Stay with me by Paul Griffin

Text Publishing, 2011. ISBN 9781921758713.
(Age 15+) Highly recommended. This is a beautifully written, emotional roller coaster of a love story that I could not put down. Cece and Mack, the two main characters, both have difficult lives with alcoholic parents and major personal challenges. Cece is a gifted student who is a seemingly perfect match, raising each other up, when neither have any self worth. When they fall in love they think it will be forever. However Mack loses control and there are tragic consequences.
All the characters are engaging and believable and the plot is gritty but hopeful. At times I cried and laughed on the same page. Cece and Mack are characters that will stay with me for a long time and I will definitely be reading other Paul Griffen books, Ten Mile River and The Orange Houses. These are also about kids living on the fringes of society.
Highly recommended for senior students, it would be a useful comparison text with other novels about redemption, love, loss, hope and following your dreams.
Chris Lloyd