Where I'd Like To Be

by Frances O'Roark Dowell

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.

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, Contemporary, Young Adult, Juvenile

143 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2003

About the author

While Frances O'Roark Dowell (Dovey Coe, The Secret Language of Girls, Trouble the Water) is best known for her award-winning novels, she also hosts the popular "Off-Kilter Quilt" podcast, where she talks about her latest quilt projects with friends and fellow quilters around the globe. Her own little corner of the globe is Durham, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, two sons, and a dog named Travis. Connect with her online at FrancesDowell.com.

Reviews

[Michael Beyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me cry. And that is not unusual, even though I am a 60-year-old man. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens made me cry. At the end, not during the funny parts. But this was a book about a lonely eleven-year-old girl trying to make friends. Why should that make me cry?
But it is also a bittersweet tale of memorable child characters who have nowhere left to turn but each other, and their imaginations. The poetic sting of it can make a grown man cry. You should read it. You will understand then.

[Asha Greye · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Where I'd Like To Be"

Ask any child where they'd like to be at the moment and the answer will most likely be home with whomever is their primary caregiver, but for Maddie and her ragtag crew, home is where they wish to be back at every day as they struggle to come to terms with the fact that they no longer have functional families to return home to in the evenings. Instead they sleep in dormitories under the supervision of paid strangers, who though reasonably decent and kind, could never fill the void of longing. This poignant story feels very real and holds your attention from the first page to the last, as the life stories of the children are revealed during the course of their attempt to rebuild what had been taken away from them by dysfunction, a place to belong, something so many take for granted. Surprisingly the ending was not predictable, but did a decent job of wrapping up the story.

[Naomi Kenorak · Rating 3 out of 5]

“At least my mama had the good sense to leave early and make it clear she was never coming back. Someone really ought to write a rule book I thought. You know, Proper Etiquette for Neglecting and Abandoning Your Child. And rule one should be: If you’re going, get out early and stay gone.”

The narrator of this book is Maddie, an 11-year-old girl living in the East Tennessee Children’s Home. The focus of the book is how different children come to terms with their dysfunctional circumstances – whether it’s wishing your mother would return (Ricky Ray) or pretending she’s someone else, someone better (Murphy) or building what community of dreams you can (Maddie) or even dealing with the not-so-idyllic-as-it-seems perfectly good family you have (Logan).

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally rediscovered this book after forgetting the title and I am honestly tearing up. This book shaped me as a person in ways I didn't realize until reading the description now, nine years after reading it the first time. This book describes exactly the feeling of not having anywhere that feels like /home/ despite going to a house or a room. After all this time I finally know where I first got the notion that a person could feel like home. Read this book if you ever have this feeling, even if you're an adult. (Oh, and this feeling is called hiraeth, great word)

[Sandy H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book by Frances Dowell so far. I fell in love with all of the characters and had a lump in my throat by the end. I've always appreciated that Dowell doesn't wrap up her stories in neat little bows--that there's still some guess-work to be done by the reader as to what might happen next. They're realistic, yet hopeful. This story has a sweetness to it that's not saccharine, and well-drawn personalities. It'll linger in my memory for awhile.

[S. Smyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book thinking that it was going to be boring and not at all a good read. Boy, was I wrong. This book was engaging from the beginning! The main character, Maddie, had such a strong personality and is such a great person. My favorite character wars definitely Ricky Ray, who was such great comedy relief and just makes the whole story seem fuller. I definitely, DEFINITELY recommend this book to anyone reading this!!! It’s an amazing story and you will NOT regret it.

[Ivonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought that this book was amazing it took my breathe away. The characters in this book are orphans and they have had a hard life. I've never imagined that kids so young could go through so much. The book is mainly about a little girl named Maddie and shes been in the shelter for quite a while shes been adopted and abandoned many times. She always sees different kids walk the halls. After all the time she has been there she is friends with ayounger kid named Rickey Ray that admires her very much. One day an abandoned girl named Murphy walks the doors to the shelter for the first time and makes friends with Maddie. Her character is very closed minded and is hard to talk or open up to people but with the friends she makes Maddie,Corrine, Rickey Ray, and Kevin. Kevn doesn't live in the shelter he just lives by there. When Kevin and Murphy find a "book of houses" that belongs to Maddie they plan to build a house but they don't have the money or place, so Kevin offers his back yard and they built a fort instead. That little fort becomes there hide away place there "run away from all the caousein this world place".

[Ayanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would you think if you were told that a ghost saved your life when you were an infant? Well, that's what Maddie's Granny Lane claims. Now 12, Maddie is living at the East Tennessee Children's Home, so she tries to feel as if she's special. It's difficult, however, when you have been sent to different foster homes your whole life. She wants a home so badly that she makes a "book of houses," in which she gathers pictures of houses --- houses where she longs to live someday. One day, a new girl named Murphy comes to live at the East Tennessee Children's Home. Her mind is filled with magical tales about exotic travels, being able to fly, and boys who recite poetry to horses. Maddie they become really good friends. Then one day, while Ricky Ray, Maddie's friend, is visiting her, Maddie decides to show Murphy her precious scrapbook. Murphy eventually comes up with an idea to build a fort.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Favorite Quote "You know why trees smell the way they do? Murphy asked, looking up from her hammering. 'Sap?' Logan guessed. 'Chlorophyll?' Murphy shook her head. 'Stars. Trees breath in starlight year after year, and it goes deep into their bones. So when you cut a tree open, you smell a hundred years worth of light. Ancient starlight that took millions of years to reach earth. That's why trees smell so beautiful and old."

"Every time I pounded a nail further into a board, it was like a little puff of perfume came out and I breathed it in as hard as I could."

[Niki Dhawan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read the plot I thought it was gong to be about ghosts because the girl was know to be saved by one. The girl is in an orphanage, everyone else seems special and important. The girl starts to wonder, is she special? You can't be special if you are in an orphanage stuck with millions of homeless girls. But if it involves building a secret fort with her friends then her life might get intresting. This is a nice book. It shows a common problem people have when the fell out of place or not special. People who like realistic fiction should read this.

[Mikayla Van De Walle · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is really good if u like addventure and... kind of a heart warming story

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very sweet and I was rooting for Maddie. I am not sure why the back cover says she is 12 as she is 11 and talks about that often.

Early on this book about children in a group home reminded me of the Boxcar Children and that is a personal favorite.

Among my complaints, likely not shared with the young reader, is the lack of reality in this sugary story. Sure there are some sad tales of foster care woe woven throughout, but for the most part Maddie and her friends live a pretty dreamy, perfect existence. They are well cared for, supported by the community, and manage to build a fort...tools, supplies, and all...in a Judge's back yard, without incident or concern...or adult supervision. They are all mentally healthy and deal with their emotions moderately well, even pathological liar Murphy. In short, it wasn't very realistic. Additionally, the story felt scattered and the flashbacks were confusing.

As far as appropriateness, this book contains no language and no sexual content. It is pretty tame and sweet.

Finally, if you want an ending O'Roark Dowell doesn't provide one. We don't leave the story knowing what happens to our characters.

[Tayler Morrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maddie is in the foster care system. She grew up with her Granny Lane claiming that she was saved as a baby by a ghost. She loves to collect pictures of people and houses in notebooks and makes stories up for them. A new girl named Murphy came to the Children’s Home and turned Maddie’s world into one of hopes and dreams. They, and some other friends, build a little fort that becomes their special place, their home and Maddie begins to understand more about people she cares for and where she’d like to be. This is an easy read…it could very well be for later elementary school. It was simple, yet deep at the same time. This would be a perfect read for students or children who have been in the system before.

[peyton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a twist!
Maddie tries to become friends with Murphy, as in marking her territory with her, before anyone else at the Home does. The “Home” is a foster home for foster kids with no family in their current situation. Murphy was one of the new kids, a fresh scab, as some would say. When Logan Parrish starting crushing on Murphy, Maddie was disgusted. Logan is the kind of guy to throw a tantrum if he gets a 98% on his test instead of an 100%. But..he changes. Murphy makes him a better person! Characters Donita, Ricky Ray, Murphy, Logan, and Maddie all go back into Logan’s large backyard and make a fort because they aren’t able to build a house by themselves. Find out what I mean by “what a twist!” In the beginning of this review by reading the book yourself!

[Maddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book handles kids who have been abandoned in a very raw way. I loved that Maddie, Murphy, Ricky Ray, and the others weren't completely jaded despite being cast away by their parents time and time again. Maddie was a wonderful protagonist who was kind and creative. I also loved Logan's perspective, because it showed that even though you may have a paternal family, they doesn't necessarily mean it is going to run completely smoothly and that you will feel like you belong.

3.5 stars

[Tiana Alpiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this about 20 years ago when I was younger and it made SUCH an impression on me. I got it again as a Christmas gift and couldn’t put it down.

It’s written in such a way, that your soul and heart deeply understand these characters through the daily activities and small conversations MORE than any plot points can describe or explain.

Please read it. It’s a fast read. It’ll burrow deep down into who you are.

[Clarissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read, but full of hard things. It’s the story of kids who find themselves in a group foster home, their backstories slowly being revealed. It’s more than a bit heartbreaking to read from their perspective—trying to make sense of their lives, navigating relationships, daring to hope. It’s a good book.

[olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

my 4th grade teacher had this book on the shelf in her room. i remember hiding it under my desk so i could read it during class and having to participate in the lesson after finishing it even though i had just been destroyed emotionally. i dont think i could ever read it again and taint that memory.

[Em (Makenna) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really surprised at how much I liked this one... it made me feel strangely nostalgic for whatever reason. I can't wait to read the other books by this author, and I hope they are just as good as this one.

[Coco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely and whimsical but very real matters

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story, sad but sweet. Good for all ages.

[Heather Lowry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this with my 9yr old daughter and it was a good book. Sad moments thru the book, but overall mood is upbeat.

[Jaylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The begining was a little boring. The fact that a ghost saved Maddie's life was kind of pointless and did not really change the story or character.

[Shelly Budziszewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the way the main character evolves. Kids will enjoy the characters adventure in building. Happy ending!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite of Frances’ books so far ( and I’ve enjoyed all I’ve read). I especially related to the house theme :)

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my absolute favorite books. A true comfort read I turn to when I just want to feel at home again <3

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poignant. Funny. Heartbreaking. Hopeful. An easy, quick read, but really punches in the gut.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very emotional book; read it for book clubs.

[Jaelan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this over 14 years ago so going off what I can remember. Perhaps what part stuck with me.
I definitely feel like I knew a Murphy in my childhood, a girl who uses magic to make sense of her world and talks about it with such conviction. So that's the part that stuck with me the most after all this time.
Didn't give it all the stars because now and even back then when I was a child, maybe Tennessee is different but as someone who lives in Canada I thought it was weird that all the characters are white? Like when I was reading it I imagined different skin colours and backgrounds and was a little jarred when they were all described with blond hair. I think it might have benefitted more if their looks were just left ambiguous. It's no one's fault though, I've learned at this point in my life that everyone has different defaults that they don't think about very hard.

[Maria Eduarda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that the book touches in deep topics which people sometimes are afraid to talk about.Where I'd Like to Be is about a girl called Maddie, who struggles with issues such as: lack of self confidence, family abandonment and also she struggles in making bonds of friendship.She makes a friend called Murphy, Murphy helps her with all her issues and become very good friends.In this book the part where she enters in school is what basically changes the books path, there she understands how other kids who are similar or different to her behave.I don't like the part where Murphy gets adopted and Maddie not, but this was important for the story in some way.The end is not what you'd probably expect and pretend another ending, but the book helps you reflect about how hard and difficult are these kids situation around the world.I think who likes a more deeper topics book and a reflective one you'll like it, otherwise do not read you're going to cry.