The Map from Here to There by Emery Lord

THE MAP FROM HERE TO THERE by Emery Lord is a young adult, coming of age novel. Although this new title could function as a stand-alone read, it is actually a sequel to The Start of Me and You.  Here, Paige Hancock is entering her senior year in high school and is struggling with college choices and her growing relationship with fellow senior, Max Watson. Lord does an excellent job of describing Paige’s vulnerability and of building empathy for her:

“But saying yes meant saying no to other things, didn’t it? A yes to Mythos [local theater internship] had meant a no to QuizBowl.  A yes to one college would mean a no to all the others.  A yes to film school felt like a no to Max, my family, my friends nearby.”

This is a sweet, gentle read which is likely to appeal to fans of Sarah Dessen and Morgan Matson; School Library Journal recommends THE MAP FROM HERE TO THERE for grades 7 and up.  Lord has written several other young adult novels and is a contributor to Don’t Call me Crazy, a collection of essays on mental health.