When Sadie, protagonist of Ann Liang's I hope this doesn't find you, was quite young her father stormed out after a fight and never returned. She thought the fight was her fault. Now in high school, she's aspiring to get into the right college to achieve a career where she can earn enough to provide for her hard working mother and her seemingly unmotivated big brother. She's cutthroat competitive in the classroom, on the sports field, and for every recognition and honor available--especially with her classmate and nemesis, Julius.
Probably due to her experience with her father's desertion, she's careful not to anger or hurt anyone. She's always pleasant, willing to help even when she doesn't have time. Keeping a smile on her face, she doesn't reveal her real emotions...
...except in a series of emails to the people who aggravate her where she tells them what she's really thinking and feeling. It's all about blowing off steam. She'd never actually send them but...
...you guessed it. They get sent to these people and everyone else in her class. All of a sudden she's despised by her peers (and at least one faculty member) and wishing the school building would collapse on her.
"Everywhere I go, whispers follow. From the way people are acting, you'd think I was caught murdering a man with my bare hands or something, but I guess this is a kind of murder. As of today, Sadie the Model Student, the Perfect School Captain, is effectively dead."
But as Sadie struggles to navigate her new normal and possibly turn things around her nemesis is turning out to be not so adversarial, maybe deserving of a new role in her life.
This truly engaging narrative will have a special appeal for the many teens who have had less than positive social media experiences.
On a purrrsonal note, you would NOT believe my graduation. But what I'm about to tell you is 100% true. We graduates march in to the strains of Pomp & Circumstances. I'm glowing with pleasure and pride, remembering when both graduating and walking were purely aspirational. The speeches start. When the president is speaking all of a sudden she's talking about me--how at 73 I've come back from a stroke to complete my degree work. People seem to agree I'm inspiring because there's lots of applause and a guy is taking my picture and my classmates are all psyched. When I'm on stage I'm hooded and my name is called and I hear thunderous applause. I look at the audience. Everyone is clapping and people are starting to stand. I raise my hand to acknowledge their kindness. The president comes over, looking quite pleased and having her picture taken with me. By then the audience is in full blown standing ovation mode. My advisor and classmates are elated. I'm walking on air. This doesn't happen at UMaine graduations. When I'm waiting for Catherine all these people I don't know are congratulating me. Catherine and some friends stop at Sweet Frog 🐸 on the way home--a purrrfect ending for an evening to remember!!!
A great big shout out goes out to all who participated.
Jules Hathaway
Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone
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