I wanted to love this novel by Veronica Mars creator much more than I did. It is a realistic coming of age story. Steve's emotions regarding the divorce of his parents and his first love ring true. The need for teens to rebel also rang true. But overall, it left me a little flat. But, it did make me want to compare to Wallflower. I may be too far past my angsty teens years to fully appreciate it.

One of my absolute favorite books. A true comfort read I turn to when I just want to feel at home again <3

This was such a cute book. Probably something I would of loved when I was young. Maddie is so determined and there is this paragraph in the book where Maddie is showing her book of houses to her new friends. I really enjoyed it and took a picture because I can really relate to what she feels.
Maddie - "She turned the pages slowly, which made me nervous. I was afraid she´d say something that would ruin the Book of houses forever. People can do that, you know. They can take the things you love and twist them around with a few words so you cant hear to even look at them again. Thats why I hardly show the books to anyone if I could help it. I had to protect the things that meant something to me."

I had to read this for my YA materials class.

I really liked this novel about kids in a group foster care home, longing for permanent and loving homes. Each character has a backstory, and each of those is equally poignant. That includes the kids whom they meet at school, whose lives they envy, but perhaps too quickly.

Maddie's scrapbooks are both blessing and curse, as she chronicles the types of houses she likes, and as other kids use them to weave magical tales involving their absent parents. It is the simple fort they build that binds them together. Truth will out in this story, and its acceptance.

A good read.

Such a sweet and touching book! The kids are so real and their lives and struggles are both heartbreaking and wonderful. It's a common plot device in children's stories to have the main character be grounded in reality, and then they meet someone with their head in the clouds, but O'Roark definitely found a way to make it new. Highly recommended!

This book handles kids who have been abandoned in a very raw way. I loved that Maddie, Murphy, Ricky Ray, and the others weren't completely jaded despite being cast away by their parents time and time again. Maddie was a wonderful protagonist who was kind and creative. I also loved Logan's perspective, because it showed that even though you may have a paternal family, they doesn't necessarily mean it is going to run completely smoothly and that you will feel like you belong.

3.5 stars

I first read this book when I was in middle school, and even though I forgot the title somewhere along the way, I always remembered the plot and how much it meant to me. With the help of my childhood best friend I finally found Where I’d Like to Be again, and rereading it has felt like coming home. ⁣
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We follow 11 year-old Maddie at East Tennessee Childrens’ Home. Maddie’s life has not always been easy, but it’s also never been particularly exciting. Since coming to the Childrens’ Home she spends her days at public school, and her afternoons hanging out with 6 year-old Ricky Ray, dreaming of the houses they’ll have one day.⁣
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But that all changes when Murphy comes to stay at the Home. She comes in a whirlwind and tells stories of exotic travels and being able to fly. Suddenly Maddie’s small world explodes and she finds herself at the center of a group of misfit friends. ⁣
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This book is very much just a slice of life, a realistic look at what it must be like to grow up in a group home, and how kids cope with dysfunctional families. Where I’d Like to Be doesn’t shy away from the real issues of abuse and neglect that cause kids to end up in the Childrens’ Home. It also doesn’t shy away from issues of class, race, as well as your everyday preteen struggles of identity and friendship.⁣
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The writing in here is beautiful and poignant. There are so many quotes that speak to my soul. It takes a really special narrative voice to be profound and yet easily accessible to a middle-grade reader. This was a gorgeous and hard hitting read. Where I’d Like to Be showcases the realities and imperfections of life, and the little moments that make it wonderful despite that.⁣
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This book stuck with me for over a decade after I read it. The title got lost over time, but I could always picture the cover, and remember the plot, finally finding it again has been so special for me. Rereading it, I realized how much of the story had a deep impact on who I grew up to be. This is such a beautiful story, and one that I think readers of all ages would enjoy. ⁣