Book Review: Where You'll Find Me by Natasha Friend

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Where You'll Find Me
Author: Natasha Friend
Reading Level: Middle Grade
Genre: Contemporary
Released: March 8th 2016
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

 

In this powerful and buoyant YA novel, a thirteen-year-old girl learns to navigate the shifting loyalities of friendships in middle school and deals with challenges at home.

The beginning of the eighth grade is not what Anna thought it would be. Her lifelong best friend has ditched her for the cool kids, and her mom is in the hospital after a suicide attempt. Anna finds herself where she least expects to: living with her dad, his young new wife, and their baby, and starting a new year at school without a best friend. With help from some unlikely sources, including a crazy girl-band talent show act, Anna learns that sometimes you find what you need to pull you through in the most unlikely places.

Life is not always rainbows and puppies. Some people have it worst than others, like our main character Ana. She's not having the ideal start to her eight grade year. First, her best friend doesn't want to be friends with her. She's popular now and cannot hang with an "outcast". God, I don't miss those those days. Then and on a more serious note, her mother tried to kill herself. Now, Ana needs to move in with her father (whom is not open to her) and her new step-mother, while her mother is hospitalized.

Ana may see herself as a weak character but as a young girl dealing with these type of issues, the girl is a tough cookie.

Middle grade? Are you kidding me? No, don't ever say you're too old for middle grades reads. Where You'll Find Me is an adorable yet inspiring story of a young girl trying to cope with life. This story is so real with a believable character. While reading some parts, I wanted to hug Ana. Feeling alone and full of remorse toward herself is something one shouldn't go thru. So sad! Ana blamed herself for things... things she had nothing to do with. Oh, I am crying. I just wanted to tell her it's not her fault.

This is really sad because now in days, this is more common. It's sad to see kids have to grow up at a young age because either both or one parent is not there to do their job. I loved when Ana's mom apologized and made her feel better.

Where You'll Find Me is an incredible story. Ana is easy to relate and plain adorable. She did her best, more than what I would be capable of doing. There is so much to say but it's best that you read this story. Just be warned, you will have tears while reading.