Who I Was with Her by Nita Tyndall

Abstract

Reviewed by: Who I Was with Her by Nita Tyndall Kiri Palm Tyndall, Nita Who I Was with Her. HarperTeen, 2020 [352p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780062978387 $17.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780062978400 $9.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 8-12 Publicly, high school senior Corinne is a popular, high-achieving cross-country runner, but in reality, she's struggling with her parents' divorce, her mother's alcoholism, and her girlfriend, Maggie, who wants to be out and proud while Corinne fears ostracism. Then Maggie dies and Corinne spirals out of control. From there, the first-person narration flips between the days and months before Maggie's accident to Corinne's drowning in the grief of the days following. This narrative structure is a poignant choice, realistic about the mental time-traveling one experiences after the death of a loved one. The bulk of Corinne's conflict is internal, as she curses her self-described cowardice at staying in the closet and mourns the absence of anyone who knows how much this dead girl from another school meant to her. As Corinne muddles through the expectations of her parents, teammates, and the late Maggie, she slowly comes to terms with her own desires and need for truth, as well as her budding feelings for Maggie's ex, whom she met at Maggie's funeral. There's no true resolution to Corinne's story; while she begins to let go of fear and accept herself, there's a long road ahead of her and an uncertain future. There's also, however, an opportunity to find her own way that rings true for teens on the cusp of adulthood and new adventures. This is a bisexual bildungsroman for fans of John Green or anyone wanting a good cry. [End Page 108] Copyright © 2020 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois