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Reviewed by: Kathy Jaccarino, High School Librarian Title: Where You See Yourself Author: Claire Forrest
Publisher: Scholastic
Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 9-12 Genre/Type of Book: Realistic Fiction
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: No Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: I was looking for books that present underrepresented populations, in this case students with disabilities.
If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be:
Tag along for the ride, you may learn to see yourself more clearly!
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Review:
I loved this book! This is the story of Effie Galanos, a high school student navigating her way through senior year. Effie happens to be in a wheelchair, she has cerebral palsy. She in not only navigating her way through typical “teenage stuff” like friendships, fights, crushes, dances, and college applications, she is also navigating her way through a high school with an administration that is apathetic, at best, at accommodating her accessibility needs. Effie is learning the hard lesson that all students need to learn, not just those in wheelchairs, to advocate for themselves, to make sure people hear them and see them. Effie is not just “the girl in the wheelchair.” Advocating for herself is hard for Effie to do. Her mother has always been her best advocator, but as she starts senior year, she realizes that SHE needs to be her own advocate, and this is a challenge for her.
Effie navigates through the college application process and attempts to narrow down the schools that would work for her, and her needs. She struggles with following her heart to the school with the program of her dreams, and the fact that it is in NYC, not a wheelchair friendly city, versus a school in California that does have a strong program for students with physical disabilities. And, complications ensue when her longtime crush, Wilder, is accepted at the school of her dreams in NYC!
The author, also a wheelchair user with cerebral palsy, does an incredible job of helping us view the world of a high school senior through Effie’s eyes. Simple things like having handicapped accessible doors that actually work, the school’s sign-out procedures that involve a door without a ramp, or going to a dance with someone who doesn’t have a trunk big enough for her wheelchair. We see all this through Effie’s eyes, and it is enlightening. Forrest strikes the perfect balance of portraying Effie as a typical teen, and a teen who happens to be in a wheelchair. One of her best friends is gay, but again, the author does a great job of just letting this be what it is. No special attention is drawn to this character because of this gender identity. The secondary characters in the book are also well developed.
Effie’s final decision about college surprised me…no spoiler alert here! But, overall, the end is very satisfying. A great blend of romance, coming of age, finding your voice, perseverance, and fun!
I think this could easily be integrated into the curriculum as a book representing diverse characters. It should absolutely be on everyone’s shelf- to share as a book that represents an underserved population. It may need some "selling" as the cover is not super appealing!
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Find resources for Where You See Yourself at Teachingbooks.net
For more information about this book, see the Publisher's Website
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