10 Things I Can See From Here

10 Things I Can See From Here
Author(s)
Genre(s)
Age Range
12+
Release Date
February 28, 2017
ISBN
978-0399556258
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Think positive. Don’t worry; be happy. Keep calm and carry on. Maeve has heard it all before. She’s been struggling with severe anxiety for a long time, and as much as she wishes it was something she could just talk herself out of, it’s not. She constantly imagines the worst, composes obituaries in her head, and is always ready for things to fall apart. To add to her troubles, her mom—the only one who really gets what Maeve goes through—is leaving for six months, so Maeve will be sent to live with her dad in Vancouver. Vancouver brings a slew of new worries, but Maeve finds brief moments of calm (as well as even more worries) with Salix, a local girl who doesn’t seem to worry about anything. Between her dad’s wavering sobriety, her very pregnant stepmom insisting on a home birth, and her bumbling courtship with Salix, this summer brings more catastrophes than even Maeve could have foreseen. Will she be able to navigate through all the chaos to be there for the people she loves?

Think positive. Don’t worry; be happy. Keep calm and carry on. Maeve has heard it all before. She’s been struggling with severe anxiety for a long time, and as much as she wishes it was something she could just talk herself out of, it’s not. She constantly imagines the worst, composes obituaries in her head, and is always ready for things to fall apart. To add to her troubles, her mom—the only one who really gets what Maeve goes through—is leaving for six months, so Maeve will be sent to live with her dad in Vancouver. Vancouver brings a slew of new worries, but Maeve finds brief moments of calm (as well as even more worries) with Salix, a local girl who doesn’t seem to worry about anything. Between her dad’s wavering sobriety, her very pregnant stepmom insisting on a home birth, and her bumbling courtship with Salix, this summer brings more catastrophes than even Maeve could have foreseen. Will she be able to navigate through all the chaos to be there for the people she loves?

Editor reviews

2 reviews
10 Things I Can See From Here
(Updated: March 20, 2017)
Overall rating
 
4.0
Plot
 
N/A
Characters
 
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Writing Style
 
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What worked: This is an authentic portrayal of a teen who deals with severe anxiety. I know, as I deal with anxiety too. The author nails the feelings, struggles, fears, and yes, worries that go through someone's mind while dealing with anxiety attacks. I had to put the story down a few times, as the emotions Maeve went through, rang very true.

Maeve worries all the time to the point that she thinks of the worse scenario for everything. Very authentic! Maeve's mother goes off with her boyfriend Raymond to help for six months in Haiti. Due to Maeve's anxiety, she is sent to live with her father and his new family in Vancouver. Her father is a recovering addict and her stepmother is pregnant. A big plus for not having the stereotypical terrible stepmother. Maeve tries to hate her, but can't.

Though I loved the portrayal of a teen struggling with severe anxiety, I did feel that some of the issues in the novel were almost handled too perfectly. I did like that neither of her families are judgmental about her coming out and do feel that sends a positive message out there. But it felt almost as if they were too accepting of her addict father after he starts using again. Though the father is pretty honest to Maeve on what to expect.

Salix balances out Maeve and tries to help her to take chances and not let fear rule her life. Readers also learn more about Maeve's first girlfriend and an experience that goes terribly wrong with another friend.

This is also a coming of age story with a sweet same sex relationship. When she meets Salix, she feels something more than worry. Their relationship is filled with firsts.

Powerful insight into the life of a teen suffering from severe anxiety but also one that shows the power of friendship and love. Maeve's journey is sure to resonate with teens.
Good Points
1. Authentic portrayal of a teen dealing with anxiety
2. Quirky voice
3. Sweet love story
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