Realistic Coming of Age YA Novel

I Am Me, by Kai Strand, is Lola Renaldi’s story told in the first person present tense. Lola is a senior at an exclusive college preparatory school in Ohio. She feels pressure from everyone around her to excel. Referring to college acceptance, her mother says, “I would hate for you to miss a deadline because you’re busy playing Mother Teresa.”

Lola definitely gives Mother Teresa a run for her money. Every Wednesday Lola is at a soup kitchen where she met a crotchety old man, Mr. Whitman, whom she adores. On Saturdays she volunteers for an organization like Habitat for Humanity where she helps build homes for homeless families. There she met Rod, a boy her age with a dysfunctional mother and non-existent father. Rod is fulfilling community service that piques Lola’s curiosity.

Lola’s best friend, Cyn, a budding fashion designer and critique, is usually critical of Lola’s wardrobe, but she is thrilled when Jerome (Rome) Bennett returns for a visit from Ohio State University (OSU) and notices Lola. Rome, a former star football player and most popular boy at Lindsey Prep, actually wants to date Lola, a fantasy come true.

To make herself more appealing to college entrance committees Lola is also on the debating team. In one of her speeches she talks about the importance of volunteerism and actually wins a slot to speak in a contest at OSU.

Author Kai Strand does a superb job getting into Lola’s head and the emotions young adults experience as they make the transition from high school to college. The author also takes on societal ills like poor parenting, teen homelessness, emotional abandonment, and the benefits of volunteerism. Strand’s characters are very realistic, her settings are described beautifully, and the plot will captivate readers from first to last page.

Warning: Bring a box of tissues. I Am Me is a tearjerker.

About the Author

Award winning author, Kai Strand, is often found exploring hiking trails and snapping pictures of waterfalls in her Oregon hometown. Wife and mother of four, Kai uses her life experiences to connect with young readers. Kai has given numerous presentations throughout Oregon about her work and the writing process. She loves interacting with teens and gaining their insight on their latest reads as well as what they would like to see in future stories. 

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