What do you think?
Rate this book
The Last Time I Checked, I Was Still Here
“Hey, Skank!” Seventeen-year-old Amy is done being bullied. She’s over being ignored by her grief-stricken dad, and all she wants is to feel like a normal human being — or anyone other than herself — for a while. The last time Amy remembers feeling that was with her Nana in the New Hampshire mountains. The final straw? A wardrobe malfunction that simply couldn’t be overlooked by the mean girls. Rather than stay and fight, Amy buys a bus ticket and turns her back on her hometown making a run for the mountains. “You can’t blame yourself.” Dan would have to disagree. Buried under a weight of grief and guilt, he’s running from memories he’ll never escape. The mountain trails offer sanctuary from his own grieving family, and he takes off with his best friend to hike and confront the demons in his head. Dan’s life changes when he hears the painful cries of a distressed female. There is nothing like swooping in as a hero to help you forget your own problems for a few minutes. Will Amy’s impulsive choices get her into serious trouble while she’s far from home? Will Dan’s redemption hike help him to come to grips with his guilt? Can an unlikely encounter help two strangers heal?
- GenresYoung AdultFiction
Audible Audio
Published March 15, 2024
29 people are currently reading
489 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 15, 2019
This was a good book although it wasn’t something I expected because it has two characters and their experience/ perspectives. It kind of talks about their struggles as young adults and especially Amy’s.
July 7, 2019
Complex coming of age times (at least) two
A young lady who needs a mother figure in her life finds out that she is more like her deceased mother than anyone had ever thought. A very responsible young man whose brother died on his watch learns that his perceptions of the past are somewhat skewed. Add hiking, camping, challenging terrain and a very large and grumpy bear - and stand clear.
A young lady who needs a mother figure in her life finds out that she is more like her deceased mother than anyone had ever thought. A very responsible young man whose brother died on his watch learns that his perceptions of the past are somewhat skewed. Add hiking, camping, challenging terrain and a very large and grumpy bear - and stand clear.
October 1, 2017
I really like the way Lark Griffing writes. This story is for middle school age to adult. Everyone will get a little something out of this story. How to handle grief when losing someone. Everyone handles greif differently and this story deal with it. I also like the support of the characters in the story and how it goes between two stories in all. I recommend that my family and friends read this book. Even the younger generation of my family should give this book a read.
June 19, 2017
The Last Time I Checked, I Was Still Here is a good debut novel for Lark. The book is very well detailed. Lark knew what she was talking about. The story was interesting and I didn't want it to end. This book is different from other books, I would say its for YA or even Teens. There are some teachable moments throughout the book. I would like to see Amy and Dan's relationship.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC for this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC for this book.
June 20, 2017
I enjoyed this story, but it was not what I was expecting. The pace was relatively slow but steady enough to keep me interested. However, I felt like I was waiting for the story to really begin the whole time I was reading. I would expect this book to be more of a prequel to how Dan and Amy eventually become a couple, which is only insinuated in the epilogue. I feel like this book was more about healing, and I didn't expect that when I started it; not that it's a bad thing, because it was actually a really good story. Just more like a slow moving stream, than a rushing river. Each of the characters, including several of the secondary characters, have to accept and learn to move on from a tragic event in their lives. Unfortunately, it takes another tragedy to not only help them move on, but to bring them together. I've been back and forth about my rating on this book. I would have certainly given it 4 stars, but I couldn't due to the lack of excitement throughout most of the story. It was good and interesting, but it didn't grip my emotions or make me anxious for answers. Except for one small scene towards the end of the book.
May 4, 2017
Read this book from cover to cover in one sitting. The plot was well thought out and developed. The characters were accessible and it was easy to develop an emotional bond with them. The last few chapters had me turning pages as fast as I could, breathing quicker and even crying at points. Loved the theme and beautifully-described settings; and best of all the story really stirred a "wanderlust" I haven't felt since I was much closer to Dan and Amy's age. A great read for any age!
June 5, 2017
Original review: A Novel Glimpse
Note: I received this book from the author in exchange for an unbiased review.
3.5 Stars
The Last Time I Checked, I Was Still Here is Lark Griffing's début novel. It's a young adult coming of age journey. Amy, harassed by classmates and emotionally abandoned by her father, sets out to her maternal grandmother's house. Her grandmother's house was her happy place growing up, and Amy hopes spending time there will help her find what she needs.
The majority of The Last Time I Checked, I Was Still Here was written in Amy's perspective. She was a young woman struggling with the loss of her mother, being constantly uprooted to new towns by a grieving father, and finding herself under constant ridicule by the mean girls of her newest school. Amy was unhappy, and she sought out her happy place to find solace. What she found at her grandmother's house was a link to her mother, and a way to discover more about herself. I admired her strength and willingness to try something new, liking hiking.
Smaller sections of the book were told in Dan's perspective. He was a young man who was trying to make decisions for the next phase of his life. Dan was very into hiking, and much of his point of view were his hiking journeys with his friend. I have to admit that Dan's chapters threw me off at first. They were linked loosely to some of Amy's through the sport of hiking, but it wasn't until almost the very end that Amy and Dan's connection became apparent.
That leads into my biggest issue with this book. The majority of the book passed by at a very slow pace. There was way too much set up for me. Nothing very exciting happened until almost 80% into the book. There were tons of details about Amy learning about hiking, but not a whole lot of action. I wasn't really invested in the story until that 80% mark. And then, the wrap up at the end flew by too quickly for me. I think the story would have worked better for me had the big event happened toward the beginning or middle of the book, and had more time spent on the connections between the characters after. I felt like I missed a bunch of healing and friendships developing at the end.
The Last Time I Checked, I Was Still Here was a strong début novel. I found the writing to be good, and the third person narration flowed well. It's a book anyone interested in hiking or adventures in the great outdoors would appreciate.
Note: I received this book from the author in exchange for an unbiased review.
3.5 Stars
The Last Time I Checked, I Was Still Here is Lark Griffing's début novel. It's a young adult coming of age journey. Amy, harassed by classmates and emotionally abandoned by her father, sets out to her maternal grandmother's house. Her grandmother's house was her happy place growing up, and Amy hopes spending time there will help her find what she needs.
The majority of The Last Time I Checked, I Was Still Here was written in Amy's perspective. She was a young woman struggling with the loss of her mother, being constantly uprooted to new towns by a grieving father, and finding herself under constant ridicule by the mean girls of her newest school. Amy was unhappy, and she sought out her happy place to find solace. What she found at her grandmother's house was a link to her mother, and a way to discover more about herself. I admired her strength and willingness to try something new, liking hiking.
Smaller sections of the book were told in Dan's perspective. He was a young man who was trying to make decisions for the next phase of his life. Dan was very into hiking, and much of his point of view were his hiking journeys with his friend. I have to admit that Dan's chapters threw me off at first. They were linked loosely to some of Amy's through the sport of hiking, but it wasn't until almost the very end that Amy and Dan's connection became apparent.
That leads into my biggest issue with this book. The majority of the book passed by at a very slow pace. There was way too much set up for me. Nothing very exciting happened until almost 80% into the book. There were tons of details about Amy learning about hiking, but not a whole lot of action. I wasn't really invested in the story until that 80% mark. And then, the wrap up at the end flew by too quickly for me. I think the story would have worked better for me had the big event happened toward the beginning or middle of the book, and had more time spent on the connections between the characters after. I felt like I missed a bunch of healing and friendships developing at the end.
The Last Time I Checked, I Was Still Here was a strong début novel. I found the writing to be good, and the third person narration flowed well. It's a book anyone interested in hiking or adventures in the great outdoors would appreciate.
June 28, 2017
This is a great book not the usual book I read. Amy mother died when she was seven now in high school she went to stay with her Nana to find herself but she found out about her mother instead got involved with hiking then was attacked by a bear and almost died.
June 14, 2017
This is a novel centered around the self-discovery of two teens whose lives intertwine at the most unlikely (but it works so well!) section of the book. I knew their paths would cross, but being a YA, I had a suspicion a romance would soon kindle. The author threw me for a loop, and I was pleasantly surprised to see the two characters develop into their own, primarily ON their own, before ever meeting. I enjoyed the explanation of the trails and gear, as it was believable and apparent the author knows a thing or two about hiking. There was humor mixed in, which gave some scenes the lightness it needed, especially since the main characters' back-stories were somber.
Example:
"I know all about her,” said Scooter. Amy looked at him in surprise. He winked at her and continued. Stevie was staring raptly at him. “Amy comes from Sheboygan, Wisconsin where her family owned a pickle factory. Amy was caught selling the secret recipe to the Vlasic people. All hell broke loose, and they sent her away to Berlin, where she couldn't do any more harm to the family business.”
Funny stuff! :)
I enjoyed this debut novel from Lark Griffing, and if you're looking for "not another typical YA" novel, I think you will too!
Example:
"I know all about her,” said Scooter. Amy looked at him in surprise. He winked at her and continued. Stevie was staring raptly at him. “Amy comes from Sheboygan, Wisconsin where her family owned a pickle factory. Amy was caught selling the secret recipe to the Vlasic people. All hell broke loose, and they sent her away to Berlin, where she couldn't do any more harm to the family business.”
Funny stuff! :)
I enjoyed this debut novel from Lark Griffing, and if you're looking for "not another typical YA" novel, I think you will too!
June 22, 2017
This book was an unexpected treat to my imagination. Beautifully written novel. Lots of drama, discovery, thrills and suspense. Had me hooked right from the start and it didn't let go even after I'd turned the last page. Brilliant!!
September 1, 2017
Beautifully written coming of age story. Strong characters of different age groups plus lots of interesting facts and details about camping and wilderness hiking. A pair of interesting protagonists who overcome their fears and inner demons to find self-acceptance and self-reliance.
Excellent first novel by a gifted writer.
Excellent first novel by a gifted writer.
October 12, 2017
I absolutely loved this book! The writing flowed and I was completely caught up in their two stories and wondering how they were going to intertwine. I would completely recommend this story and look forward to future stories by this author!
July 1, 2017
This is Lark Griffing's debut novel and while not a normal read for me, once it got going a bit I really enjoyed it.
Amy and Dan don't know each other, but are both fighting their own painful memories. Dan loves camping and hiking and Amy has a new found love. They meet under terrible circumstances. I don't want to give anything away, but the book is a pretty good read.
Amy and Dan don't know each other, but are both fighting their own painful memories. Dan loves camping and hiking and Amy has a new found love. They meet under terrible circumstances. I don't want to give anything away, but the book is a pretty good read.
July 11, 2017
I enjoyed reading this. Good story for all ages. Amy sets out on an adventure to find herself. I voluntarily reviewed a copy via Blind Date with a Book Review Group.
August 19, 2018
Mostly good story
I shelved this book for awhile because I found something more suited to my taste to read. Despite my advanced age I generally enjoy YA fiction. In this book, the teenage characters seemed sort of "black and white". The kids in the main characters life at the beginning of the book were vicious and selfish for no apparent reason. Very one dimensional. The writing was just a little too simple: I will go there. I am right behind you. See Jane run. Go Spot go. Then our girl leaves her home and goes to stay with her grandmother. The kids there are milk and cookies wholesome and oh so nice. Again, one dimensional. I almost stopped reading the book for good. I finished because the author seems to have a real life grip on the sport of hiking and wilderness safety, and she showcased Boy Scouts as the remarkable program it is--not just cub scouts for very young boys. I liked the plot and the story. The way the story was written seemed simplistic to me although the issues and emotions presented are anything but simplistic or unimportant. I noticed this is a debut novel. With more writing experience I think the author will improve writing style and character development. She nailed the plot and her research and knowledge about her subjects are amazing.
I shelved this book for awhile because I found something more suited to my taste to read. Despite my advanced age I generally enjoy YA fiction. In this book, the teenage characters seemed sort of "black and white". The kids in the main characters life at the beginning of the book were vicious and selfish for no apparent reason. Very one dimensional. The writing was just a little too simple: I will go there. I am right behind you. See Jane run. Go Spot go. Then our girl leaves her home and goes to stay with her grandmother. The kids there are milk and cookies wholesome and oh so nice. Again, one dimensional. I almost stopped reading the book for good. I finished because the author seems to have a real life grip on the sport of hiking and wilderness safety, and she showcased Boy Scouts as the remarkable program it is--not just cub scouts for very young boys. I liked the plot and the story. The way the story was written seemed simplistic to me although the issues and emotions presented are anything but simplistic or unimportant. I noticed this is a debut novel. With more writing experience I think the author will improve writing style and character development. She nailed the plot and her research and knowledge about her subjects are amazing.
May 11, 2017
I am always careful about buying books for young readers. I wanted to make sure that the book did not glorify/glamorize that special drama that teens and tweens latch on to: "I'm on the verge because nobody cares". So for 3 bucks I downloaded and pre-read the book.
I don't have much to compare the book to that doesn't date me back to the Hardy Boys but I felt like everybody in the book were good enough characters that if a kid wanted to emulate one of them that would be great. The story struck me as very real and it was very easy for me to relate to the inner dialogue of the characters which the author carefully paints with very simple language. I am sending the paperback to my Sophomore niece and am curious to see her Amazon review. I gave it 5 stars because it was pleasant to read straightforward and I really never knew what was going to happen next.
I'm not sure a young person would notice this but I think the author paced the story in a different than normal way. I think it was done to leave the reader with a certain taste in their mouth, a pleasant and vivid snapshot of a person's feelings that I am still savoring.
I don't have much to compare the book to that doesn't date me back to the Hardy Boys but I felt like everybody in the book were good enough characters that if a kid wanted to emulate one of them that would be great. The story struck me as very real and it was very easy for me to relate to the inner dialogue of the characters which the author carefully paints with very simple language. I am sending the paperback to my Sophomore niece and am curious to see her Amazon review. I gave it 5 stars because it was pleasant to read straightforward and I really never knew what was going to happen next.
I'm not sure a young person would notice this but I think the author paced the story in a different than normal way. I think it was done to leave the reader with a certain taste in their mouth, a pleasant and vivid snapshot of a person's feelings that I am still savoring.
January 11, 2018
I read it cover to cover...
If you are looking for excellent YA fiction, this is it. Loads of adventure, plenty of emotion, and of course, gallantry. This book is a far cry from your average YA novel, though. I'm looking forward to giving it to a certain Eagle Scout,vas I am sure he will enjoy it!
If you are looking for excellent YA fiction, this is it. Loads of adventure, plenty of emotion, and of course, gallantry. This book is a far cry from your average YA novel, though. I'm looking forward to giving it to a certain Eagle Scout,vas I am sure he will enjoy it!
August 13, 2019
Mountains, bears and packaged food. Oh, my!
Lark Griffin has done it again with another well-written novel. She knows what she wants her characters to sound like and what her readers want to read. If you like camping, mountains, and wildlife this is the book to read. I also highly recommend all of Lark Griffin’s books to be checked out.
Lark Griffin has done it again with another well-written novel. She knows what she wants her characters to sound like and what her readers want to read. If you like camping, mountains, and wildlife this is the book to read. I also highly recommend all of Lark Griffin’s books to be checked out.
March 2, 2018
I actually really liked it! It was sorta slow until close to the end, but it has great content and the end excitement made a fun read. I loved how it dealt with grief. Simple enough for younger kids to understand without being overwhelmed, but deep enough for connection and character bonding.
January 12, 2020
Excellent read. I loved the characters and that it slowly built in the characters. Made me love the heroine all the more faster. Loved that info to know the characters individually... then together. I had tears rolling by the end . I felt all EMOTIONS while I read.
September 21, 2018
I don't like how the book ended. It felt rushed in the last 2 chapters. Other than that it was good.
November 13, 2018
grabbed my attention from early on and was so wondering how would tie the two MC together...well written and very real
June 23, 2018
Great read!!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews