The Space You Left Behind

Excellent book about C.C., who has cerebral palsy, and when she meets cute Josh on the beach they start talking about a podcast series they both love. They talk and she tells him she doesn’t know who her dad is. Josh says let’s check out that guy on the beach who has the same red hair as yours. He also suggests she buy a DNA test. C.C.’s mom tells it’s best not to know who your father was. When C.C. finds a photo album she sees a picture is missing. When she searches for it, she finds out a secret. Will her mom tell her the truth? Will C.C. do the DNA test?

I didn't expect this novel-in-verse book would have emotional plot twist while the rest is also brilliantly told in short poems. Each line seems to pack a punch, no frill, no fluff, straight to the point. To write something that can hook readers so easily must require such skills in storytelling as well as composing poetry.

The theme, the characters, the writing style, the verse format and title blend seamlessly to be one cohesive entertaining and inspiring story. I even looked back to page one after learning the plot twist, giving me a 'so that's why' moment for some things that has happened. It's, in a way, giving readers the feeling of solving mystery too like what C.C. and Josh was doing. I truly have nothing to say anymore except that I'm so glad I have read this and I hope you'll get a chance to read it too. It's more than just what it seems on the blurb, trust me.

The Space You Left Behind is a really quick, heartfelt, and intriguing read! The novel in verse follows C.C. (Cara), who is 16 and has never had a boyfriend. She thinks part of this is because her cerebral palsy causes her to walk with a limp, and whenever boys realize, they put her in the friendzone. She also thinks not having a boyfriend is making her feel like there is something missing from her life. Over the summer, she befriends a boy named Josh who takes an interest in her because she doesn't know who her biological father is -- her mother used a donor. Even though she hadn't wanted to find her father before, she goes along with Josh because she wants to keep spending time with him. I really appreciated how this novel handled C.C.'s disability and family dynamics, and The Space You Left Behind does a wonderful job portraying the messy emotions of being a teen, like wanting a boy to like you or discovering secrets about your family that your loved ones hid from you, and how that can hurt even if they did with your best interests in mind. Highly recommend to YA readers looking for novels in verse with themes of complicated friendship, family, and secrets!

Thank you to NetGalley, Rosen Publishing Group, West 44 Books, and Ona Gritz for the opportunity to read The Space You Left Behind in exchange for an honest review.

The Space You Left Behind is a HiLo novel written in verse. The writing is poetic and filling. Gritz' craft is exquisite in her execution of expression so much in a story with so few words. Brilliant!

This novel follows sixteen-year-old Cara, a girl with flaming red hair and mild cerebral palsy. She wants nothing more than for people to appreciate her for who she is and not what they see when it comes to her "bad" arm and her limp. Working at the library, she admires one of the patrons, a woman in a wheelchair who often comes with her husband. It inspires Cara that there is hope.
Between her friend Paige, Paige's boyfriend Mike, and their buddy Josh, Cara wants nothing more than a possible romance with Josh. Maybe that will fill this void that she has always felt. It could also be that she has never met her biological day. Perhaps finding him will fill the void?

Between figuring out romance and finding the beauty that she already is, a family secret reveals itself.
I absolutely love the works that West 44 Books puts forth. They are always diverse in some way, and I extremely appreciate and enjoy that. Even though Cara's case is mild, it is nice to get even a small glimpse into the perspective of someone with cerebral palsy and how they see the word. I loved the twist in Cara's void. 

With a lesson on friendship, family, love, and self-appreciation, this book is truly an iconic model for teen readers. Yet another highly recommended novel told in verse form.

A cute heartwarming short verse novel about a 16 yr old girl who struggles with cerebral palsy, a budding crush, family, friends and secrets. It took me 20 minutes to read and it was so wholesome.