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Carol Hedges
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Jigsaw Pieces Kindle Edition

by Carol Hedges (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 50 ratings
‘He had been part of my everyday life. I hadn’t liked him much, nobody had liked him much, but he’d been there. Now, I’d never see him again.’Annie Skjaerstad had been searching for her identity since being uprooted from her native country of Norway. With a spiky personality winning her no friends, and family members suddenly torn out of her life, she is left seeking comfort from a growing intrigue into the stories of fallen war heroes.But one day, a boy from her school unexpectedly commits suicide, changing things forever. Confused by the tragic tale of someone she knew, Annie soon finds herself conducting her own investigation into his death. What she uncovers will bring her to a dark and dangerous place, as suddenly – her own life is put at risk.A tense, coming of age crime thriller by the author of ‘Dead Man Talking’.
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  1. Reading age
    12 - 16 years
  2. Print length
    137 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    July 27, 2012
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B008SB9TB4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little G Books; 2nd edition (July 27, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 27, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 229 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 137 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 50 ratings

About the author

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Carol Hedges

Carol Hedges

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Carol Hedges (1950 - )

Carol Hedges is the successful UK writer of 18 books for Teenagers/Young Adults and Adults. Her writing has received much critical acclaim, and her novel Jigsaw was long-listed for the Carnegie Medal.

Her Ebook Jigsaw Pieces, which deals unflinchingly with many of the problems that beset today's teens, is available on Amazon as is her Dystopic Fantasy The Last Virus

Carol is the writer of 'The Victorian Detectives' ~ a series of novels set in 1860s London and featuring Detective Inspector Leo Stride and his side-kick Detective Sergeant Jack Cully.

The ten books in the series are:

Diamonds & Dust

Honour & Obey

Death & Dominion

Rack & Ruin

Wonders & Wickedness

Fear & Phantoms

Intrigue & Infamy

Fame & Fortune

Desire & Deceit

Murder & Mischief

She is also the author of the 'Spy Girl' series ~ a Middle Grade/YA set of 5 books featuring Jazmin Dawson, the female 'Alex Rider'

The five books in the series are:

The Dark Side of Midnight

Out of the Shadows

Once Upon a Crime

Dead Man Talking

Ready Deadly Go

All her books are published by Little G Books and are available via Amazon in print and ebook.

Carol Hedges lives in Hertfordshire with a Tortie-Siamese cat called Halley and a lot of pond fish. When not writing/sleeping/trying to resist cake, she tutors A level and GCSE English Literature. She campaigns as chair of a local action group to save a community urban green space from possible development. She also minds her two grandchildren, one of whom is the star of the Award Winning series of blogs: The Adventures of L-Plate Gran

Bits of her writing life can be viewed on her Blog: http://carolhedges.blogspot.com

Visit her unusual Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thecuriousVictorian/

Find her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caroljhedges/

On Twitter: @riotgrandma72

On Mastodon: @Riotgrandma72@Mastodon.social

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
50 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and interesting. They describe it as a compelling read for all ages, with an emotional content that keeps them hooked. The narrator is sympathetic and the character feels relatable.

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4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and engaging.

"...A compelling, thought provoking read for all ages with a lingering poignancy that reminds us of the fragility of our own adolescent emotions." Read more

"...I thoroughly enjoyed this book...." Read more

"...Even if you're not a young adult, this is worth reading." Read more

"...An honest, good, and intriguing read!" Read more

3 customers mention "Ages"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a compelling read for all ages. They say it's intelligent and slightly edgy for older kids, and highly recommend it to adults and teens alike.

"...A compelling, thought provoking read for all ages with a lingering poignancy that reminds us of the fragility of our own adolescent emotions." Read more

"...I highly recommended this book to adults and teens alike. Well done Carol Hedges; you're clearly an author to add to our favourites list." Read more

"Intelligent, slightly edgy read for older kids..." Read more

3 customers mention "Emotional content"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book emotional and engaging. The narrator keeps readers sympathetic and hooked from the start. Annie's feelings are not masked, and the poignancy reminds us of fragility. Readers find the character relatable and powerful.

"...A compelling, thought provoking read for all ages with a lingering poignancy that reminds us of the fragility of our own adolescent emotions." Read more

"...these are not particularly lovely traits, they do make her feel very real to the reader...." Read more

"...Annie's feelings aren't masked. Her anger, her hurt, her confusion--they're all presented as raw emotions...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Vmp
    5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling read for all ages
    Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    Annie: outsider at school, slightly overweight, prickly, intelligent, compassionate and with an unusual interest in WW1 war poetry. A great mix in a narrator who keeps you sympathetic and hooked from the first to the last pages. Annie is very real, but also rather different as a heroine. I really enjoyed this book. It took me three evenings to read it before sleep, and the last one kept me at it till far too late. A compelling, thought provoking read for all ages with a lingering poignancy that reminds us of the fragility of our own adolescent emotions.
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  • Autumn
    4.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent, slightly edgy read for older kids
    Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2012
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    Sixteen year old Annie is a young woman with some social issues. Intelligent and slightly snarky, she doesn't fit in in her mother's home, England, but she cannot return to the Norway of her absent father. She's a solitary girl, but not exactly lonely, trying to get through school quickly so she can move on to other things.

    Even so, it comes as a shock when a classmate commits suicide. Though she didn't particularly like the young man or his friends, events conspire to make her suspect that there is more to his suicide than immediately meets the eye. In response, she decides to delve into the mystery, trying to reconcile her investigation with school, a largely absent mother, and her newly-born relationship with a silent World War I veteran. What she finds is shocking and sad.

    Ms. Hedges has a real knack for 'hearing' the reality of the lives of young adults. Annie's voice is authentic, whether in the dialogue between herself and other characters or in her inner monologue. She is not a girl who minces words, though she does know when to be respectful of those who are older. It was refreshing to read a protagonist who is not perfect, either physically or emotionally. Just her physical description, plump and ordinary, is enough to set her aside from the pack of predictably gorgeous (though they never know it, of course) heroines in much YA literature, but Ms. Hedges also gives her character the advantage of realism in her actions toward other characters, particularly her rival in finding the truth, Lee Scott. She is very competitive with him, and frankly rather unkind at times. While these are not particularly lovely traits, they do make her feel very real to the reader.

    The subplot, involving the WWI vet, makes a nice counterpoint to Annie's prickly interchanges with fellow students. Just when it begins to seem that she is not a particularly likeable character, her relationship with Billy is highlighted. Annie's soft center is revealed in her kind dealings with this delicate man, leaving the reader with hope that she will finally find the final jigsaw piece in her life that will make her whole and happy.

    A warning must be made that this is not a book for younger kids. There are a few instances of strong language that are more appropriate to older YA readers, and allusions to child pornography that might prove troublesome to some parents.

    Taken altogether, though, Ms. Hedges has produced an absorbing snapshot of a complex girl; it is a picture which bears repeated viewings.
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  • KD Forsman
    5.0 out of 5 stars The pieces of the jigsaw combine to deliver a great read...
    Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2012
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    Written from the perspective of Annie, this story highlights the complex issues that our teenagers have to deal with in their every day lives. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It successfully interwove stories on a couple of fronts, the story of a long forgotten war hero, a teen suicide with mysterious circumstances and Annies own struggle for acceptance and self belief. I highly recommended this book to adults and teens alike. Well done Carol Hedges; you're clearly an author to add to our favourites list.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Francis Potts
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is worth reading
    Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2013
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    Annie 'Viking' Skjaerstadt feels that she is a misfit. She sees herself as Norwegian, but she lives in England with her English mother. Her father's run off to Lapland, and she ends up with the old people's home for work experience. The suicide of an unpopular classmate, an obscure First World War poet, and a black car that nearly knocks her off her bike are just some of the jigsaw pieces that she struggles to put together, as she starts to turn her life into a coherent whole. Even if you're not a young adult, this is worth reading.
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  • Kelly Hashway
    5.0 out of 5 stars Truly emotional
    Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2012
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    This is such an emotional story. When I was in 9th grade, a boy a year older than me committed suicide. The impact it had on the school was incredible. People's feelings changed in an instant, and no one could talk about anything else. Carol Hedges captures that emotion in a completely honest way. Annie's feelings aren't masked. Her anger, her hurt, her confusion--they're all presented as raw emotions. I felt like I was there in the moment, which was an incredibly powerful feeling. And what I really loved was that there was a secondary story line with Annie and her work experience assignment. The two plot lines wove together seamlessly, creating an ending that was really perfect for the story.

    I give Hedges a lot of credit for writing about such a serious and emotional topic. She didn't shy away from any feelings that her MC needed to go through. Since suicide is unfortunately a topic many people come in contact with in their lifetime, this story is sure to have an impact.
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  • Lynn M.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Answers Come!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2014
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    Life has its way of tucking in all of the edges as in the making a bed; if we can wait for the outcome or denouement. Annie, a high school teen, is somewhat of a loner but sees deeply into life. She is drawn to a WWI poet and clings to his poem, “Survivor.” This seems to set the tone as Annie deals with the suicide of her classmate and the mystery surrounding Billy, a mute WWI veteran whom she regularly visits for a school project.

    Annie finds herself in a cocoon as she searches for answers and when they come, she experiences a loss of innocence as she discovers how cruel men can be to one another. Yet, a protecting hand frees her to move forward in a linear fashion as she goes on to college in a more comforting setting.
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  • Sandra
    4.0 out of 5 stars interesting and different
    Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2014
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    A very different story. Story told from perspective of a teenage girl struggling with her own emotional turmoil after her father leaves and her grandfather dies and she and her mother have to move to another country where she struggles at school trying to learn spoken english and doesn't fit in socially. The death of a student in her year group brings sharply into focus how easy teenagers can fall prey to seamier side of life.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Michel Arnaud
    5.0 out of 5 stars A stunning and deeply moving novel (review by Peter Davey)
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 1, 2014
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    Not until I was half way through this book did I realise it was classified as Young Adult Fiction. Well, I'm not exactly a "young adult" but nonetheless it had me mesmerised. To me it is simply a novel for any age which happens to have a teenager as its heroine and more than deserves a place alongside similar classics such as `Stand by Me' and `To Kill a Mockingbird' . Carol Hedges is a teacher herself and her command of the subject shines through in the painful authenticity of the urban comprehensive in which much of the action takes place - right down to the smell of sweaty trainers in the sports block - and of the savage world of teenagers seen through the eyes of Annie - an outsider by virtue not only of being Norwegian but also of being more mature, more sensitive, more thoughtful and more perceptive than most of her peers. Annie is by no means an adult narrator in teenage clothes, however; she is every inch a teenager - touchy, confrontational, worried about her figure, contemptuous of the herd yet secretly wishing, at times, that she could be part of it. The story moves along at a cracking pace, carried not only by Annie's ebullient personality and dry, comical observations of the world around her but by the intriguing and seemingly unconnected threads in the plot - the murky circumstances surrounding the suicide of one of her classmates, her passion for a long dead First World War poet and her friendship with a traumatised centenarian war veteran eking out his final years in a retirement home. These threads are drawn deftly together in the profound and deeply moving conclusion, binding the centuries and proving that the beautiful and the ugly in human nature remain unchanged. Do not be put off by the Young Adult label - this is a novel for everyone and a stunning novel it is too.
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  • Sheila Lewenz
    4.0 out of 5 stars An absorbing read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 6, 2012
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    The characters in Jigsaw pieces were so well drawn that my imagination was captured fully. The character of Annie had sufficient irritating aspects and typical teenage attitudes to be very believable but also inspiring empathy for the misfortunes in her life. Fortunately there is plenty to amuse in this story and the use of Norwegian expressions added to the enjoyment.
    I would have liked some more back story about the parents and more detail on Norway but maybe that's for the next book!
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  • C. Kirby
    5.0 out of 5 stars A memorable journey
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 16, 2014
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    Annie, the main character in Jigsaw, is a delightfully honest young girl. She's grappling with the angst of adolescence, and yet in many ways she's already mature enough to see through the pretence and hypocrisy of world around her. She's Norwegian, and has come to England to live with her mother following the breakup of her parent's marriage. It's a difficult adjustment along with all the rest involved in finding her way in her school, and the world around her. Her classmates are spiteful in their teasing and lack of acceptance of her. When a teacher introduces her to the poetry of WW1, Annie becomes fascinated by the young poets and the terrible circumstances in which they poured out their anguish in their poetry.
    When she finds she's been allotted a work placement in an old people's home, Annie is deflated but soon finds consolation in the staff, and a veteran of WW1 who doesn't speak. He always draws the same picture. It depicts the horror he witnessed when he served in the war.
    There's an important thread running through the story of one of Annie's fellow student's who has committed suicide. Nobody knows why. There seems to be no motive. Annie is set on discovering the answer to this and becomes ever more drawn into the mystery, which eventually threatens her own life.
    The story is complex and holds you through all the twists, turns, joys and sorrows of Annie's journey of self discovery. She's feisty, intelligent and caring, as well as uncertain of her own worth in a world that is bewildering to her. She finds the war poetry helps her through her own brand of war with the world. Finally, she comes to a place of peace through the solution of the mystery she's been trying to solve and by finding the last piece of the jigsaw of the war veteran she has grown to love.
    This fascinating tale has so much to offer on many levels. It will keep you turning the pages long after you've got to a stopping place at the end of a chapter, so go to bed early or you'll look like hell in the morning. On the other hand it's worth it!!!
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  • Lizanne Lloyd
    5.0 out of 5 stars A story for our time
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 28, 2019
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    This week I chose a book which many people have read several years ago. I am an ardent fan of the Victorian detective stories of Carol Hedges, but Jigsaw Pieces is a Young Adult novel set in the early 21st century. The heroine, Annie Skjaerstad, has a prickly, independent personality. The thick skin she adopts to protect herself make her unappealing to her peers, but she speaks to readers in the first person, putting us firmly on her side.
    Separated from her father and the country she loves, you would expect Annie to go off the rails, but although she has been bullied or ignored by her classmates, she copes with everyday life and exam pressure phlegmatically. Only in English lessons do her spirits rise. Her teacher appreciates her talent and nurtures her interest in poetry written during the First World War.
    Suddenly the whole class are shocked when one of the boys commits suicide. Grant had been unkind to her, but Annie cannot believe he would have made this decision. Looking forward to a week’s work experience with the police force she is bitterly disappointed when she is sent to a care home instead. Working through the week of domestic drudgery she meets someone whose early life sparks her interest. In the meantime, she tries to investigate Grant’s suicide.
    This easy to read book confronts the challenges which young people are facing at this moment and I read avidly as Annie became endangered by her brave investigation. Not just for young adults. This is a story for us all.
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  • Paul Kendall
    5.0 out of 5 stars The shcool bell rings
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 11, 2013
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    Jigsaw pieces
    By Carol Hedges

    Ok this is a book aimed at teenagers, the YA readers, so some of the authentic teenspeak dialogue and teenage girl logic sticks in the eyeballs of an adult reader a bit. That aside it's a brilliant story and I was entertained by the slightly eccentric methods used by our Annie to work out who dun it.

    Annie is Norwegian and not a happy camper, having been forced to move to England from her idyllic outdoor, polite and egalitarian life in Norway. The move to the UK in her eyes is like a move to Mars, (if you have never attended a British school she is right).

    Some key words for American and international readers, "Morning Assembly", all the kids gather to sing songs of praise to a god they don't care or know anything about, then they have to listen to a teacher talking for minutes on end about a god. Brains fired with god spam and brainwashed off their heads, off they go to bully and mock each other, often to the point where someone commits suicide. OK that is the synopsis.

    So early on in the book obviously there is a death. Grant an associate of Annie hangs himself. (good move) Annie fancies herself as a detective and at an early stage rules out the obvious motives for ending it all... school assembly and don't forget school dinners (read lunch) they have plunged thousands of English school kids into utter despair.. Yes life in a British school is boring it's a wonder many more kids don't hang themselves.

    turns out.. No its not school dinners.. So lets look at the jigsaw pieces... It could be stress she reasoned ..No he was only doing 5 subjects, that got me laughing out-loud, bullying NO, abducted by aliens NO, and nobody liked Grant (murder is a big risk at a British school) nop not that. His mum worked at Tescos all hours god sent ( read poor) work does not pay and that "god" err she does not care either. So what is going on ? I was asking...

    Annie (loves US TV shows we are told) improbably hidding in the bushes Annie finds Grant's bike this shortly after Grant's disappearance. She tells nobody,,, so it was obviously not Scooby doo that she had been watching. Thelma would have blabed that to the world in seconds.. so what's going on ?

    There is this second sub plot about WWI soldiers, Our Annie is a deep thinker and has a teenage obsession (not for Justin Beaver) but for young romantic poets that died young. In this case during WWI.

    Dead soldiers suicide.poetry and evil are ghost that haunt this book. And some darker stuff but I won't mention that... I suppose this is where the book gets interesting as Annie discovers a dark side to the British school gate ... it's a very dangerous place... the most dangerous criminals in the UK can be found at the school gates. The UK police (bless em) it's seems have not figured this out yet. This book is fiction (or is it fact ?)it falls into the category of "you could not make it up" this stuff actually happens.

    The UK is a strange place.

    I loved the book ...a good read, death is at the gates of this life,,, and this life is a school... Are you ready to exist the gate?... what is waiting for you when you go over the top? What I means is over the top of the trench to face a wall of bullets and certain death, the WWI link is an interesting aspect.

    Schools out for summer.

    This was a review of the kindle edition, the book is good value and I look forward to reading the author's other books.

    Paul Kendall (UK)
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