Where Do I Go from Here?

by Valerie Wilson Wesley

Nia feels like an outsider at Endicott Academy, where almost everyone else is wealthy and white. Her only real friend is Marcus Garvey Williams. He's also black and on scholarship, but he has found a way to fit in and still be himself.

When Marcus suddenly disappears, Nia feels betrayed. Defending his name, she gets into a fistfight with a white student, and is suspended for two weeks. Nia returns home to the city determined not to go back to Endicott. But her Aunt Odessa, who has worked two jobs to raise Nia, thinks otherwise.

Nia soon sees that the lives of her old friends are going nowhere. Malika does drudge work in a fast-food joint, hoping to earn enough money for college. And Debra spends all her time partying with her new boyfriend, who claims he can make her a video star. At last, when Nia tracks down Marcus, she begins to understand what she must do with her life.

138 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Valerie Wilson Wesley is an African-American author of mysteries, adult-theme novels, and children's books,[1] and a former executive editor of Essence magazine. She is the author of the Tamara Hayle mystery series. Her writings, both fiction and non-fiction, have also appeared in numerous publications, including Essence, Family Circle, TV Guide, Ms., The New York Times, and the Swiss weekly magazine Die Weltwoche.

Reviews

[Richard Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable enough book. Kind of slow, but it picks up toward the end.

[Mary L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story of how our disadvantaged youth wonder where they really fit in and where they are going, how to get there. I loved watching Nia progress through her many challenges and emotions. Recommend this to those who are struggling are watching their loved ones struggling.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a diamond of a novel.

[Aj Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nia is a hard working student who is admitted to a mostly white academy. While shes there she sees Marcus, her friend who she knewfrom high school. They share some of the same difficulties they have being black in a mostly white, elite academy. After Marcus mysteriously dissapears without returning Nias calls or answering her letters, she tries to piece together her feeling's about school, Marcus, her friends from home, and her life.

I liked the story because Nia stood up for Marcus even when he didn't talk or show affection towards her. Marcus made Nia feel she could be herself with him. Its important to find someone that understands you. I also liked Nias boldness even though she knew the academy was predominantly white, she still had the courage to go there. Her name means purpose in swahili and her aunt odessa worked to get her a scholarship. She lIved up to her name and her aunts expectations.

I also like the story because of Nias maturity that led her back to the academy instead of home after her suspension.

I dislike the fact that Marcus did not communicate with Nia about his personal situation.

Overall I would recommend this book to teenagers that might be having problems fully expressing their feelings. I dont think that it matters that the characters are black or that the school is mostly white, I think they can relate to fitting in and trusting a friend.

[Angélique (Angel) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars. This book was well paced with very easy to relate to characters. The author did a good job of balancing the topics of racism and classism with generic teenage feelings of frustration,confusion, loneliness, etc. Overall, this was exactly the type of book I'd hope it'd be. I wish I had read it earlier in my life.

[Chin123 · Rating 5 out of 5]

great touching book!

[Lynecia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the book I read as part of my first book club, in about 8th grade..