Meet Me in Outer Space

March 1, 2019

Gr 9 Up-This YA debut offers an #OwnVoices look at what it is like to live with central auditory processing disorder (CAPD). Edie Kits is a college student studying fashion who hopes to spend the summer and beyond in Paris. Everything is on track except French 102. Learning a language is hard enough, but when you add Edie's CAPD into the mix, passing the class begins to feel impossible. Her professor is not particularly helpful when she asks for accommodations, but the TA for the class, Wesley Hudson, is more understanding and also more distracting. Hudson volunteers to tutor Edie in French, and soon it becomes clear that they both want more than just a tutoring relationship. Edie makes her desire to focus on passing French and going to Paris very clear, while Hudson makes his romantic intentions equally clear. Though readers may wish that Hudson respected Edie's intentions, the attraction between the two of them is well drawn. Edie and Hudson are both likable, if thinly developed, characters whom many will want to see together despite missteps from both of them. The ending feels a bit rushed and will leave teens wondering how Edie and Hudson will work out their issues. VERDICT A sweet college romance that features a disability experience not often represented in teen fiction. A good choice for most YA shelves.-Mindy Rhiger, Hennepin County Library, MN

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2019
Grades 8-11 Edie doesn't want a boyfriend?her heart belongs to Paris. She's headed to the fashion capital of the world for the summer of her dreams, if she can pass her first year of college French. Unfortunately, Edie's auditory processing disorder makes even English sound like nonsense under the wrong circumstances. Hudson, the TA Edie is reluctantly crushing on, is happy to help, but Edie hesitates to accept his offer of tutoring: intent on maintaining her independence, she doesn't want to be viewed merely as an object of pity. But even if Hudson can look past her disability to see the real Edie, starting any kind of relationship when she plans to extend her study abroad for as long as possible could only lead to heartbreak. Edie's resolve not to give up her lifelong dream for a guy is heartening, although her refusal to even consider a long-distance relationship seems overly contrived at times (her fluent French tutor wouldn't love to visit France?). Tame for a college romance, this #ownvoices debut tackles the stigma of a hidden disability.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)