The Map from Here to There

By Author / Illustrator

Emery Lord

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

11+

Publisher

Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

ISBN

9781526606648

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

05-03-2020

Synopsis

The Map from Here to There is an unforgettable story of identity and the companion novel to the stellar The Start of Me and You, which was a Zoella Book Club pick for WHSmith. It's senior year, and Paige Hancock is finally living her best life. She has a fun summer job, great friends, and a super charming boyfriend who totally gets her. But senior year also means big decisions. Feeling the weight of 'the rest of her life' Paige starts to panic. Everything is exactly how she always wanted it to be - how can she leave it all behind next year? In her head, she knows there is so much more to life after high school. But in her heart, is it so terrible to want everything to stay the same forever? Emery Lord's signature storytelling shines with lovable characters and heartfelt exploration of life's most important questions. There will be break-ups, make-ups, a road trip, and even a wedding. Through it all, can Paige figure out what happens in the after part of happily ever after?Fans of Rainbow Rowell, Jennifer Niven and Nicola Yoon should look no further than this unforgettable story of friendship and connection.

Reviews

The novel is told from the perspective of the loveable main character and narrator, Paige Hancock. Set in the American town of Oakhurst, the story begins as Paige is about to start her senior year at high school. Paige seemingly has it all. She has great friends, a wonderful boyfriend, Max, a great part-time job, a loving family and she is an intelligent young woman who wants to pursue a career as a screen writer. At the beginning of the academic year, she seems to have it all figured out. She and her friends have great plans and want to make every moment of senior year count. However, during this pivotal year, Paige begins to feel anxious and uneasy about her next steps. Like any teenager going off to university, Paige is worried about making the right decisions. She knows what she wants, but can she have it all whilst trying to maintain her relationships with her boyfriend and her friends? Like all rites of passage, there are hiccups and events in our lives that ultimately shape and change us into the adults that we are destined to be. In this novel, Lord has skilfully captured that anxious feeling that all teenagers have when they are about to make some of the biggest decisions of their lives. This book will appeal to a wide variety of YA readers. For young people who are starting to think about leaving school, for those applying to university and for those on the cusp who are about to leave home, this novel gives the reader the reassurance that it's ok not to have all the answers. Emery Lord's heartfelt novel covers themes of anxiety, loss, young people's mental health issues, make-ups, break-ups and family relationships. With its endearing characters and realistic setting, The Map from Here to There feels like an authentic snap shot of real life that all teenagers will be able to relate to. This book is also the companion novel to the wonderful The Start of Me and You, however you do not need to have read this beforehand as it can be read as a standalone story. I would recommend it for readers aged 14+. 400 pages / Ages 14+ / Reviewed by Julie Broadbent, school librarian