I Am Here Now

Teenage angst in the face of a terrible parental marriage is beautifully rendered in this tale of 15-year-old Maisie.
Set in the Bronx, this story of Maisie’s life force in the face of her mother’s abuse is heroic.
Maisie finds a path out of her home grown terror through engagement with a friend whose artistic
mother helps Maisie realize her own artistic talent. Portrait of the Artist as a Young Woman. Rare and moving.

The hard truths and struggles the heroine, Maisie, shares about her loveless childhood and aspirations to escape to a better self and life, keep you reading and rooting. Each vignette, each poem, is a magnifying glass held up to the day to day experiences of a child whose parents have abdicated their roles. Her brother’s plight, while different, is as also fraught. The kindred-spirit boy in the neighboring building — who is navigating life with a veteran father with PTSD… also shows the humor and resilience of young souls left to nurture themselves. I so enjoyed the bff girl at school whose artist mother recognizes talent in Maisie and leads her to a creative world that channels her fury in a beautiful, constructive way. At moments shocking, amusing, heartbreaking and always so very real, it is a moving read from cover to cover. I highly recommend.

Helmet hair, Russian cosmonauts, green wallpaper Bottner paints 1960s Bronx with bold descriptive strokes that set the scene for high school freshman Maisie who is tortured by her unpredictable and often cruel mom, neglected by her skirt-chasing dad and misunderstood by her sullen, secretive brother.

When she meets Rachel, she finds a sympathetic and wonderful friend and someone who has a family culture completely foreign to her, a home life that is absolutely fabulous. So fabulous, in fact, that she forms a bond with Rachels artist mother, Kiki, that leads to Maisie seeing herself in a new light. Maybe she is pretty. Maybe she does have talent. Maybe she could be happy.

With these positive thoughts also comes opportunities to make mistakes.

Maisie is a fighter; sometimes she lashes out with combative words and other times its with humor. She is a compelling, flawed, strong character that you cant help but root for.

This is my first free verse novel experience. It suits the story, giving it a brisk pace and an unmistakable air of authenticity. Its a quick read that packs a punch.

Growing up in Maisies Bronx apartment, as described in Barbara Bottners newest novel, I Am Here Now, captures the primal pain she experiences by her self destructive crazy mother and her absent but loving father. The story unfolds in breathless episodes capturing the readers heart. Written in free verse Ms. Bottner mixes humor with shots or profound truisms which I found myself underlining as I read. This is a book that will live inside the reader and it wont let go. Brilliantly conceived and executed. I loved this book!

Im 65 years old and enjoyed this Young Adult book very much. Maises a teenager whose struggles are the same for many of us in those years, but she is living with an abusive mother who is incapable of love. Maise is smart, funny, wise, talented, and yes, angst-ridden. Shes a pleasure to follow around and I couldnt wait to see what she was up to was next. The book deals with Maises parents separation, her friendships, falling for Mr. Wrong, learning about forgiveness, finding a passion in art, and, finally, pursuing her dreams. The rat-a-tat writing is so good; so many of the lines here are incredible gems. Some smart person ought to option this book for a TV series.

Galaxyaudiobook Member Benefit

- Able to comment

- List watched audiobooks

- List favorite audiobooks

- Bookmark will only available for Galaxyaudiobook member