by Claire Forrest
Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published May 2023
320 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publication Information
"Where You See Yourself is an absolutely necessary and affirming addition to YA shelves." —BuzzFeed Books
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...
"A refreshing and empowering debut. Via upbeat and honest prose, Forrest expertly communicates one wheelchair user's challenges of navigating an ableist world. Pitch-perfect rom-com moments bursting with dry humor balance mature reflections on relationships, personal agency, and disability advocacy." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Affirming, uplifting, and thoughtful." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Funny, true, and tender, this is a beautiful and resonant debut." ―Nina LaCour, Printz Award-winning author of We Are Okay
"Big hearted and beautiful. I'd follow Effie anywhere." ―Elana K. Arnold, National Book Award finalist author of What Girls are Made Of
"A sweet, moving, and triumphant story about finding your voice and the power of taking up space in a world that doesn't always see you. Claire Forrest is a much-needed voice in young adult literature." ―Brandy Colbert, award-winning author of The Voting Booth
This information about Where You See Yourself was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Claire Forrest is a novelist and essayist who holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University. Where You See Yourself is based on her lived experience as a wheelchair user who has cerebral palsy. As an undergraduate at Grinnell College, she was a consultant for the Disability Services and Admissions offices, working directly to address the concerns of incoming college students with disabilities and their families. She now lives in Minneapolis, where when she's not writing, she spends her time swimming and planning where to travel next.
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