A Journey Within

Content : When a boy haunted by his past and a girl confined to her hospital room open up to each other and find a connection through poetry.

Forced to leave Marseille after witnessing his brother’s murder, Eiffel moves into a care home in a small village in the Alps. There, an ambitious project is taking shape: the creation of a collection of writings involving several local institutions, including his class and the hospital.

Meanwhile, Rosaly is in hospital following an amputation that she is struggling to come to terms with. Her career as a marathon runner is over.

Caught between the difficulties of fitting in and dreams that have been shattered, will their fears hold them back or inspire them to write poetry? With the support of the teachers and adults around them, they will discover that facing the demons of their past can be made easier through writing and their shared passion for animals. And perhaps, along the way, they will find the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

Serious themes are treated with an uplifting touch, a very Gen Z cocktail in the spirit of contemporary sick lit: whether it is the bullying Eiffel faces from two classmates or Rosaly’s cancer and amputation, the novel tackles difficult subjects with optimism, giving its characters a voice and always looking towards the light.

A celebration of the unifying power of poetry in all its forms: the story is interspersed with fragments of poetry, from the poems studied by the pupils and those they write themselves to the texts Eiffel creates as part of his slam performances. Despite their initial reluctance, a strong bond gradually develops between them.

About the author: After completing a Master’s degree in Children’s Literature and teaching for nine years, Nancy Guilbert became a writer and has since published nearly 100 books with various publishers. Several of her books have won multiple awards, such as L’Ourse bleue, published by Des Ronds dans L’O, while others have been translated into several languages. A common thread runs through her work: building bridges between learning and sharing, respect for nature, the fight against all forms of violence, art and travel. She divides her time between writing and meeting her readers.