Title: You Were Here
Author: Cori McCarthy
Page Count: 400
My Rating: 4 TURTLES: A great read, I definitely recommend.
*I got this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Review:
Everything can change in a day. Jaycee learned that when her
brother died in an accident hours after he graduated from high school. In the
aftermath, she is abandoned by her best friend and watches as what’s left of
her family falls apart. Years later, on her own graduation day during an
unexpected reunion with friends, she begins to see how that accident changed
their lives forever too.
You Were Here is a story that is carried by character
development. Cori McCarthy breathes complexity and nuance into her characters
through their every thought and action, and shows how they grapple with their
friends’ imperfections while trying to sort out their own. The action of the
plot takes a backseat to the developments of relationships and growth within the
characters themselves. And despite at times painting some of the characters in
an unfavorable light, McCarthy still manages to evoke a sense of sympathy for
the invisible hurts they all carry.
This book was also a fascinating read because of the structure
of how it was told. Each chapter would alternate between the main characters’
points of view: three of them in writing, two of them in graphics. This really
enhanced the overall telling of the story because it complimented how each of
the characters communicated. For example, of the two characters whose stories
are told though a graphic novel style, one is an artist who expresses himself
through his work, and the other is a selective mute who, for the most part, communicates
through gestures expressions.
You Were Here is a complex, emotional roller-coaster of a
story about love, loss, and transition. Its memorable cast of characters, sense
of adventure, and unflinching exploration of difficult topics is reminiscent of
John Green and the interplay between writing and graphics will appeal to fans
of Brian Selznick. I recommend it for readers of contemporary YA across the
board.
Disclosure: this post contains links to an affiliate program (Amazon), for which I receive a few cents if you make purchases.
Disclosure: this post contains links to an affiliate program (Amazon), for which I receive a few cents if you make purchases.
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