The Finding Place

by Julie Hartley

Found as a baby outside a school in China, Kelly Stroud is adopted and raised by North American parents. One day, her dad leaves the house to buy milk, and doesn't come back. Struggling anew with what it means to be loved and then left behind, Kelly embarks with her mother on a journey back to China in search of her cultural roots. The Finding Place is an adventure story which moves from urban North America to the magical landscape of Yangshuo, China. It is also the tale of a young girl's coming—of—age, written in the voice of an international adoptee whose unique perspective throws fresh light on the meaning of family: the people who raise us, and the parents who bring us into the world.

Genres: Young Adult

244 pages, Paperback

First published June 16, 2015

About the author

I was born in a steel town in the North of England, and started writing my first novel - on a manual tyepwriter - when I was 15. These days, I live in Toronto with my husband, daughter, and a feisty parrot! My poetry and short stories have appeared in literary magazines in England and Canada, and my plays for young people have toured on two continents. The Finding Place was my first published novel - this came out in 2015 and was followed in 2019 by Deboning a Dragon - a collection of poetry. I'm thrilled to be working with Bookouture, these days - writing historical fiction! My first novel, which is about a young girl in England who hides a German spy, was published in September 2024 and is available in paperback, for Kindle and on Audible. My second novel - about the sinking of a ship filled with evacuees on their way to safety in Canada - was released in February 2025.

In my non-writing life, I am the director of Centauri Arts. We run arts and creative writing workshops for teens from our Toronto studio and in schools - and we also offer creative writing retreats for adults in Costa Rica, Mexico and England. I love travelling, and I have a passion for birds. My parrot sits on my shoulder while I write!

Reviews

[Jaksen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A so-so book. Honestly, one of those I had to force myself to read. (I won this book. I needed to expend the effort. And I'm grateful for the GR giveaway program, truly I am.) But I'd read 20 pages and quickly set the book aside so I could go read something else. I also left the book out in a prominent location so I'd see it, otherwise I'd have forgotten all about it.

Now I realize many of the reviews here are four and five-star. I get it that this is a poignant story of Kelly, a young girl, and her search for - meaning in her life, and stability, and who her mother is and why she keeps so many damn secrets from Kelly and acts so mysterious, and of course, where Kelly's dad went and why...

But seriously, I HATED the mother. Why are so many mothers in so many MG and YA books so damn atrocious? And secondly, why are teenage girls just so rotten? (Kelly didn't fit that category but I didn't feel sorry for her. I got TIRED of her.)

The story is this: Kelly Stroud, whose father has walked out and whose mother never tells her anything the girl needs to know, goes to China, where her mysterious and awful mother hopes to have Kelly connect or identify (or something) with her home country. (Kelly was adopted as a baby from China.) I suppose that it's supposed to make the book endearing and meaningful. Umm, nope, not for me.

As for the writing itself, I felt it was sort of - what's the word? - ordinary? How about serviceable. It works, but is nothing spectacular. It's utterly trope-laden. And I know, I know, tropes are tropes because often what they tell us is true. Many teenage and younger girls are brats and mothers can be total idiots. And fathers disappear and don't tell us where they're going. And people go on important journeys of discovery and self-revelation. But put this all together in one book? Please, do not do that. Please.

Anyhow, the story tired me out, but I didn't hate it. Three stars is generous.

[Darlene Stericker · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are so many good things to say about this book. The author captured perfectly Kelly's teenage angst. I loved the part of the book that occurred in China; the descriptions and dialogue were perfect. The emotions surrounding becoming a parent for the first time were well done--any parent would recognize the well done descriptions of the unique love that no other relationship has.

[Jenee Rager · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book through the goodreads giveaway program in exchange for an honest review.

There were parts of this book that were good, and for a very young, but advanced reader (2nd or 3rd grade) I think it would be an excellent book. However, I believe the book is marketed to middle grade students (6th-8th grades) and for that age, too much is over simplified and just kind of "eh".

Kelly is a 13 year old girl, whose world is world as she knows it is slowly falling apart. Her adoptive father left to get milk a few months before and never came back. Her adoptive mother seems to irritate her for reasons I never quite understood, and thus makes Kelly seemed like a spoiled brat. For instance, her mom wants to take her on a trip to China, where she was born and adopted from, and yet it's a big secret, and her mom is afraid to tell her about it because she fears Kelly's reaction. To me, it was dumb and unrealistic. I don't know a single 13 year old who wouldn't want to travel out of the country for any reason.

Most of the book is set in China where Kelly discovers her roots and comes to terms with her adoptive parents. The big twist is one even the simplest of readers can see from miles away, and thus falls pretty heavily on the plot.

[Gemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

julie Hartley has written a brilliant book here. it captured me from the first page to the last and even now after finishing it about a year ago it is a book that is still in my memory. i look forward to more books from this up and coming author

[K.R. Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie Hartley’s THE FINDING PLACE is a wonderful YA novel. It will resonate not just with adoptees and adoptive families, but with anyone who has ever felt the need to explore who they are or what their place is in the world.

[Gwen Ruebush · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple sweet story of a child growing understanding of her life and experiences.

[Timothy Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Finding Place
by Julie Hartley

This is the story of teenager, Kelly, as told in her own words. She has been left on the doorstep of her school in her home country of China, put up for adoption as an infant and brought to Canada to be raised by a loving family in Toronto. Her world is turned upside down when her adoptive father deserts the family when she is thirteen.

In a search for her identity, life as a teen is confusing enough without the added dimension of being deserted for a second time, this time by her adoptive father whom she adores. The relationship with her mother is full of conflict along with blame for the breakdown of their relationship. Neither mother or daughter can do right. Attempting to repair the familial connection, the mother decided to take her daughter on a trip back to her place of birth, to Yangshuo.

The story has been specifically written for young adults but it is a compelling story for all ages and covers a subject that is currently relevant. It is emotionally highly charged, is fast paced, the events unfolding are unpredictable, and we are left in suspense right up until the final chapter.

[Emily J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I received this book through the Goodreads Giveaway program for an open and honest review.

I loved this book - what a great read for people of all ages! Julie Hartley did an amazing job of quickly drawing the reader into Kelly's story and building strong characters from the start. I also loved the details about Toronto (although as a Torontonian myself I may be slightly biased!). Throughout the book, detailed description of scenery and emotions enabled me to immerse myself in the story without getting bogged down by details. It is an impressive feat to write such a powerful story in a way that is accessible and meaningful to such a broad audience. While some reviewers claim that it is too simple for older readers, I would argue that it can be understood and appreciated at different levels and by different ages/stages. I plan to share this book with my nieces and nephews, and then with my adult teacher friends who will be able to share it with their students!

[Patricia Silver · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Finding Place is a very engaging story of a young girl trying to find her place as an child from China brought into a Canadian family. The readers gets a strong sense of the challenges and conflicts for both the parents and child in an international adoption. The descriptions of locations in China are so complete that you can very much visualize the settings (having traveled to China, I can relate to many of the scenes). The story moves quickly and effectively, always leaving the reading wanting to get to the next chapter. The end resolutions are good but leave you wanting to read a sequel, knowing more about the teen years of the lead character. This is a must-read for not only children from other countries who have come into Canada but for all teens. They can relate to the universal themes of friendship, parental relationships, change, and challenges.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding Place grapples with the questions of what makes a family and whether you are still a family when you go your separate ways. Intersecting with her story is the stories of several other people and their own struggles with family. Several points really suck me, like the plot-line of Phoenix and the differences between a biological and adopted children and how they are both as much your own, through thick and thin.

This book had some teenage you-never-listen-to-me melodrama, but it was never overwhelming and was appropriate for the age and circumstances of the narrator. I will admit that I found her parents frustrating at different times throughout the book, but never enough to put it down.

Received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tween and young adult readers will enjoy the story of 13-year-old Kelly who has been adopted from China and is exploring what family means. Set in Toronto and China, The Finding Place gives the reader a chance to see the world through a different set of eyes. Love, loss, betrayal, and a little bit of rebellious danger - what more could a kid want?

[Serena]

In compliance with FTC guidelines, I have won this book through the Goodreads Giveaways.

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.

[Melissa Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid read for middle schoolers involving international adoption, parental divorce, and personal identity.

[Jill MacKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. So sweet and special and, at times, heartbreaking. Truly memorable long after the last page is turned.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adopted child travels to her birthplace in China, where she was born/found.

[Amy Mathers]

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