A city girl’s concept of “home” is turned upside down when her father’s anthropology research relocates them to St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Before her plane even touches down in Newfoundland, Cheryl is already plotting her escape. She knows life on “the rock” will be no better than it was in the other places she’s been forced to live ever since her parents launched their cross-Canada tour. The unwilling spectator of her father’s morbid fascination with “dying cultures,” Cheryl has seen more than her fair share of towns so depressing they could haunt your dreams. His need to study the defunct fishing industry in St. John’s is Cheryl’s breaking point – this city girl is more determined than ever to get back to the concrete, the buzz, and the bright lights of Montreal.
Will Cheryl’s cold, goth exterior and her refusal to embrace a new life cut her off from those who love her? Lori Weber once again proves herself to be a masterful storyteller, this time challenging the idea of home, and what holds families and communities together.
If You Live Like Me explores the bonds that form in strange and unexpected ways, and shows how letting go can lead to the strongest connections of all.
Extras:
Curriculum Links for If You Live Like MeFree Teachers' Guide / Lesson PlanAccelerated Reader Quiz from Renaissance Learning Read an interview with author, Lori Weber
"... the reader [is drawn] into the characters and the vivid, rustic setting to which their fates are tied. This sensitive and well-told novel is rich with both place and emotion." – Booklist, April 2009
“... an absorbing book – full of teen angst, changing times, natural beauty, the heart of an exquisite province, family struggles and closeness, and the choices that lead to love. Lori Weber's biggest accomplishments in this novel are the well-crafted characters and the superb sense of place on every page.” – Canadian Children's Book News, April 2009
"The coastal Canadian setting is vividly realized ... an entertaining story that will engage many female readers with its satisfying depiction of a growing romantic relationship." – Kirkus Reviews,March 2009
“Weber's attention to setting details makes for many picturesque descriptions, and her explanations of how natural elements affect people’s everyday lives will impress readers as well … Weber writes with a light touch and a keen ear for teen dialogue and concerns, and this will make a popular choice for younger teens.” – CM: Canadian Review of Materials, April 2009
"Like rough waves pounding on the stubborn shore, Cheryl’s resolute and prickly mood wears on her parents, and herself ... Cheryl begins to revise her understanding of commitment and connection. The interplay between exterior and interior, as well as inclusion and exclusion, are deftly described by Lori Weber in this memorable novel about people and place." – Cooperative Children's Book Center, May 2009
“...
another solid offering by Montreal writer Lori Weber ... Weber does a
fine job of capturing Cheryl's conflicting feelings of rootlessness
and fear of connection. Newfoundland itself emerges as an important
character personified by Jim, the fossil-hunting son of a former
fisherman [whose] pride in his heritage and his reverence for family
impresses Cheryl, who is just beginning to let down her barriers ...”
– Montreal Review of Books, Summer 2009
“... it’s an interesting ride – especially in its description of Newfoundland … Cheryl’s new neighbour, Jim, proves himself to be as solid as The Rock and our heroine sees her life as more than a reason to moan ...” – Montreal Gazette, June 2009
"... this is a story that will appeal to many junior high girls – and they may well learn something about Newfoundland as they read it!" – Resource Links, April 2009
"This is a fascinating story ... Everyone, not just teens who
have moved a lot, can relate to Cheryl's feelings of ambivalence,
frustration, isolation, and needing to belong. The author has crafted a
beautiful story and characters you think are perfect have flaws; and
the "bad guys" aren't as flawed as you thought. The family dynamics for
both families are well portrayed ... This is a book pre-teens and teens will come back to, especially when
they are frustrated by being in a new place or parents. This is a great
selection for summer reading, classroom read alouds, and book clubs." – The Reading Tub, August 2009
- Selected,
Canadian Children’s Book Centre's Best
Books for Kids & Teens (2010)
- Author selected by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre for the 2009 TD Canadian Children’s Book Week Tour
- Featured in the Montreal Gazette, West Island Edition, Guelph Mercury and the MyJellyBean.com teen website
- Blog Reviews: Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf; Beyond Books, Goodreads
