You Know Where to Find Me by Rachael Cohn

You Know Where to Find Me by Rachael Cohn is for artsy girls who like to read and write and feel like outsiders. Miles, the main character, is that girl. Cohen writes her, and the other characters in a way that acknowledges their pain, anger and poor judgement, yet does so with great empathy and warmth. As I said in my book talk, this book is about how betrayal and hurt can be the path to forgiveness and acceptance.

The novel, while it deals with issues of suicide, drugs, and eating disorders, does so in a way that never goes so far as to induce nightmares in the reader. I would recommend this book for ages 12 and up. Twelve is an age where girls are getting very excited about becoming teenagers and all the freedom that comes with it. This book could help prepare them for some of the events they might encounter, and teaches many lessons without being preachy: 1) it is okay to forgive your parents 2) they are not alone when it comes to weight issues 3) reading and writing are cool and 4) it is okay to challenge authority if you do your homework on the topic. I would not recommend this title to most boys because it doesn't deal with many issues of particular interest to boys, and there is not a lot of action. I would recommend the novel to boys dealing with suicide, or who have two dads or two moms.

The novel is great for a summer read because it takes place over the summer, is gritty, and has a summer loneliness theme that plague students during summer months. Also, it would be a great recommendation for students in summer school, and particularly those from the Mid-Atlantic states familiar with the Washington DC area, and its local politics. It would also be an enjoyable read for teens who have shown an interest in politics, or whose parents are in politics.