A Piece of Me
Written by Alina Xiao, Grade 8
Cover illustration by Jiaxin Zou (aka Flora)
It was in January 2023 when what seemed to be a bad dream all started. A Piece of Me is a collection of poems based on the true events of what happened to me last year. There’s progression throughout the poems as I slowly start to accept cancer as part of my identity; it doesn’t have to be something to be ashamed of. It features the pain and loss that having a brain tumor can bring but, in the end, faith has once again carried me through.
Purchase paperback for $9.99 and ebooks for $3.99
Amazon Kindle / Paperback
Apple iBookstore
Google Play
Overdrive
Alina Xiao is a grade 8 student living in Oakville, Ontario. Her love of literature is what influenced her interest in writing and storytelling. Ever since she was very young, she’s loved to read and almost any type of book will do. Although there are too many good genres to pick from, Alina’s favourite authors include L. M. Montgomery, Suzanne Collins, and Jacqueline Woodson. Apart from reading and writing, Alina enjoys crocheting, pottery, and basically anything else that you make with your hands. In the future, she hopes to be a teacher, a writer, or an architect–there are too many good options!
Flora, a 2024 OCAD University graduate, is an illustrator, painter, and designer. Her art, a mix of traditional and modern techniques, focuses on themes like connection, identity, and diversity. Inspired by the people she encounters, Flora’s work is a conversation between personal experiences and collective narratives. She aims to engage and inspire curiosity about cultural heritage through her art, believing in its power to connect, challenge, and celebrate our diverse humanity. Explore more of her work at flora-zou.com.