Here We Are Now

Reviewed by: Sheila Dube - Springvale Public Library, Springvale, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: March 30, 2018

Review

Sixteen-year-old Taliah has spent the last three years writing notes to music rock-star Julian Oliver, introducing herself as his daughter. She has not received any response in that time, and now he is standing on her front porch asking her to come with him to visit her dying grandfather whom she has never met. Over the period of five days, Taliah is introduced to the people and the emotional baggage of her father, extended family, and the persistent and intriguing boy next door. During this time of self-discovery about music, friendships, forgiveness and new beginnings, the backstory of Taliah's Arab Muslim mother and absent music rocker father are interspersed. Warga expertly provides readers one perspective on the Arab Muslim immigrant experience through Taliah's mother story line. The parallel story lines provide different time period settings around the same themes of romance, being true-to-self and life consequences. Recommend for teen collections.

Overall Book Score: excellent