Where You've Got to Be: A Heartfelt Middle Grade Tale of Friendship and Belonging in New York City for Children (Ages 8-12)

“Heartfelt, honest, and beautifully told—Nolie’s NYC story is a must-read. Bonus points for an absolutely amazing grandma character!”—Lisa Greenwald, author of The Friendship List and TBH series

Feeling left behind by both her sister and her best friend, Nolie tries her best to belong but soon finds herself at a moral crossroads. Set in the bustle of New York City during the Jewish High Holy Days, Where You’ve Got to Be is an accessible story about identities and relationships—the ones you keep and the ones you let go. Pitch-perfect for tween readers who love Rebecca Stead, Holly Goldberg Sloan, and contemporary, realistic stories.

Nolie’s sister, Linden, may be only fourteen months older than she is, but suddenly that feels longer than it ever has before. Linden is growing up. She cuts short their Cousins Week at Grandma’s beach cottage to focus on excelling in her ballet auditions, and she throws away the seashell necklace Grandma gave each of them—though Nolie secretly saves it. Even Nolie’s best friend, Jessa, is suddenly trying to act older and cooler, and she wants Nolie to be someone different, too.

With everything and everyone changing around her, Nolie starts to feel adrift. Should she be changing, too? Who does she want to be? One impulsive decision leads to another and another . . . until Nolie has a secret collection of things that don’t belong to her. Now, Nolie must face the fact that she may have ended up on the wrong path so she can start to find her way back.

This voice-driven read is perfect for readers of The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise and Finding Orion.

Caroline Gertler is a former editor at Wendy Lamb Books and the author of Many Points of Me. Caroline Gertler lives with her family in New York City.