Editorial Content for You Were Here

On the day of her high school graduation, Jaycee has officially outlived her older brother, Jake. Known for his daredevil stunts, Jake was always in for a fun time until the day a dare turned deadly. Now, five years after his death, Jaycee has stopped tiptoeing around the traumatic event. But the memory still haunts her as she prepares to go to The Ridges, an old insane asylum that was one of Jake’s favorite places.
 
Jaycee expects this year to be no different than the past: go up to The Ridges, walk around the old sites with Mik, Jake’s childhood best friend, and leave only to return next June. But this time, she has unexpected company. Together with her strange crew and Natalie, her ex-best friend, they explore the asylum for the night just like old times. Jaycee is content for everything to go back to normal, with Natalie never talking to her again, but upon the discovery of a map leading to dares Jake never got to do, she embarks on a journey to finish them for him. Her unlikely crew comes back together for an epic quest in which friendships are rebuilt, questions are answered and lives are changed.

YOU WERE HERE tackles the tough issues of today while keeping the story uplifting and entertaining through the brilliant characters and intriguing plot line.

YOU WERE HERE by Cori McCarthy tackles the tough issues of today while keeping the story uplifting and entertaining through the brilliant characters and intriguing plot line. Jaycee, our main character, is a snarky, unique individual who is very refreshing. She does not hide from her brother’s death but embraces every memory of her brother. What she really struggles with is learning to let him go. Here is where the rest of the characters come in. Natalie Cheng, Jaycee’s ex-best friend, struggles with the trauma of losing Jake. Uptight and strict, she wishes she could let go of her “mom persona.” Zach, Natalie’s boyfriend, struggles from a feeling of loneliness he drowns in booze and video games while his friend, Bishop, recovers from heartbreak. Lastly there’s Mik, Jake’s childhood best friend who has gone selectively mute. Together, these five characters seem at odds with each other, but every personality flows together, creating a wonderful contrast between them.
 
Another unique aspect of YOU WERE HERE is how it is written. Each character has their own perspectives in the novel but only Jaycee’s, Natalie’s, and Will’s stories are told in prose. The remaining characters are portrayed in poetic illustrations and comic-book illustrations. This mixes up the plot line and appeals visually to the reader as well. Overall, Cori McCarthy has crafted a brilliant novel that will make readers consider the tough situations in life while enjoying the story created by the characters.