Where You See Yourself - by Claire Forrest (Hardcover)

About the Book

Effie Galanos' goals for her senior year include her navigating her way through her high school that is not really wheelchair-friendly, getting into the perfect college, and getting her crush Wilder to accompany her to the prom--but by spring she is beginning to see herself entirely differently.

Book Synopsis

A Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book

What does it take to follow your dreams? Where You See Yourself is a relatable, romantic, and necessary story about a girl who has to figure out what--and who--will bring her the happiness she deserves.

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...

Review Quotes

Praise for Where You See Yourself:

A Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book

A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year

A New York Public Library Best Book for Teens

Chicago Public Library Best Teen Fiction of the Year

A Bank Street Best Book of the Year

A YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults

"An absolutely necessary and affirming addition to YA shelves." -- BuzzFeed Books

"An effervescent, emotional story with all the makings of an instant YA classic." -- Bookpage

"This is a sweet, sometimes funny coming-of-age story with just the right amount of sigh-worthy romance in the mix." -- Common Sense Media

★ "A refreshing upstander story with humor, grit, and a witty protagonist worth rooting for." -- School Library Journal, starred review

★ "Affirming, uplifting, and thoughtful." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "A refreshing and empowering debut. Pitch-perfect rom-com moments bursting with dry humor." -- Publishers Weekly, 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." -- Brandy Colbert, award-winning author of The Voting Booth

"Where You See Yourself will have your heart bang-snapping, melting, and dropping into your butt." -- Anna Meriano, author of This Is How We Fly and It Sounds Like This

"Forrest's triumphant, warm-hearted, and romantic debut takes ableism to task while celebrating both learning and fighting for what you deserve. I cheered, I cried, I fist-pumped." -- Dahlia Adler, author of Cool for the Summer

"Heartfelt, wry, and unputdownable, Where You See Yourself is a must-read." -- Nicole Kronzer, author of Unscripted

"Where You See Yourself is a book I needed as a disabled high school senior. What a gift Forrest has given readers." -- Lillie Lainoff, author of One for All

"A beautiful portrayal of disability and going after your dreams. Where You See Yourself is equal parts relatable, romantic, and necessary." -- Melissa See, author of You, Me, and Our Heartstrings

About the Author

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. Find out more about her on Instagram and Twitter at @claire4est.