Book details

I Am Here Now

Author: Barbara Bottner

I Am Here Now

I Am Here Now

$18.99

About This Book

Set in the 1960s, Barbara Bottner's I Am Here Now is a beautiful novel in verse about one artist’s coming of age. It’s a heartbreaking, powerful and inspiring depiction of what...

Page Count
352
Genre
On Sale
08/04/2020
Age Range
14-18

Book Details

Set in the 1960s, Barbara Bottner's I Am Here Now is a beautiful novel in verse about one artist’s coming of age. It’s a heartbreaking, powerful and inspiring depiction of what it's like to shatter your life—and piece it all back together.

You can’t trust Life to give you decent parents, or beautiful eyes, a fine French accent or an outstanding flair for fashion. No, Life does what it wants. It’s sneaky as a thief.

Maisie's first day of High school should be exciting, but all she wants is to escape.

Her world is lonely and chaotic, with an abusive mother and a father who’s rarely there to help.

So when Maisie, who finds refuge in her art, meets the spirited Rachel and her mother, a painter, she catches a glimpse of a very different world—one full of life, creativity, and love—and latches on.

But as she discovers her strengths through Rachel’s family, Maisie, increasingly desperate, finds herself risking new friendships, and the very future she's searching for.

An Imprint Book

Imprint Publisher

Imprint

ISBN

9781250207692

In The News

"Rife with teen-appealing domestic and relationship drama...Heartbreakingly rendered.” –Horn Book, starred review

"Bottner (What a Cold Needs) draws on all five senses to evoke Maisie’s chaotic world, using expressive verse...The book’s subject matter and themes remain timeless." –Publishers Weekly

"Packing numerous themes of evolving teen self-identity amid the cityscape of a broken home, this turbulent, plot-driven tale shows how a miserable home life transcends ethnic, historical, and socio-economic bounds.Timeless lessons in how to find one’s self-worth in the face of parental abuse" –Kirkus

"Maisie is a strong narrator who rings true, especially facing the totality of her challenges. Perfect for readers who are struggling to figure out their place in the world." –Booklist

“Not since The Catcher in the Rye has there been such a riveting depiction of adolescent angst. But unlike Holden Caulfield, Maisie Meyers embraces her disappointment in the adult world, turning her loss of innocence into a launching pad for the examined life. I Am Here Now is important and utterly riveting.” -- Patricia Volk, author of Shocked and Stuffed

"This moving novel in spare, yet eloquent verse, transports today's teen reader to the 1960s Bronx. Readers will root for Maisie as she makes her compelling journey to maturity!" -- Alex Flinn, New York Times bestselling author of Beastly and Love, Jacaranda

“A deeply felt, beautifully written novel in verse about a fractured family and a gifted young woman’s coming of age. Altogether captivating and compelling.” —Michael Cart, Author, "Carte Blanche" Column in Booklist

About the Creators

I Am Here Now

I Am Here Now

$18.99