No and Me

Lou Bertignac, a gifted teenager, befriends a homeless girl named No while exploring the emotional scenes at a train station. Their bond leads Lou to confront difficult truths about family and homelessness.

No and Me, translated from French by George Miller, tells the poignant story of Lou Bertignac, a gifted teenager with an IQ of 160. Lou feels out of place in her life, grappling with the emotional distance of her family—her father secretly weeping in the bathroom and her mother rarely leaving the confines of their home. To find solace, Lou often visits Gare d'Austerlitz, where she observes the range of human emotions displayed in the comings and goings of travelers. It is here that she encounters the stark reality of homelessness and meets No, a young girl just a few years older than herself.

As Lou and No form a friendship, Lou becomes increasingly aware of the struggles faced by those living on the streets. Inspired by her connection with No, Lou decides to focus her class presentation on homelessness, hoping to shed light on this pressing issue. However, when the project concludes, No vanishes from Lou's life, leaving her heartbroken and desperate for answers. In a moment of courage, Lou approaches her parents with an unthinkable request: to invite No into their home.

The narrative unfolds as Lou ventures into the underbelly of Paris, determined to bring No into the warmth of family life. This journey not only highlights the stark realities of homelessness in urban settings but also explores themes of friendship, compassion, and the search for belonging. No and Me is a touching exploration of the connections that can be forged in the most unlikely circumstances, making it a significant read for both young adults and adults alike.