Where We Used to Roam

by Jenn Bishop

“Sensitively told and heartfelt…will open up many difficult, but important conversations.” —Jasmine Warga, Newbery Honor–winning author of Other Words for Home In this powerful middle grade novel from the acclaimed author of Things You Can’t Say, a young girl struggles to find her place while her older brother fights to overcome opioid addiction—perfect for fans of The Seventh Wish and Violets Are Blue.When Emma starts sixth grade, things finally begin to change. She may still be in the shadow of her older brother, Austin, the popular high school quarterback, but she’s made artsy new friends who get her way more than her bookish best friend, Becca. But things are changing for Austin, too. After undergoing surgery for a football injury, Austin has become addicted to opioid painkillers. By the end of the school year, everything blows up with Austin—and Becca. When their parents decide to send Austin to rehab and Emma to stay with family friends in Wyoming for the summer, Emma seizes the chance to get away. Wyoming turns out to be a perfect fresh start, especially after Emma makes friends with Tyler, a kindred spirit who doesn’t judge her—then again, he doesn’t know what she did to Becca. Still, Emma can’t hide forever…or go back to the way things were with Austin or with Becca. But can she find a way to confront the truth and move forward?

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Friendship, Family, Addiction, Contemporary, Fiction

350 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 23, 2021

About the author

Jenn Bishop is also the author of four other novels for young readers, including the Parents’ Choice Gold Award winner Things You Can’t Say. Her books have been named Junior Library Guild selections and Bank Street College of Education best books and have been finalists for state book awards. She currently calls Cincinnati, Ohio, home. What team do you think she roots for? Visit her online at jennbishop.com.

Reviews

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 3.5 stars ✰

“But now I don’t even know where to start. I can’t tell him the truth. Tyler barely knows me. Plus, what do people think about family members of addicts, anyway? That they should’ve known? Should’ve been able to do something to stop it?

Sometimes I think that deep down, part of me was in denial. I couldn’t believe something that bad could be happening with my brother.”

The blurb for Where We Used to Roam really appealed to me, so I decided to give it a shot. And while I did appreciate certain parts of the book, there was still something lacking in the emotional department that made it less impactful than what it hoped to achieve.

I did not mind the friendship aspect of the story - it is that precarious time where we certainly do redefine who are friends are - that new interests and new people might give us a varying scope on things, that makes us want to experience new things and new feelings. I liked how Jenn Bishop portrayed Emma's understanding of how she can be her own person and still find a comfortable way of making friends who may or may not share her own passions. These are the challenges young kids do face at this time, and I appreciated how it was shown with a sympathetic and understanding feel that would help them approach their own problems in real life. And as a current Middle Grade Book, I did let out a chuckle when the Haikyuu!! references were made. 😊

The Wyoming trip gave Emma a fresh take on life - she could really examine her emotions, see things in a new perspective and see that with the separation from her parents and friends, just how important they matter to her. I didn't like, though, how much of the story was so invested in that - because, honestly, I really really thought the focus of this book would be about how a family deals with their son suffering from a drug addiction and how it would impact the close sibling bond, Emma had with her older brother, Austin. To be honest, it barely scratched the surface for me; it was there, sure, but it just wasn't enough to matter.

“What I don’t say, what I can’t even try to without bawling all over again, is how I wish I could do the same with him. Just stay there and protect him, not let him do anything that could hurt him. Just stay there forever, keeping watch.”

There were little sprinkles of Emma's reactions to how Austin's behavior started changing due to his addiction. I could feel her frustration and sadness that the older brother she loved and could always rely on was behaving in a way that didn't suit him at all. But, once she left and he went off to rehab to recover, I didn't get much else into it.

I was hoping for more focus on Emma's family learning to cope with Austin's sudden change in behavior, the downside of his opium addiction, the negative strains it would have on their family. And I do understand that the teenager that he was, he would have to go to rehab - but, it wasn't enough of it to make me feel that the family was struggling and suffering because of it. 😔😔 A lot of their reactions and effects took place very much off-screen, so to speak. In a way, Emma's other story lines felt of more importance than focusing on this drastic upheaval in her life.

So, while this was well-written, I didn't feel it mesh all that well together, in the end. If it were simply a coming-of-age story about a young girl understanding that friendships can change over time, then it did a good job realistically depicting that. However, the brother's storyline became very much a side-story, which was something I wish could have been explored and developed a little bit further. 😟😟

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really can’t believe a book this amazing is being ignored by the world!
Author, you have written a life changing book for someone who knows a young person who’s struggling with substance abuse and their family struggling on how to go with therapy/rehab.

I feel this book is a must read for everyone. It’s books like this one that has always are hushed as it tackles a very important topic. I do feel it’s one of the most well written middle grade books ever with well discussed views on the matter along with a very important representation of everyone close to the person. They are young, confused, very much in the trial phase of their life. It’s just not about the young people but also about how we adults face such serious issues.

This book is so underrated!

[Jenn Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean, I'm sure once I'm done revising, it'll be worth all five stars. ;)

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happens when best friends drift away from each other? Emma and Becca have been best friends forever. Now that they are in middle school, Emma finds herself making new friends with Kennedy and Lucy who are into art like she is. Even though Emma invites and includes Becca in her interactions, will studious and avid reader Becca fit in? What happens when the four girls find themselves bunk mates with four other girls on a school field trip and a game of "Never Have I" is played which turns against Becca? Whose side will Emma take and what does it reveal about her true self? Could a trip to Wyoming for the summer after her brother is sent to rehab be the way to escape from her friends that she is looking for?

[Jenn Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah yes, the book in which I explore my long obsession with bison (and also maybe my crushes on local meteorologists?).

[Afoma (Reading Middle Grade) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where We Used to Roam is a realistic, pitch-perfect book about a family dealing with a teenage son’s opioid addiction. Featuring a relatable protagonist struggling to find her place when nothing in her world is as it used to be, this engaging middle grade book highlights the value of conflict resolution skills, finding friends who see us, and loving our family even when they fall off the right path. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for middle grade books about addiction in the family. Much like Jen Petro-Roy’s Life in the Balance , this one finds the sweet spot between tween-appropriate and true-to-life.

Read my full review on my blog.

Many thanks to the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Laurie]

I loved this sensitive, deeply relatable story about family, friendship, and addiction. Jenn Bishop has a knack for writing about difficult topics in an honest, accessible, and balanced way. There's a lot of sadness in this novel about a girl whose older brother is battling an opioid addiction, yes--but there's so much humor, adventure, and beauty, too. WHERE WE USED TO ROAM is a powerful, necessary story about the effects of addiction on Emma's family AND it's a story about Emma's development as an artist, her relationship with her parents, her quest to find her "herd," and her struggle to make peace with her own mistakes. All of these elements are woven seamlessly together, and the result is an absorbing, moving novel that flows effortlessly (though as a writer, I was in awe of the feat that Bishop pulls off here, covering so much ground in terms of time, geography, and emotional territory!).

[Sierra Dertinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely gorgeous, yet heartbreaking story. Emma’s brother change drastically after injuring himself at a football game. She notices his mood swings, lack of memory, and feels like something is off. Meanwhile, she is dealing with her own troubles as she is realizing her best friend, Becca, isn’t growing up like everyone else is. Emma finds new friends and makes a huge mistake of sharing something personal about Becca. Next thing you know, Emma is drowning in guilt, her brother is going to rehab for opioid addiction, and she is shipped off for the summer to another state to live with a family she hardly knows. Readers will love the friendship that Emma forms with Tyler while she is staying in Wyoming, the ties of art, and seeing how a family comes together in a crisis.

[Jessica Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book and have so many feelings about it. Jenn Bishop has written such an unflinchingly honest story about so many things~ the way friendships can drift apart, the way we need to find the people who "get" us, the pain of addiction-based diseases (both for the patient and their families), and the way that our mistakes can ultimately be overshadowed by our goodness and ability to forgive. To move forward despite setbacks.

The dialogue rings so true throughout. I read the second half of this book in one sitting. This is one that I'm going to thrust into the hands of my 12-year-old later today.

[Theresa Grissom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Edelweiss for an eARC of this book.

This is my favorite Jenn Bishop book to date (and I have read all her others). I had a hard time putting this one down. The author does a great job of showing how drug addition affects not only the user but the family as well. Loved the characters. Loved the friendships. This would be a great book to talk along with Kate Messner's The Seventh Wish. Looking forward to purchasing for my elementary library. I recommend this for 4th grade and up.

[Robin Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bishop is carving out important ground in middle-grade fiction, where the emotions of both boys and girls take center-stage in stories that engage younger readers. In Where We Used to Roam, she explores how a young girl manages to find a way through a friendship minefield while at the same time trying to understand her brother's fight with addiction. I think many kids face similar challenges and will find sympathy and hope in these pages.

[Elly Swartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where We Used to Roam is a sensitive and thought-provoking story about one girl’s efforts to navigate changing friendships, a brother’s addiction, and the ripple effect it has on the whole family. This story will surely be a catalyst for difficult discussions and leave a lasting imprint on your heart.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really glad a book like this exists for young readers (and for myself).

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tough subject of opioid addiction dealt with in a sensitive and age appropriate way. And, as happens in real life, that’s not the only thing falling apart in Emma’s world. Realistic, relatable character.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young girl navigates the social growing pains of middle school and struggles to find her place while her older brother fights to overcome opioid addiction.

[Kim Bahr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful story about a family dealing with an addiction

[Almira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma is facing new and exciting times now that she is entering sixth grade.
Between events surrounding her friend, Becca, and her brother, Austin, Emma's life is suddenly thrown into chaos and crisis.

Emma's parents decide to send her to stay with family friends in Wyoming - wait, Wyoming, what about all her summer plans???
Isn't Wyoming a place of what????? Bison???? Mountains????
But NO friends!
She doesn't really remember her parents' friends, so who will she hang out with, what will she do?

Emma does make an interesting friend. Will their friendship make it past the summer?
Will she see Bison??????

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

You did it again, Jenn! Sorry it took me so long to read this. I pre-ordered it, and it just got "lost" in a really strange year.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenn has written another beautiful story showing a middle grade student struggling with life much the same as tweens everywhere. Readers will be introduced to Emma. Emma is tween that struggles with her lifelong friendship, meeting new friends, and managing a family issue when her brother has an accident and is no longer himself. Then she is suddenly off to Wyoming where she meets Tyler, who is dealing with his own tween issues. Readers will love the relationships built throughout this novel. In my opinion, it's Jenn's best work yet!

[Gracie Moe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book, it was very interesting. I liked in the end everyone excepted Austin even after what happened.

[Quinn Lei · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! I do have a question. Where did Emma go in Wyoming? Like what city? Great middle grade novel!!

[Kathie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where We Used to Roam examines the impact of teen opioid addiction on a family, especially from a younger sibling's perspective. Emma is in seventh grade when her older brother, Austin, sustains a football injury that requires him to undergo surgery. His relationship with his family members, school work, and physical health starts to suffer. Emma deals with family dynamic changes while also developing new friendships that make her re-examine how she feels about her best friend, Becca. When she accidentally shares information with her new friends that embarrass Becca in a public way, she feels friendless. When it's discovered that Austin has an addiction to painkillers, he's sent to a treatment facility while Emma is sent to spend the summer with her mother's best friend and family. The change in scenery helps Emma see things from a new perspective, and despite the fact she wishes she could rewind the clock to last fall, she is forced to face the changes in her relationships with her family and friends.

I liked seeing the topic of addiction addressed in middle grade and the reality that it's not always a straightforward road to recovery. I also think the author really captured the middle school experience of changing friendships and friends maturing at different rates. I did feel like some of the jumps in time were a bit too sudden, and we missed some important moments in the supporting relationships.

I would recommend this book for Gr. 5-7.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story though the summary was a little deceiving. The first chapter details Emma on her flight to Denver while thinking about how everything in her life blew up. Chapter 2 to the 55% mark explains the past 7 months of Emma's life where she makes new friends, leaves behind her best friend, and witnesses her brother transforming into a different person after a shoulder injury. About 25% of the book takes place in Wyoming which was disappointing. Emma never connected to Delia and Sadie and even though she befriended Tyler, their friendship was rushed with lots of gaps. I was expecting a story about Emma's summer in Wyoming and coming to terms with her brother's opioid addiction, but there was so much else going on that made her brother a side story. Thank you Edelweiss for the ARC.

[C. M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bishop has carved a jewel of genre of her own in the middle grade world. She continues to write books that give us the best of what middle stands for—heart, humor, friendship, and solid issues rooted in family and society. In this book, Emma’s family wrestles with her brother’s drug addiction at the same time she copes with the challenges of changing, growing, splitting, and reshaping friendships. Just as in real life, problems don’t come in compartments, and Emma can’t manage them in her art shadow boxes that way either. This book is a reader’s as well as teacher’s dream. It’s discussion rich, filled with fast paced, page turning intrigue and emotion, social and interpersonal twists, crafty metaphor and imagery. It’s serious, humorous, and ironic. The triple threat for middle grade. Newbery competitors make room for this one.

[Christine Indorf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about friendships and the hurt of when a love one has a addition. This story shows the hurt an addiction can have on a family. I would say this book is for an older middle grader for it does have swearing and adult themes. I did enjoy the book and definitely would recommend it. Great book for discussion!!

[Colin Bischoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an adult reading middle-grade, I appreciate the way that this book takes seriously the challenges of pre-teen life. It would have been too easy to focus the book on the serious problem of older brother Austin's drug addiction, but Jenn Bishop does the work to convince us about the importance of Emma's waning childhood friendship and the excitement and fear of new possibilities that are opening up to her. Emma's feelings come across as very authentic and I think the story will ring true to readers of all ages.

[Rayna Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had all the feels as the reader goes on a journey with Emma. She goes through so many things our middle grade readers face from family challenges to friendship struggles. Bishop opens a door for powerful conversations with readers.

[Alia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8

[raleigh urban]

Id like to read this book since I relate to it because I have a loved one that suffered through addiction a few years ago.

[Christine Ayala-Zierke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and tough subjects VERY well done in an age-appropriate approach to families dealing with addiction and substance abuse.