignant and precise.
This book was beautifully written, concise and to the point. Although aimed at a Young Adult audience, I felt it could easily cross over into adult reading - even to the extent that many of our more verbose authors might learn to get to the heart of things in far fewer
You would never suspect that this is a translation and the references to areas of Paris often took me by surprise.
Lou Bertingac is only 13, in a class of 15 year olds. She has an IQ of 160 but lacks many social skills and does not mix with her fellow students. Only Lucas, himself two years old for the class, pays her any attention.
So it is not surprising that she is completely freaked out at the prospect of giving a presentation in front of the class. Interestingly, she choses the subject of homeless women for her presentation. To this end she befriends No (Nolwenn), an eighteen year old homeless girl who roams the streets of Paris. No is slow to trust Lou, but eventually we learn the background to No's homelessness and see something of the day to day hardship she endures.
Lou's own home life is far from perfect but she wants to bring No to live with her, in warmth and comfort, which produces many problems in itself.
No and Me is written in an appealingly naiive style and we feel for Lou as she struggles with seemingly easy things like tying her own shoe laces, while, at the same time, she feels compelled to analyse the content of her family's daily meals.
Although this is a short, concise read, we are introduced to many fascinating concepts, particularly the effects of bereavement on Lou's family and her desire to give a home to a homeless person. Also the question of education for children of high IQs; would Lou have been happier in a class of thirteen year olds?
This was a book group read and I am looking forward to a fascinating discussion on the issues raised.
This book was beautifully written, concise and to the point. Although aimed at a Young Adult audience, I felt it could easily cross over into adult reading - even to the extent that many of our more verbose authors might learn to get to the heart of things in far fewer
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pages.You would never suspect that this is a translation and the references to areas of Paris often took me by surprise.
Lou Bertingac is only 13, in a class of 15 year olds. She has an IQ of 160 but lacks many social skills and does not mix with her fellow students. Only Lucas, himself two years old for the class, pays her any attention.
So it is not surprising that she is completely freaked out at the prospect of giving a presentation in front of the class. Interestingly, she choses the subject of homeless women for her presentation. To this end she befriends No (Nolwenn), an eighteen year old homeless girl who roams the streets of Paris. No is slow to trust Lou, but eventually we learn the background to No's homelessness and see something of the day to day hardship she endures.
Lou's own home life is far from perfect but she wants to bring No to live with her, in warmth and comfort, which produces many problems in itself.
No and Me is written in an appealingly naiive style and we feel for Lou as she struggles with seemingly easy things like tying her own shoe laces, while, at the same time, she feels compelled to analyse the content of her family's daily meals.
Although this is a short, concise read, we are introduced to many fascinating concepts, particularly the effects of bereavement on Lou's family and her desire to give a home to a homeless person. Also the question of education for children of high IQs; would Lou have been happier in a class of thirteen year olds?
This was a book group read and I am looking forward to a fascinating discussion on the issues raised.
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LibraryThing member jenniferthomp75
Beautiful, tender story about a 13 year old girl named Lou and her complicated friendship with a homeless teen named No.
When Lou is given an assignment for school, she decides to focus on homeless females. After meeting No, she wants to help her re-enter society. Lou convinces her parents, who have
What happens may be obvious, but it's none the less disturbing and heart breaking.
A quieter book than most but deserving of high accolades.
When Lou is given an assignment for school, she decides to focus on homeless females. After meeting No, she wants to help her re-enter society. Lou convinces her parents, who have
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suffered the loss of a baby, to bring No into their home and their lives.What happens may be obvious, but it's none the less disturbing and heart breaking.
A quieter book than most but deserving of high accolades.
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LibraryThing member monsterofbooks
I felt nothing. Have you ever read a book, where you feel no emotions about it. This is what I felt with No and Me. Maybe it's because I don't really comprehend the situation, because I'm to young. Or that where I live, you don't really see any homeless people. Or, I don't know. But I really wanted
I think the problem with this book, is that the character narrates to much. She tells you to much, instead of the author describing it. And I believe that, that may be one of the reasons why I felt it had no affect on me. I mean, the one situation in the story is that Lou's family is falling apart. I rather Lou describe it to me, then tell it. Also, in that situation, it was brought in to quickly in the story. I wished that issue were slowly brought to my attention, then immediately. Because I had the strong sense that I was dropping into a conversation that started a millennium ago, and I was only joining it now.
Even through all that, I still found it a intriguing read. It's quick paste, and you want to learn more and more. The characters (Lou, No & Lucas) were nicely written. Especially Lou (the protagonist). Lou has an IQ of 160, so she acts differently then most girls. She is very smart, but acts very childish. And for a while, it was hard to believe that she was in high school. So I asked my aunt, because my cousin is the same as Lou, and she totally agreed that, that is how someone would act. Or how my cousin acts. One thing that I could connect and understand about Lou, is that she's shy. She has a hard time talking to people, and doing stuff that out of her boundary line. No (and yes that is a name, short for Nolwenn) is a interesting character. I can't relate with her, though I know people who have some of the problems that she does. And I can connect with her as a bystander. Lucas on the other hand, is the type of guy I would like to have in my life. That is all I'm going to say about him.
I don't think I would find myself recommending this book to someone. But if someone ask me, I would tell them to read it. It has an important message in there, that I think is useful to learn about. This is the type of book where you have to reread it a few times to fully understand it, especially the ending. I didn't enjoy the ending, because I didn't understand it fully. And I think if I reread this, I would comprehend it.
Overall it was a great read, but not the best. Another thing is, it's important to remember that this is a translated book. So there is some cultural differences in it.
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to have feelings about this story, but it just didn't happen.I think the problem with this book, is that the character narrates to much. She tells you to much, instead of the author describing it. And I believe that, that may be one of the reasons why I felt it had no affect on me. I mean, the one situation in the story is that Lou's family is falling apart. I rather Lou describe it to me, then tell it. Also, in that situation, it was brought in to quickly in the story. I wished that issue were slowly brought to my attention, then immediately. Because I had the strong sense that I was dropping into a conversation that started a millennium ago, and I was only joining it now.
Even through all that, I still found it a intriguing read. It's quick paste, and you want to learn more and more. The characters (Lou, No & Lucas) were nicely written. Especially Lou (the protagonist). Lou has an IQ of 160, so she acts differently then most girls. She is very smart, but acts very childish. And for a while, it was hard to believe that she was in high school. So I asked my aunt, because my cousin is the same as Lou, and she totally agreed that, that is how someone would act. Or how my cousin acts. One thing that I could connect and understand about Lou, is that she's shy. She has a hard time talking to people, and doing stuff that out of her boundary line. No (and yes that is a name, short for Nolwenn) is a interesting character. I can't relate with her, though I know people who have some of the problems that she does. And I can connect with her as a bystander. Lucas on the other hand, is the type of guy I would like to have in my life. That is all I'm going to say about him.
I don't think I would find myself recommending this book to someone. But if someone ask me, I would tell them to read it. It has an important message in there, that I think is useful to learn about. This is the type of book where you have to reread it a few times to fully understand it, especially the ending. I didn't enjoy the ending, because I didn't understand it fully. And I think if I reread this, I would comprehend it.
Overall it was a great read, but not the best. Another thing is, it's important to remember that this is a translated book. So there is some cultural differences in it.
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LibraryThing member roses7184
Lou Bertignac comes up with a project on homelessness simply to appease her teacher. She doesn't want to do a presentation. In fact she hates being in front of a group. Who was she to know that this decision would affect the entire rest of her life?
Lou meets No at a train station and they begin a
What I really enjoyed about this story was Lou, the main character. Lou was a sweet, intelligent and socially awkward girl when the story began and it kind of reminded me of myself at her age. Shying away from the boys, keeping to herself, making sure she stayed off the radar to keep others from talking about her. I really loved Lou's character. As Lou progresses through the book, her eyes are opened by No's predicament. No becomes less of a project to Lou, and more of a mission. It is endearing to see the need that buds between these two. They become part of one another.
Unfortunately I can't elaborate too much more without spoiling the story, but I will say that this book is worth a read. If you are worried that you might not enjoy this book, I can say that is a fairly short read. Give it a try, you might love it!
Lou meets No at a train station and they begin a
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very tentative relationship with one another. No is 18 years old, five years older than Lou, and is a part of the homeless community. As their relationship progresses into more of a friendship, each girl is given a glimpse at the other's life through what they share with one another.What I really enjoyed about this story was Lou, the main character. Lou was a sweet, intelligent and socially awkward girl when the story began and it kind of reminded me of myself at her age. Shying away from the boys, keeping to herself, making sure she stayed off the radar to keep others from talking about her. I really loved Lou's character. As Lou progresses through the book, her eyes are opened by No's predicament. No becomes less of a project to Lou, and more of a mission. It is endearing to see the need that buds between these two. They become part of one another.
Unfortunately I can't elaborate too much more without spoiling the story, but I will say that this book is worth a read. If you are worried that you might not enjoy this book, I can say that is a fairly short read. Give it a try, you might love it!
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LibraryThing member kjarvinen
Quite a pleasant little read. Probably aimed for the younger generation, though.
LibraryThing member Shell_C1
I loved this book; it's one of those classic so-called children's books that resonates deeply with people of all ages. My favourite thing about this book was how the whole family is released from their inward looking grief in the liberating act of reaching out to a young woman in need. This is just
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what I needed to read right now and I've got another Delphine de Vigan on my bookshelf ready to go.... Show Less
LibraryThing member Carolinejyoung
I have mixed feelings about this book. I certainly wouldn't say that I felt that I couldn't put it down; however, I did read it fairly quickly so there must have been something about it that intrigued me. I empathised with all of the characters apart from the main one (Lou) but that may well be due
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to her naivety, age and high IQ! Show Less
LibraryThing member sharynmagg
Beautifully written. Through the eyes of a gifted and unique child.
LibraryThing member Paulagraph
Another two star rating for a French book club selection. Midway through I would have given it three stars, but then I began to tire of this story about Lou Bertignac, a 15-year-old, emotionally-starved girl with a genius IQ and her obsession with No, a homeless 18 year old girl she "interviews"
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for a school assignment and then "adopts." So we have Lou, No and Lucas, the 17-year-old boy from school whom Lou has a crush on, and their respective dysfunctional family situations. Of course all ends both badly and well for Lou (to prove once again that life is complicated). Show Less
LibraryThing member Teresa1966
I'm discovering so many Y.A. novels that are the equal of "grown up" books. I've read some without realising the intended readership was teenagers (e.g.The Book Thief). Never found them to be 'dumbed-down' so the only difference that I have noticed is the age of the protagonists. The story of a
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slowly developing friendship between the narrator and a very special homeless girl No (shockingly not her real name), this YA novel pulls no emotional punches. Like Nick Hornby's How to be Good, No and Me asks what can I do on an individual and personal level, to help the homeless. Show Less
LibraryThing member Cecilturtle
In this very generous and compassionate novel, Vigan explores homelessness through the unlikely friendship of two teenage girls, No, broken living on the streets and Lou, living at home, both abandoned by their mothers, either physically or emotionally.
Lou, precocious and belonging to no social
Touching and hopeful, this is a heart-warming coming of age story with difficult lessons.
I didn't love the translation - very British, I could easily read the French through the words. Maybe a good adaptation for a European audience, less so for an American one.
Lou, precocious and belonging to no social
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sphere, is able to reach out to No and bridge those unspoken barriers that exist in our many complicated social layers. With Lucas, also abandoned by this mother and living alone, they try to build their unique, safe haven despite grown-ups and rules. It is an experiment of sorts but one that has too many challenges - from the material, to the emotional and psychological, nothing is as linear as we would wish and little Lou has to come to this conclusion through experience rather than through books.Touching and hopeful, this is a heart-warming coming of age story with difficult lessons.
I didn't love the translation - very British, I could easily read the French through the words. Maybe a good adaptation for a European audience, less so for an American one.
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Awards
USBBY Outstanding International Book (Grades 9-12 — 2011)
IBBY Honour Book (2012)
Prix Laurence Trân (2009)
Prix Solidarité (2009)
Prix des libraires (2008)
Best Fiction for Young Adults (Selection — 2011)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2010-08-03
Physical description
256 p.; 5.74 inches
ISBN
1599904799 / 9781599904795
Other editions
No and Me by Delphine de Vigan (Paperback)
No and Me by Delphine de Vigan (Paperback)
No and Me by Delphine de Vigan (Paperback)
No and Me by Delphine de Vigan (Paperback)
No and Me by Delphine de Vigan (Paperback)