When You Were Here

May 6, 2013
Whitney’s (The Rivals) evocative novel about living life to the fullest traces the journey of high-school valedictorian Danny Kellerman as he tries to find answers about his mother’s final months before succumbing to cancer. His quest takes him away from his Los Angeles home, where he is tormented by both his mother’s death and his breakup with Holland, the former girlfriend who left “without a reason, with barely a call.” Wanting to soothe his wounded heart and hoping to discover “the secret to how she was the most joyful person when she was dying,” Danny travels to the family’s second residence in Tokyo, where his mother received alternative treatments. Guided by the apartment caretaker’s flamboyant teenage daughter, he visits his mother’s favorite haunts, meets the people she knew (including the doctor who also served as a spiritual guide), and makes a shocking discovery about Holland. Set against the colorful backdrop of Tokyo’s bustling streets, teahouses, and markets, this intricate story vibrantly depicts the stages of Danny’s enlightenment and celebrates his mother’s sanguine attitude toward life, love, and death. Ages 12–up. Agent: Michelle Wolfson, Wolfson Literary Agency.

May 1, 2013
As Danny Kellerman prepares for his high school graduation, the absence of his loved ones pitches him into a dangerous tailspin. Estranged from his adopted sister, separated by death from his parents and inexplicably jilted by his childhood sweetheart, Danny feels nothing but empty. Following graduation, Danny seeks connection with his mother, who succumbed to cancer only eight weeks prior, by heading for Tokyo--a foreign but familiar city, where his family maintains an apartment and his mother spent some of her last days in a state of peace that is baffling to Danny. Upon arrival, Danny seeks clues to better understand his mother but ends up uncovering even more questions about her and those absent from his life. Determined to learn more, Danny partners with Kana, a fierce Japanese teen who helps maintain the Kellermans' apartment and who had been his mother's friend. Kana provides Danny a unique lens to view the city, his mother and his life. Themes of prescription drug abuse, death and teen pregnancy make this a heavy go, but they don't drag the text down, as they are expertly balanced by Kana's spunk, Danny's pained but authentic voice, and the overarching theme of love. A poignant coming-of-age story intertwining loss and hope against a background of Japanese culture. (Fiction. 14 & up)

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August 1, 2013

Gr 9 Up-Eighteen-year-old Danny has lost everyone important in his life: his father died six years ago, his older sister is estranged, his girlfriend pulled away with no explanation, and his mother succumbed to cancer only two months before his high school graduation. While fighting off grief through prescription drug abuse, Danny receives a letter from Kana, the daughter of the manager who oversees his family's Tokyo apartment, inexplicably conveying that his mother was happy there in her last months. His mother, who wanted to share a lifetime of memories with her son, went to Japan in search of healing, and Danny follows in search of answers: How could she find joy in the face of imminent death? Can he find that same peace? Quirky fashionista Kana becomes his friend and guide as he rediscovers Tokyo and grapples with his losses. Though Kana's English-language ability seems conveniently advanced for the sake of the plot, her endearingly forthright character sparkles on the pages. Danny's rough language, vulnerability, and raw anger paint a vivid portrait of a young man in desperate need of comfort and stability. Readers will root for him as he strives to find meaning in the way his mother lived and died. Against a backdrop of Tokyo's bright lights, trendy crepe stands, and ancient temples, Danny's journey to healing is heartbreaking, hopeful, and full of luminescent beauty. This gem of a book will lead readers to ponder life, love, death, and everything in between.-Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2013
Danny's mother has recently died from cancer, his father died years ago, his estranged sister lives in China, and he and Holland, the love of his life, have broken up. A trip to Japan is enlightening and helps him handle a shocking secret he learns about Holland. The extent of Danny's problems stretches credulity, but readers will be caught up in the drama.

(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)