Other editions of book The Piper's Son

"A memorable portrait of first love, surviving grief, and the messy contradictions and fierce bonds that hold friends and family together." — BooklistPrintz Award–winning author Melina Marchetta reopens the story of the group of friends from her acclaimed novel Saving Francesca — but five years have passed, and now it’s Thomas Mackee who needs saving. As his life hits rock bottom, Tom’s in no shape to mend what’s broken. But what if no one else is either? An unflinching look at family, forgiveness, and the fierce inner workings of love and friendship, The Piper’s Son redefines what it means to go home again.

The award-winning author of Finnikin of the Rock and Jellicoe Road pens a raw, compelling novel about a family’s hard-won healing on the other side of trauma.(Age 14 and up)Award-winning author Melina Marchetta reopens the story of the group of friends from her acclaimed novel Saving Francesca - but five years have passed, and now it’s Thomas Mackee who needs saving. After his favorite uncle was blown to bits on his way to work in a foreign city, Tom watched his family implode. He quit school and turned his back on his music and everyone that mattered, including the girl he can’t forget. Shooting for oblivion, he’s hit rock bottom, forced to live with his single, pregnant aunt, work at the Union pub with his former friends, and reckon with his grieving, alcoholic father. Tom’s in no shape to mend what’s broken. But what if no one else is either? An unflinching look at family, forgiveness, and the fierce inner workings of love and friendship, The Piper’s Son redefines what it means to go home again.

The award-winning author of Finnikin of the Rock and Jellicoe Road pens a raw, compelling novel about a family’s hard-won healing on the other side of trauma.Award-winning author Melina Marchetta reopens the story of the group of friends from her acclaimed novel Saving Francesca — but five years have passed, and now it’s Thomas Mackee who needs saving. After his favorite uncle was blown to bits on his way to work in a foreign city, Tom watched his family implode. He quit school and turned his back on his music and everyone that mattered, including the girl he can’t forget. Shooting for oblivion, he’s hit rock bottom, forced to live with his single, pregnant aunt, work at the Union pub with his former friends, and reckon with his grieving, alcoholic father. Tom’s in no shape to mend what’s broken. But what if no one else is either? An unflinching look at family, forgiveness, and the fierce inner workings of love and friendship, The Piper’s Son redefines what it means to go home again.

Two years after his favorite uncle was blown to bits in a London Tube station, Tom has hit rock bottom. He’s quit school and turned his back on his music and everyone that once mattered to him, including the girl he can’t forget. Living with his single, pregnant aunt, working at the Union pub with his former friends, and reckoning with his grieving, alcoholic father, Tom’s in no shape to mend what’s broken. But what if no one else is, either?An Indie Next List Selection“This tender sequel to Saving Francesca...is powerful and tragic, revealing a wonderful and realistically flawed family working hard to fix its deep damage.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Superior fiction requires excellent characterization, and Marchetta delivers.” —Kirkus Reviews(starred review)“A memorable portrait of first love, surviving grief, and the messy contradictions and fierce bonds that hold friends and family together.” —Booklist

The award-winning author of Finnikin of the Rock and Jellicoe Road pens a raw, compelling novel about a family’s hard-won healing on the other side of trauma.Award-winning author Melina Marchetta reopens the story of the group of friends from her acclaimed novel Saving Francesca - but five years have passed, and now it’s Thomas Mackee who needs saving. After his favorite uncle was blown to bits on his way to work in a foreign city, Tom watched his family implode. He quit school and turned his back on his music and everyone that mattered, including the girl he can’t forget. Shooting for oblivion, he’s hit rock bottom, forced to live with his single, pregnant aunt, work at the Union pub with his former friends, and reckon with his grieving, alcoholic father. Tom’s in no shape to mend what’s broken. But what if no one else is either? An unflinching look at family, forgiveness, and the fierce inner workings of love and friendship, The Piper’s Son redefines what it means to go home again.

Two years after his favorite uncle was blown to bits in a London Tube station, Tom has hit rock bottom. He’s quit school and turned his back on his music and everyone that once mattered to him, including the girl he can’t forget. Living with his single, pregnant aunt, working at the Union pub with his former friends, and reckoning with his grieving, alcoholic father, Tom’s in no shape to mend what’s broken. But what if no one else is, either?An Indie Next List Selection“This tender sequel to Saving Francesca...is powerful and tragic, revealing a wonderful and realistically flawed family working hard to fix its deep damage.” -Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Superior fiction requires excellent characterization, and Marchetta delivers.” -Kirkus Reviews(starred review)“A memorable portrait of first love, surviving grief, and the messy contradictions and fierce bonds that hold friends and family together.” -Booklist

Two years after his favorite uncle was blown to bits in a London Tube station, Tom has hit rock bottom. He’s quit school and turned his back on his music and everyone that once mattered to him, including the girl he can’t forget. Living with his single, pregnant aunt, working at the Union pub with his former friends, and reckoning with his grieving, alcoholic father, Tom’s in no shape to mend what’s broken. But what if no one else is, either?An Indie Next List Selection“This tender sequel to Saving Francesca...is powerful and tragic, revealing a wonderful and realistically flawed family working hard to fix its deep damage.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Superior fiction requires excellent characterization, and Marchetta delivers.” —Kirkus Reviews(starred review)“A memorable portrait of first love, surviving grief, and the messy contradictions and fierce bonds that hold friends and family together.” —Booklist

Two years after his favorite uncle was blown to bits in a London Tube station, Tom has hit rock bottom. He’s quit school and turned his back on his music and everyone that once mattered to him, including the girl he can’t forget. Living with his single, pregnant aunt, working at the Union pub with his former friends, and reckoning with his grieving, alcoholic father, Tom’s in no shape to mend what’s broken. But what if no one else is, either?An Indie Next List Selection“This tender sequel to Saving Francesca...is powerful and tragic, revealing a wonderful and realistically flawed family working hard to fix its deep damage.” -Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Superior fiction requires excellent characterization, and Marchetta delivers.” -Kirkus Reviews(starred review)“A memorable portrait of first love, surviving grief, and the messy contradictions and fierce bonds that hold friends and family together.” -Booklist

Two years after his favorite uncle was blown to bits in a London Tube station, Tom has hit rock bottom. He’s quit school and turned his back on his music and everyone that once mattered to him, including the girl he can’t forget. Living with his single, pregnant aunt, working at the Union pub with his former friends, and reckoning with his grieving, alcoholic father, Tom’s in no shape to mend what’s broken. But what if no one else is, either?An Indie Next List Selection“This tender sequel to Saving Francesca...is powerful and tragic, revealing a wonderful and realistically flawed family working hard to fix its deep damage.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Superior fiction requires excellent characterization, and Marchetta delivers.” —Kirkus Reviews(starred review)“A memorable portrait of first love, surviving grief, and the messy contradictions and fierce bonds that hold friends and family together.” —Booklist

Two years after his favorite uncle was blown to bits in a London Tube station, Tom has hit rock bottom. He’s quit school and turned his back on his music and everyone that once mattered to him, including the girl he can’t forget. Living with his single, pregnant aunt, working at the Union pub with his former friends, and reckoning with his grieving, alcoholic father, Tom’s in no shape to mend what’s broken. But what if no one else is, either?An Indie Next List Selection“This tender sequel to Saving Francesca...is powerful and tragic, revealing a wonderful and realistically flawed family working hard to fix its deep damage.” -Publishers Weekly (starred review)“Superior fiction requires excellent characterization, and Marchetta delivers.” -Kirkus Reviews(starred review)“A memorable portrait of first love, surviving grief, and the messy contradictions and fierce bonds that hold friends and family together.” -Booklist