Where You'll Find Me

Gr 6–9—Anna is reeling from the recent changes in her life. A year ago, her parents divorced; six months ago, her dad and stepmother had a baby; a few weeks ago, her BFF declared their friendship over; and three days ago, her mother tried to commit suicide. Everything in Anna's life feels wrong and awful—and on top of everything else, Anna feels she's let her mother down. Friend's book deals with all the difficulties of middle school, newly blended families, and—authentically and without oversimplification—having a parent with mental illness. Anna's confusion about her mother, her mother's bipolar disorder, and their relationship are heartbreaking and honest, and her conflicts and conversations with her parents, teachers, and friends ring true. Friend avoids all the pitfalls of a run-of-the-mill "issue" novel to offer a nuanced look at a life that, despite unexpected turns and sometimes crippling feelings of fear and loss, can still be happy.