Ask Me How I Got Here

How do you define yourself? By your friends? Your family? Your boyfriend? Your grades? Your trophies? Your choices? By a single choice? From the author of the acclaimed Poisoned Apples comes a novel in verse about a young woman and the aftermath of a life-altering decision. Fans of Laurie Halse Anderson and Ellen Hopkins will find the powerful questions, the difficult truths, and the inner strength that speak to them in Ask Me How I Got Here.

Addie has always known what she was running toward, whether in cross country, in her all-girls Catholic school, or in love. Until she and her boyfriend—her sensitive, good-guy boyfriend—are careless one night, and she gets pregnant. Addie makes the difficult choice to have an abortion. And after that—even though she knows it was the right decision for her—nothing is the same. She doesn’t want anyone besides her parents and her boyfriend to know what happened; she doesn’t want to run cross country anymore; she can’t bring herself to be excited about anything. Until she reconnects with Juliana, a former teammate who’s going through her own dark places. Once again, Christine Heppermann writes with an unflinching honesty and a deep sensitivity about the complexities of being a teenager, being a woman. Her free verse poems are moving, provocative, and often full of wry humor and a sharp wit.

What happens when the one choice you know is right makes everything else feel wrong?

Pro-Choice Novel: A raw and honest look at a teen girl’s abortion, exploring the complex emotions that follow a choice she knows was right for her. Queer Identity: As her old life falls apart, Addie finds an unexpected, intense connection with Juliana, a former teammate who understands her in a way no one else can. Catholic School Setting: Addie navigates the pressures of faith, friendship, and secrets within the walls of her all-girls Catholic high school. Poetry for Teens: Told in stunning free verse, this story captures the sharp, witty, and deeply personal voice of a girl redefining her future on her own terms.