Not If I See You First

—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“Not If I See You First is thoughtful and honest, with characters that made me laugh, cry, and surprised me at every turn. It’s a book I’ll recommend for years to come.”—Kody Keplinger, New York Times bestselling author of The DUFF and co-founder of Disability in KidLit“Bursting with complex, lovable, and, best of all, real characters, Not If I See You First is a beautiful story about love, loss, friendship, and the difference between looking at and truly seeing. Parker Grant feels like a friend now — a friend I want to laugh with, to cry with, and especially…to run with.”—Jennifer Brown, author of Hate List“Parker Grant is unforgettable: vivid, feisty, and absolutely loveable. This book broke my heart, but left me smiling.”—Fiona Wood, author of Wildlife and Six Impossible Things“This book is fierce, funny, and honest. And get ready for some of the most likable characters you’ve read in years.”—Deb Caletti, National Book Award Finalist“The byplay between Parker and her friends is believable, and in creating a heroine whose drive for independence brings both risks and rewards, Lindstrom adds a note of complexity to his gripping depiction of how Parker learns to trust and forgive.”—Publishers Weekly“[Not If I See You First] possesses crackling wit, intense teen drama, and a lively pace that pulls readers in, as do the everyday details of Parker’s world: spoken-word texts, clever methods of finding her way, and a guide runner who helps Parker when she considers joining the school track team. This unique coming-of-age tale is off and running from the start.”—Booklist“Characterization is fantastic-very few high school stereotypes, and lots of challenged expectations about mean girls, pretty girls, blind girls, fat girls, jocks, and coaches. Parker has just the right degree of acerbic wit to be likable even when she’s bitchy, and when she falls apart, her insight into her own character is heartbreaking. And Scott?-oh, Scott, may your tribe of boys who respect boundaries and learn from mistakes increase. This will have broad appeal for readers who need to learn a thing or two about how to shepherd themselves and their friends through difficult times.”—BCCB“Lindstrom’s realistic and humorous dialog breathes life into an eclectic cast of characters. Parker’s relationships, including the one with herself, do not sugar-coat the mental struggles familiar to many teenagers. Readers will laugh through tears, with the novel ending on a note of hope and maturity.”—School Library Connection