Where I'd Like to Be

April 1, 2003
Wrought with the same sensitivity as her debut novel, Dovey Coe, Dowell's quietly affecting novel explores the fragile camaraderie between two 11-year-old girls who are placed in the East Tennessee Children's Home. Narrator Maddie knows there is something special about Murphy the moment the worldly-wise girl arrives. In hopes of sealing a friendship as soon as possible ("When a new kid comes into the Home, you've got to stake your claim quick if you want dibs on being friends"), Maddie, with trepidation, shows Murphy her most prized possession-a scrapbook filled with pictures of houses ("I was afraid she'd say something that would ruin the Book of Houses forever. can take the things you love and twist them around with a few words so you can't bear to ever look at them"). Inspired by the book, Murphy decides they should build a house of their own. The author creates a poignant contrast between the children's rich fantasies, expressed inside the fort, and the sadness that haunts each of them in the outside world. While Maddie dreams of a brighter future, Murphy directs her attention backward, re-creating her history and identity. The author gently reveals the tragedies they have suffered as well as the strength they gain when they are united. A celebration of friendship and of the healing powers of the imagination. Ages 10-14.

April 1, 2003
Gr 4-6-When a new girl moves into the East Tennessee Children's Home, her charisma has an immediate effect on Maddie, the story's narrator. Maddie's scrapbooks filled with pictures of the houses she dreams of living in serve as a catalyst for Murphy, as she gathers a fledgling group of unlikely friends around her. Together they build a fort, and spend time there dreaming of futures that compensate for their pasts. Maddie's own history, including a mother who abandoned her as an infant, pales beside Murphy's stories of her parents, well-respected research scientists who died tragically. When Murphy leaves suddenly and her past is revealed to have been an alternate reality to the truth she cannot accept, the group that is left must struggle to deal with their own difficult lives and Murphy's place in their memories. While insightful readers will suspect the newcomer's lack of truthfulness early on, that won't stop her compelling personality from leaping off the pages. Maddie is the more staid character, but still a distinct and likable person. The foster children's backgrounds are believable, diverse, and engaging, and readers familiar with eastern Tennessee will appreciate the references to real towns and cities that are sprinkled throughout the text. Despite being a remarkably different story from the author's Dovey Coe (Atheneum, 2000), this novel also offers unique and memorable characters.-Faith Brautigam, Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, IL

Copyright 2003 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 24, 2003
Wrought with the same sensitivity as her debut novel, Dovey Coe, Dowell's quietly affecting novel explores the fragile camaraderie between two 11-year-old girls who are placed in the East Tennessee Children's Home. Narrator Maddie knows there is something special about Murphy the moment the worldly-wise girl arrives. In hopes of sealing a friendship as soon as possible ("When a new kid comes into the Home, you've got to stake your claim quick if you want dibs on being friends"), Maddie, with trepidation, shows Murphy her most prized possession—a scrapbook filled with pictures of houses ("I was afraid she'd say something that would ruin the Book of Houses
forever. can take the things you love and twist them around with a few words so you can't bear to ever look at them"). Inspired by the book, Murphy decides they should build a house of their own. The author creates a poignant contrast between the children's rich fantasies, expressed inside the fort, and the sadness that haunts each of them in the outside world. While Maddie dreams of a brighter future, Murphy directs her attention backward, re-creating her history and identity. The author gently reveals the tragedies they have suffered as well as the strength they gain when they are united. A celebration of friendship and of the healing powers of the imagination. Ages 10-14.

Starred review from October 13, 2003
Wilbanks is a find; with just the right touch of Tennessee twang, her narration adds an extra layer of nuance to Dowell's complex and utterly memorable characters. Thoughtful and imaginative, 12-year-old Maddie considers herself a fairly talented storyteller—at least among the other kids at the East Tennessee Children's Home. But Maddie meets her match in Murphy, a new arrival who tells tales of her dead parents' exotic travels and exciting careers, as well as of her fascinating friends and relatives. Maddie bravely risks rejection and disappointment (something she already knows well) to join Murphy's intriguing orbit. But the line between stories and lies, friendships and loyalties becomes blurred during Murphy's brief stay at the home. And after Maddie realizes the truth about Murphy's circumstances, Maddie begins to focus on a happier future for herself. Wilbanks gets everything right here—including very kidlike cadences throughout. And she carefully maintains Dowell's balanced blend of occasional humor, poignant moments and revelations about some painful realities. Ages 10-up.

September 6, 2004
"This quietly affecting novel explores the fragile camaraderie between two 11-year-old girls who are placed in a children's home," wrote PW
, calling it "a celebration of friendship and of the healing powers of the imagination." Ages 10-14.