A review by angiebayne
Ask Me How I Got Here by Christine Heppermann

4.0

Addie is a star cross country runner at her Catholic school. She has very supportive parents and a sweet boyfriend Nick. Addie and Nick do what teens in love often do and Addie finds herself pregnant. There is really no discussion about keeping the baby just about telling Nick and Addie's parents. Addie ends up getting an abortion with the approval of her parents and Nick. There are no complications and Addie doesn't really seem to regret her decision. However, her life does change. She becomes disconnected and stops running. She distances herself from Nick. She does reconnect with a previous cross country teammate who has graduated but also stopped running. Addie discovers an even deeper connection to Juliana that helps her on her path to healing and acceptance.

I adore novels in verse. I love how authors are able to say so much with so little. Verse doesn't allow the author to explain through paragraphs of prose. You have to get your point across with just a few words. Addie is a typical teen girl who faces something a lot of teens face. It changes her in ways she didn't realize. It makes her reevaluate her life and her choices and her beliefs. This is a very feminist book, but not an in-your-face feminist book. It was subtle and a bit subversive especially towards Catholic education and faith. I really enjoyed Addie's awakening. However, I do wish the ending would not have been quite as abrupt. I wanted a bit more closure.