@BrianConaghan • @SarahCrossan • bloomsbury.com/childrens WE COME AP ART Sar ah Crossan and Brian Conaghan Teachers’ Notes 1 Award-winning YA authors Sarah Crossan and Brian Conaghan join forces to break readers’ hearts in this contemporary story of star-cross’d lovers. SYNOPSIS Jess is no stranger to trouble. Her home life is fraught with the threat of violence from her mum’s abusive boyfriend, and she’s already known to the police when her friends stitch her up during a shoplifting spree. Then, while doing a litter-picking stint as punishment, Jess encounters Romanian immigrant Nicu. Back in his homeland, Nicu was a talented wrestler who knew his place in the world. His parents came to England ‘to make the Queen’s cash’ and will return to Romania as soon as they’ve saved enough money to secure a wife for their son. Nicu, however, wants to stay. He aspires to speak fluent English so people can appreciate his ‘creative imaginings’ and, despite all the xenophobic abuse he’s subjected to, the last thing Nicu wants is to leave and get married. When Nicu sets eyes on Jess, he’s smitten. He thinks she looks ‘total tragic sad’ and wants to ‘peace her mind’. Jess, on the other hand, thinks Nicu is ‘weird’ but, little by little, she’s drawn to him. He makes her laugh; he sees who she really is. As their friendship blossoms into love, Nicu’s parents announce that they’ve found two possible suitable wives for Nicu, and then he discovers that plane tickets have been booked for their return to Romania, for him to be married. As Jess’s home life worsens, and Nicu’s time in England ticks down, they decide to run away to escape their respective impossible situations. Tragically, as they make their way to the train station, a confrontation on the high street turns violent and Nicu makes a self-sacrificing decision to protect Jess. ABOUT SARAH CROSSAN Sarah Crossan has lived in Dublin, London and New York, and now lives in Hertfordshire. She graduated with a degree in philosophy and literature before training as an English and drama teacher at Cambridge University. Since completing a masters in creative writing, she has been working to promote creative writing in schools. The Weight of Water and Apple and Rain were both shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal. In 2016, Sarah’s novel One won the CILIP Carnegie Medal, the YA Book Prize, the CBI Book of the Year award and the CLiPPA Poetry Award. ABOUT BRIAN CONAGHAN Brian Conaghan was born and raised in the Scottish town of Coatbridge and now lives in Dublin. He has a Master of Letters in creative writing from the University of Glasgow. For many years Brian worked as a teacher and taught in Scotland, Italy and Ireland. His novel When Mr Dog Bites was shortlisted for the 2015 Carnegie Medal. The Bombs That Brought Us Together won the 2016 Costa Children’s Book Award and was described by The Scotsman as ‘a dark, powerful tale of survival, morality and loyalty’.
Award-winning YA authors Sarah Crossan and Brian Conaghan join forces to break readers’ hearts in this contemporary story of star-cross’d lovers.
SYNOPSIS Jess is no stranger to trouble. Her home life is fraught with the threat of violence from her mum’s abusive boyfriend, and she’s already known to the police when her friends stitch her up during a shoplifting spree. Then, while doing a litter-picking stint as punishment, Jess encounters Romanian immigrant Nicu. Back in his homeland, Nicu was a talented wrestler who knew his place in the world. His parents came to England ‘to make the Queen’s cash’ and will return to Romania as soon as they’ve saved enough money to secure a wife for their son. Nicu, however, wants to stay. He aspires to speak fl uent English so people can appreciate his ‘creative imaginings’ and, despite all the xenophobic abuse he’s subjected to, the last thing Nicu wants is to leave and get married.
When Nicu sets eyes on Jess, he’s smitten. He thinks she looks ‘total tragic sad’ and wants to ‘peace her mind’. Jess, on the other hand, thinks Nicu is ‘weird’ but, little by little, she’s drawn to him. He makes her laugh; he sees who she really is. As their friendship blossoms into love, Nicu’s parents announce that they’ve found two possible suitable wives for Nicu, and then he discovers that plane tickets have been booked for their return to Romania, for him to be married. As Jess’s home life worsens, and Nicu’s time in England ticks down, they decide to run away to escape their respective impossible situations. Tragically, as they make their way to the train station, a confrontation on the high street turns violent and Nicu makes a self-sacrifi cing decision to protect Jess.
ABOUT SARAH CROSSAN Sarah Crossan has lived in Dublin, London and New York, and now lives in Hertfordshire. She graduated with a degree in philosophy and literature before training as an English and drama teacher at Cambridge University. Since completing a masters in creative writing, she has been working to promote creative writing in schools. The Weight of Water and Apple and Rain were both shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal. In 2016, Sarah’s novel One won the CILIP Carnegie Medal, the YA Book Prize, the CBI Book of the Year award and the CLiPPA Poetry Award.
ABOUT BRIAN CONAGHAN Brian Conaghan was born and raised in the Scottish town of Coatbridge and now lives in Dublin. He has a Master of Letters in creative writing from the University of Glasgow. For many years Brian worked as a teacher and taught in Scotland, Italy and Ireland. His novel When Mr Dog Bites was shortlisted for the 2015 Carnegie Medal. The Bombs That Brought Us Together won the 2016 Costa Children’s Book Award and was described by The Scotsman as ‘a dark, powerful tale of survival, morality and loyalty’.
ABOUT SARAH CROSSAN Sarah Crossan has lived in Dublin, London and New York, and now lives in Hertfordshire. She graduated with a degree in philosophy and literature before training as an English and drama teacher at Cambridge University. Since completing a masters in creative writing, she has been working to promote creative writing in schools.
PRE-READING ACTIVITIES Ask students what they think We Come Apart is about, based on their responses to the title and cover. What kind of book do they think this is going to be?
FOR DISCUSSION 1) It’s in
grab what you wantand out again. (Jess, p.3)
It good for me to helping Tatabecause now I am main sonand need toquick learnhow to make family moniesand beprovider for all. (Nicu, p.9)
a) Compare and contrast the attitudes of Jess and Nicu conveyed in these early extracts. What were your fi rst impressions of both characters?
b) Did your fi rst impression change during the course of the novel?c) Does either character change during the course of the novel? If so, how?
2) […] she’s meant to be my matebut is stitching me up (Jess, p.5)
a mate is someone you can chat with. ‘You know, about anything, secrets and that […]’ (Jess, p.104)
What does the novel say about diff erent kinds of friendship? Discuss in relation to Jess’s friends at the start of the novel, and her friendship with Nicu.
3) Real reason we come toEnglandis because I amolder, andcannot be withoutworkingwealth,orwife. (Nicu, p.9)
a) Discuss the cultural diff erences between the lives led by Jess and her friends, and Nicu’s family.
b) But sometimes,when I look from windoworgo for long street walk,I see something same betweenold village thenandnew place now.
Many peoples with much miserable in their heart,many peoples with little monies (Nicu, p.54)
Now discuss the similarities between their lives and experiences. How universal is the human experience?
4) ENGLAND IS THE STRANGER OF PLACES
Some peoplessmile and say helloin street or on bus. Other peoplesnot like my faceand don’t returning the smile I sharing. (Nicu, p.15)
‘This place isn’t for us, they don’t want our kind here’ (Nicu’s mum, p.15)
How did the novel’s portrayal of Nicu’s experience as an immigrant in contemporary Britain make you feel? Did you learn anything from reading about his experiences? Why do you think Nicu is a ‘target board for their every dart’ (p.149)? Why do you think people call him abusive names (‘you stinking gypo twat’, p.195) and attack him? What might drive such behaviour?
5) ‘Good egg, that one.’ (p.38)
Do you agree that Nicu is a ‘good egg’? How else would you describe him?
To what extent is isolation a theme of the novel? Discuss with reference to at least two characters.
7) English is the tough watermelon to crack (Nicu, p.43)
What eff ect did Nicu’s idiolect (idiolect is an individual’s distinctive and unique use of language) have on your understanding of his character?
8) I don’t shout, ‘Get out of my bloody way, Terry!’I say sweetly, ‘You all right, Terry?’ (Jess, p.45)
Why do you think Jess and her mum appease Terry? Do you think Jess’s mum is a ‘wimp’ (p.76)? Why do you think she stays with a man who’s violent towards her?
9) She seem lonely.She seem lost.She seem total tragic sad.And I want to rush to her feelings, show her my smiles (Nicu, p.48)
Do you agree with Nicu’s fi rst impression of Jess? Compare this with your own fi rst impression of her. What does this reveal about the kind of person Nicu is?
10) Butwhat does he see when he looks at me?
What does anyone eversee? (Jess, p.49)
Why do you think Jess wants to know what Nicu sees? And why does she wonder what anyone sees when they look at her? What do you think she imagines they see? Discuss how Jess perceives herself, and how she’s viewed by her peers.
b) I afraid no one ever know who I am. (Nicu, p.77)
To what extent is the theme of being understood and known for who you really are central to the novel?
11) What do you think drew Nicu and Jess to one another? Why do they become close?
12 a) people like menever get outof placeslike this. (Jess, p.155)
What does Jess mean by ‘people like me’? Why is she so pessimistic about her future? Is there a way out for her? What does this reveal about Jess’s outlook on life? How diff erent is Nicu’s outlook?
12 b) I can’t put on a brave face and pretend thatat the end of thisthings will be diff erent.
Maybe for him they will be.
But for methey won’t. (Jess, p.63)
Is this statement prophetic? Consider in relation to the novel’s conclusion. How are things diff erent ‘at the end’?
13) I not want Jess to lose herpridedignityhonoursif she friendly chatting with me. (Nicu, p.102)
What does this reveal about Nicu’s character? Why would talking to Nicu mean Jess losing her ‘dignity’? How did you feel when Jess denied knowing Nicu (p.111)? Why do you think she does this?
14) ‘You make me bad boy’ (Nicu, p.107)
Is this true? Does Jess make Nicu a ‘bad boy’? Who is to blame for what happens at the end of the novel?
15) But dreams fl utter high in air. Bye-byewrestling butterfl y. (Nicu, p.162)
How did you feel when Nicu discovered his parents’ plans for their imminent return to Romania, and his marriage? How do the authors create tension in this scene (pp.159–162)?
16) Why do you think Jess tries to make herself look like Florica, the girl Nicu is due to marry (p.222)?
Were Jess and Nicu right to run away? What alternative was there? Was it an act of fear or courage?
18) Which moments in the novel did you fi nd most moving? Which did you fi nd most shocking?
19) Why do you think the authors chose to write this novel in free verse form? What eff ect does this have?
20) Did this novel change anything about how you view the world? Will it change anything about the way you behave?
21) And I thinkfor a secondhow lucky I amto have found him.How lucky I amthat he came into my life. (Jess, p.310)
Time to set Jessfreefromme.
And Nicu,always stupid.
ALWAYS STUPID. (Nicu, p.319)
a) What did you think of the novel’s ending? How did it leave you feeling? Why didn’t Nicu board the train? Does Jess need to be set free from him? Why does he call himself ‘stupid’?
b) Considering the two excerpts above, is this novel a tragedy?
22) Think of three alternative titles for We Come Apart.
Get in CharacterReread pages 47–48 and continue this chapter in Nicu’s voice. Think about his character, and the way he speaks. You might want to further explore: a) What else Nicu is thinking about Jess at this point. b) What he thinks of the ‘other criminals’ on the scheme. c) How he feels about getting married.
Reread pages 78–79 and continue this chapter in Jess’s voice. You might want to further explore: a) What else Jess is thinking about Nicu at this point. b) How Jess feels about her mum.
Be a Roving ReporterWrite a 300-word report about the incident described on pages 268–272. Perhaps you could write a crime report, and include quotes from the police, or eyewitnesses. Or perhaps you’d like to write an opinion piece on some of the issues explored in the novel. Research real-life newspaper articles to get a sense of diff erent styles of writing.
Produce a Play Working in a group, select a scene from the book and transform it into a play. Think about the roles you’ll need: actors, for example, and writers to adapt the text of the novel into a script with lines for all the characters. You’ll also need to think about costumes and props. Suggested scenes to adapt:Pages 36–37Pages 159–162
Create a CoverDesign an alternative cover for We Come Apart. Think about the themes of the book, and the mood you’d like your cover to convey. Think about whether it should feature an illustration or photograph. Choose a font for the title and authors’ names that you think will refl ect the novel’s mood and themes. Think about the positioning of the title and authors’ names. Perhaps you’d like to include a line of praise for the book (you could research reviews online).
Create a CollageCreate a collage representing Nicu’s character. Think about how he feels, what he aspires to, what he loves and what he hates, as well as his appearance and what happens to him during the course of the novel. Think about his experiences as an immigrant in Britain, and his background. You could source images from newspapers, and include extracts from the book.
By Sarah CrossanThe Weight of WaterApple and RainOneBreatheResist
By Brian Conaghan When Mr Dog BitesThe Bombs That Brought Us Together
By other authors:Like No Other, Una LaMarcheThe Sun Is Also a Star, Nicola YoonHolding Up the Universe, Jennifer NivenWho are Refugees and Migrants? What Makes People Leave Their Homes? And Other Big Questions, Michael RosenIf You Were Me, Sam HepburnLies We Tell Ourselves, Robin TalleyTell Me No Lies, Malorie BlackmanEleanor & Park, Rainbow RowellPaper Towns, John GreenThe Bone Sparrow, Zana Fraillon
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