Everywhere You Want to Be

Matilda Castillo didn’t even realize she wanted to dance professionally until a broken ankle shattered her chances, but now she’s got one last opportunity: she’s been accepted into a contemporary dance troupe, and now she’s got a few short months to train for the one performance that could mean everything. Tilly has a fresh start in New York, new friends, and maybe even a second chance with the boy she blew off after her injury. The only holdup is dancer drama. One dancer in particular, Sabrina, seems determined to sabotage Tilly. Will Tilly get a job offer in the end? Or will she be forced to go the normal, dependable route her mother wants for her, and go to college instead?

Nearly every teen and young adult–and even those who are just dreaming of the simpler days of their youth–will be able to see themselves in some facet of Tilly’s character. Whether it’s her determined nature, her creative methods of handling stress, her camaraderie with her friends and fellow dancers, or even the looming mistakes she’s made regarding past love and honesty with her mother, there’s no doubt Tilly is a well-rounded, identifiable, human character. Consequently, Christina June’s Everywhere You Want to Be is such a readable book; you’ll get lost in it the way Tilly gets lost in her dancing, eager to keep going. This is a fun, fascinating book with a satisfying ending.