OUTTA HERE

A Quebecois teen’s dream of attending college means leaving behind the person she loves most.

Everything was different before the accident. Before her mom was injured in a serious car crash, Élise had support, love, and hope for the future. But now her mom is taking too many painkillers and sleeping all the time. Poverty and hunger have become constant battles for Élise, who dreams of going off to college in the city with her best friend, Lily, even though her mom has made it clear she sees this as abandoning her for a new life. Everything becomes even more chaotic when her mother invites abusive drug dealer Richard, whom Élise secretly calls Stranger Danger, into their home. Stranger Danger becomes a persistent threat as Élise tries to extricate herself from the tangled web of lies and betrayal her mother has built around them. Graphic violence and abuse pervade the narrative, allowing readers to experience Élise’s fear as their own. The author’s note provides a necessary warning about the graphic nature of the story, as well as reassuring advice for readers who may be experiencing something similar. This novel provides the vital perspective of a young person who’s watching a loved one struggle with addiction. Élise is a powerhouse of a character who refuses to compromise, even when all odds are stacked against her. Main characters read white.

A heartbreaking testament to saving oneself.