You Know Where to Find Me
Rachel Cohn
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published March 4, 2008
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Two cousins share a world of made up stories, dreams and long summer days until one, the perfect, beautiful one, chooses the unthinkable: to end her life. In the wake of that loss, the one left behind, Miles, must find her own way through her first summer without Laura. Friends and family rally around her to try to draw her out of her deepening isolation and depression, but their efforts often fall short and they are unable to touch the gaping wound inside of her. Miles’s story is a powerful, emotive tale of a girl walking through grief not knowing what is on the other side and if she can make it through and who, if anyone, will stick with her through that dark journey.
This was a tough read for me. I felt like the drug abuse was portrayed as this kind of glamorous experience, even though there were some consequences. It was explicit enough to almost feel like a how-to in some places, which was really too much for me. I deeply invested in the characters, but that investment also made it difficult for me to get through some of the darker parts of the story. Normally, I’m up for all the angst. I’m not sure why this one really haunted me (not in a great way) or what. Sensitive readers may find this one to be a bit too much to bear.
Light. Very little bad language.
Sexual Content
In one scene, the main character touches a boy inappropriately on top of clothes. The scene is very brief. Laura’s father is gay, but the story does not delve into his relationships. Two men kiss near a fountain in the background of one scene.
Spiritual Content
Miles, despite calling herself an atheist, expresses anger toward God and briefly discusses the possible existence of heaven with another character, who expresses a belief that it does exist.
Violence
None
Drug Content
Yeowza. Before Laura’s death, the girls shared pharms like percs and oxys they snatched from parents’ unused prescriptions. Twice Miles visits the home of a renown drug dealer and checks out his stash. She depends more and more on the pharms and their effects after Laura kills herself and presents them as really benevolent for much of the duration of the story, though other characters do encourage Miles needs to quit using.
While Miles drug use is pretty explicit, the consequences include an accidental overdose and a commitment to rehab. She feels relieved to be breaking free of her addiction, even though she knows it’s going to be an uphill battle.
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