You Were Here - by Cory McCarthy (Paperback)

About the Book

On the anniversary of her daredevil brother's death, Jaycee breaks into Jake's favorite hideout--an abandoned insane asylum--where her eccentric friends challenge her to rediscover buried parts of herself.

Book Synopsis

You Were Here is a gripping, emotional novel perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon, Jennifer Niven, and Adam Silvera, that moves seamlessly from prose to graphic novel panels and word art poetry.

Jaycee is about to accomplish what her older brother Jake couldn't: live past graduation.

Jaycee is dealing with her brother's death the only way she can--by re-creating Jake's daredevil stunts. The ones that got him killed.

Jaycee doesn't expect to have help on her insane quest of urban exploration to remember Jake. But she's joined by a group of unlikely friends--all with their own reasons for completing the dares and their own brand of dysfunction:

Natalie: the ex-best friend

Bishop: the heartbroken poet

Zach: the slacker with Peter Pan syndrome, and...

Mik: who doesn't speak, but somehow still challenges Jayce to do the unthinkable-reveal the parts of herself that she buried with her brother.

From the petrifying ruins of an insane asylum to the skeletal remains of the world's largest amusement park, You Were Here takes you on an unforgettable journey of friendship, heartbreak, and inevitable change.

"You Were Here is wrenchingly beautiful in its honest and achingly accurate portrayal of grief and how it breaks us--and the way unconditional friendship puts us back together."--Jo Knowles, award-winning author of See You At Harry's and Read Between the Lines

"The urban explorers of You Were Here dive deep into the forgotten man-made spaces all around them--and their own feelings of loss, love, and fear. McCarthy deftly intertwines the characters' stories, filling them with authentic pain and heartache as well as soaring moments of grace and humor. I dare you to read it!" --Maggie Lehrman, author of The Cost of All Things

Review Quotes

"A skillful blend of storytelling, emotion, and adrenaline-fueled daring" - Publishers Weekly

"A beautiful coming-of-age story, this book will leave readers thinking about it long after they close it." - VOYA Magazine, a VOYA Best Book

"Readers who appreciate stories of searching for personal truths will be happy to join this meaningful quest for identity and independence." - Booklist

"The mix of forms as well as the insights each character gleans through their urban explorations render this book both readable and teachable on multiple levels." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

"The topic of urban exploration and the inclusion of graphic novel style chapters will appeal to teens" - School Library Journal

""You Were Here" is wrenchingly beautiful in its honest and achingly accurate portrayal of grief and how it breaks us--and the way unconditional friendship puts us back together." - Jo Knowles, award-winning author of See You At Harry's and Read Between the Lines "

"Through razor-sharp wit, no-holds-barred momentum, and heart-wrenching twists, Cori McCarthy dares you to climb through the broken, abandoned wreckage of the past, stand on the edge of the world, and face something even scarier: the truth.
" - K.A. Barson, author of 45 Pounds (More or Less and Charlotte Cuts it Out