Where You See Yourself

By: Claire Forrest

Narrated by: Ali Stroker

Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

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...

©2023 Claire Forrest. (P)2023 Scholastic Inc. All rights reserved. SCHOLASTIC, SCHOLASTIC AUDIOBOOKS, and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.

Disabled college search rep I didn't know I needed

I really enjoyed this book and related to it as a disabled woman! It's so wonderful to see disability representation in YA books—I'm so happy this book exists and young disabled people will be able to read it on their journeys. The positive impact will be significant.

Effie's experience with her college search spoke to me really deeply. It made me reflect on my own experience as a disabled high schooler looking at colleges years ago and my recent rollercoaster of a time as a prospective grad student. I think the questions Effie asks herself, the challenges she faces, and the revelations she comes to are evergreen in a way that will resonate with lots of disabled readers in lots of different ways. But it all comes back to where we as disabled people find ourselves in the world and how we see ourselves there—the differences in those things and the way we seek to handle that without comprising what we deserve.

Plus, shout out for an inter-abled love story! And for the love triangle in this book being between Effie and two colleges that both have her heart in different ways :)

I definitely recommend this book and especially the audiobook! It's read by Ali Stroker and features an interview with her and the author Claire Forrest at the end. Worth checking out for sure!

The story I’ve been CRAVING

I sped through this book! I just couldn’t put this down and I can’t believe it’s Claire Forrest’s first novel, she writes like a seasoned YA author. The characters are the perfect mix of unique but relatable, flawed but worth rooting for. She aptly captures what the college application is really like in today’s world, and the perspective we learn from Effie as she has to consider the accessibility of college campuses is invaluable. Can’t wait for Forrest’s next novel!

Such a great book!

Yes, I really saw myself in this story, Finally! Great narration! Well thought out characters. I Definitely recommend.

Fun and insightful book, looking forward to more!

I really enjoyed this, it was a fun read. Effie's story is real and relatable - doesn't matter whether you're able bodied or not. On top of a good story, I got to live a little through her eyes as a wheelchair user, which was really interesting. Helpful too - I feel I'd be a better friend or coworker having read this, more aware. Would also recommend Sophie Morgan's book 'Driving Forwards' - excellent, if a bit more adult