WHERE I’D LIKE TO BE

A celebration of friendship and of the healing powers of the imagination.

—Publisher’s Weekly

A ghost saved twelve-year-old Maddie’s life when she was an infant, her Granny Lane claims, so Maddie must always remember that she is special. But it’s hard to feel special when you’ve spent your life shuffled from one foster home to another. And now that she’s at the East Tennessee Children’s Home, Maddie feels even less special.

She longs for a place to call home. She even has a “book of houses” in which she glues pictures of places she’d like to live. Then one day, a new girl, Murphy, shows up at the Home armed with tales about exotic travels, being able to fly, and boys who recite poetry to wild horses. When Murphy offers Maddie something she has never had before, Maddie begins to wonder if she has finally found someone who feels like home.

Awards and Nominations

William Allen White Children’s Book Award Master List (KS)
ABC Children’s Bookseller’s Choices,
IRA/CBC Children’s Choices,
Land of Enchantment Children’s Master List (NM)

A lovely, quietly bittersweet tale of friendship and family.

—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

A choice read aloud. Tough issues, difficult situations, engaging characters, and a tentative ending provide ample discussion possibilities.

—Booklist