Description
Before her plane even touches down in Newfoundland, Cheryl is already plotting her escape. She knows life on this 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 decision 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?
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age:
- 14 to 16
- Grade:
- 6 to 9
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Annotations
Librarian review
If You Live Like Me
This city girl is determined to get back to the concrete, the buzz, and the bright lights of Montreal. She knows life in Newfoundland will be no better than it was in the other places she’s been forced to live since her father’s study on “dying cultures” began. Will Cheryl’s cold, goth exterior and her refusal to embrace a new life cut her off from those who love her?
This is a book about different views of the world, between urban and rural communities, socioeconomic status, and fathers and daughters. Protagonist Cheryl is considered an outsider and many young adolescents can identify with her rebellious nature. The Newfoundland setting is an important feature of this story, helping readers understand how where we live determines who we are, and the impact that our personal choices have on our community and the wider world.
Also available: City Pictures by Shirlee Smith Matheson
Author available for class visits
Source: Association of Canadian Publishers. Top Grade Selection 2016.
