Where Do I Go from Here? (Point) [Mass Market Paperback]

Valerie Wilson Wesley (Author)

Book Description

Series: Point | Publication Date: January 1996

Struggling against prejudice and financial disadvantages at Endicott Academy, Nia, an African-American teenager, finds a friend and mentor in Marcus, whose disappearance leaves Nia confused and determined to find him. Reprint. SLJ. VY. AB.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A less convincing variation of Maizon at Blue Hill (see review of Between Madison and Palmetto , above), this novel similarly introduces an African American scholarship student at an exclusive, almost all-white boarding school. Nia's painful attempts to find a place for herself are eased by the popular and successful Marcus Garvey Williams, also African American. But when Marcus mysteriously leaves school, rumors fly, and Nia, deeply unsettled, gets into a fight with a classmate that involves fisticuffs and racial slurs. Suspended for two weeks, Nia is tempted not to return. Wesley takes a shortcut through Nia's dilemmas by presenting dreary alternatives to the prep school--she can scrape up money for college with a job at a fast-food joint, like her friend Malika, or, like her friend Debra, can take up with unsavory men; both scenarios, however, are exaggerated here. Other pivotal developments include a number of chance meetings and sightings. The overly pointed messages and the abundance of coincidences risk simplifying some of the very real and critical problems Wesley addresses. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-10-Nia's only friend at Endicott Academy is the popular Marcus who, like her, is a black, scholarship student at the exclusive boarding high school. When he mysteriously vanishes one day, her life begins to fall apart. Nia is drawn into a fight when she overhears a classmate badmouthing Marcus and "minority students" in general. This action leads to a two-week suspension from school. At first she is relieved to be out of the hostile environment and back in her Newark neighborhood. But, gradually, she realizes that her old friends are on dead-end paths, and when she finally tracks down Marcus and discovers the reason for his disappearance, she decides to return to Endicott. This book is about being an outsider, the effects of everyday decisions on the future, and the importance of educational opportunities. Themes are presented in a positive but not preachy manner. The characters are believable and interesting, and their contemporary dialogue rings true. Readers will recognize and appreciate the real conflicts faced by these teens; the touch of mystery around the young man's disappearance will help carry most of them to the satisfying ending. Wesley's writing style is deceptively easy to read and while struggling YAs can handle this book, experienced readers will not be insulted.
Tim Rausch, Crescent View Middle School, Sandy, UT
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 138 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic (January 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0590456075
• ISBN-13: 978-0590456074
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,024,531 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great interesting , realistic novel for book lovers!, October 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Where Do I Go from Here? (Point) (Mass Market Paperback)

Imagine having to leave your home and go off to a school where there are not many of your kind. Nia had to go through that. The novel, Where Do I Go From Here?, by Valerie Wilson Wesley, is about a black girl who had to leave and go to a highschool where she feels like an outsider. Nia wasn't nich nor was she white like many other people at her school. Nia found a friend, Marcus Garvey Willians, who was like her. Even though Marcus is black he has found a way to fit in and still be himself.

I give is novel five stars because it is interesting and realistic. As one of the characters, Nia has to be the most exciting. Nia wasn't interesring because she was blowing up someone's house or anything. The story was just as exciting as an action packed book, but in a different way. Nia was interesting because of the kind of person she was. At the end Marcus helped Nia realize the importance of her life, and also gain a new respect for it.

4.0 out of 5 stars Yowza!, March 1, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Where Do I Go from Here? (Point) (Mass Market Paperback)

The story is about a girl named Nia who feels like an ousider at her all white school. And the only friends she has is a boy named Marcus Garvey Williams. But when he suddenly dissapears, Nia gets in a fist-fight with a student defending his name. Now Nia dosn't no what to do with her life now that she is suspended. Do you think Nia is going to get her life back on track? To find out that question read, "Where Did I Go From Here". I really liked this book because the author really knows how to relate to people and she was really straight forward and didn't hold anything back. Books related to this is "Bud Not Buddy". Because his parents left him when he was a baby and now since he lives with his grandmother he dosn't know what to do with his life eathier just like Nia.

4.0 out of 5 stars Where do I go From Here?, November 13, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Where Do I Go from Here? (Point) (Mass Market Paperback)

Things at Endicott Academy were never freat but thy wern't exactly horrible, either. Nia didn't really feel comfortable at the academy. She didn't fit. This book is belivably intresting and satisfying! Tis novel by Valerie Wesley is a fun, entertaining...read for the young adult.i think that you should read this book!