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Title: Where You See Yourself
Author: Claire Forrest
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Category: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary, romance
Release date: May 2, 2023
Synopsis: “Where You See Yourself combines an unforgettable coming-of-age tale, a swoon-worthy romance, and much-needed disability representation in this story about a girl who’s determined to follow her dreams.
By the time Effie Galanos starts her senior year, it feels like she’s already been thinking about college applications for an eternity—after all, finding a college that will be the perfect fit and be accessible enough for Effie to navigate in her wheelchair presents a ton of considerations that her friends don’t have to worry about.
What Effie hasn’t told anyone is that she already knows exactly what school she has her heart set on: a college in NYC with a major in Mass Media & Society that will set her up perfectly for her dream job in digital media. She’s never been to New York, but paging through the brochure, she can picture the person she’ll be there, far from the Minneapolis neighborhood where she’s lived her entire life. When she finds out that Wilder (her longtime crush) is applying there too, it seems like one more sign from the universe that it’s the right place for her.
But it turns out that the universe is full of surprises. As Effie navigates her way through a year of admissions visits, senior class traditions, internal and external ableism, and a lot of firsts–and lasts–she starts to learn that sometimes growing up means being open to a world of possibilities you never even dreamed of. And maybe being more than just friends with Wilder is one of those dreams…”
As Effie begins her senior year of high school, she dreams of attending college in NYC, though she isn’t sure if it’ll offer the accessibility she needs as a wheelchair user. While she tries to make the right choice for her future, she also finds herself navigating changing friendships, sparks with her long-time crush, and ableism at her high school. With graduation slowly approaching, will Effie find the courage to fight for herself and go after what she truly wants?
This moving, engaging YA contemporary has been on my TBR since it was first announced, and it did not disappoint. Effie’s struggle to find the “perfect” college will surely resonate with many teens, especially as she struggles to accept that the college of her dreams may not be the right fit. Effie undergoes tremendous character growth throughout the novel, reflecting on what kind of future she wants and learning to advocate for herself.
What stands out the most is Forrest’s adept writing of authentic, nuanced relationships. The romance between Effie and Wilder is a sweet, swoon-worthy slow burn and readers will root for them from the first to last chapter. Effie’s relationship with her two best friends, Cam and Harper, is fully fleshed out and realistic; as they all try to balance school, growing older, and relationships, their friendship experiences growing pains but they work to support each other.
It’s no secret that the YA landscape needs more disabled characters, so the representation of Effie as a wheelchair user with cerebral palsy is yet another reason that this book should be on the shelves of every library. This novel touches on accessibility & ableism, especially as Effie tries to find a college that suits her needs while simultaneously advocating for accommodations at her high school.
This heartfelt and compelling read truly evokes the uniquely bittersweet experience of being a high school senior: on the cusp on adulthood, full of joy and fear over all the choices before you. Effie’s journey will ring true for so many teens, and I know her story will be particularly meaningful to disabled readers. I’ll be recommending this to fans of Breathe and Count Back From Ten or Unbroken. This is a title absolutely worth adding to public & high school libraries, and Claire Forrest is a rising YA author to watch.
Have you read this one yet? If so, what did you think?
Books. Libraries. Also, cats. 