See What I See

by Gloria Whelan

Kate Tapert sees her life in paintings. She makes sense of the world around her by relating it to what she adores—art. Armed with a suitcase, some canvases, and a scholarship to art school in Detroit, Kate is ready to leave home and fully immerse herself in painting. Sounds like heaven. All Kate needs is a place to stay.

That place is the home of her father, famous and reclusive artist Dalton Quinn, a father she hasn't seen or heard from in nearly ten years. When Kate knocks on his door out of the blue, little does she realize what a life-altering move that will turn out to be. But Kate has a dream, and she will work her way into Dalton's life, into his mind, into his heart . . . whether he likes it or not.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Art, Death, Family, Contemporary, Fiction

199 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2010

About the author

Gloria Whelan is the best-selling author of many novels for young readers, including Homeless Bird, winner of the National Book Award; Fruitlands: Louisa May Alcott Made Perfect; Angel on the Square and its companion, The Impossible Journey; Once on This Island, winner of the Great Lakes Book Award; Farewell to the Island; and Return to the Island. She lives with her husband, Joseph, in the woods of northern Michigan.

Reviews

[Vianey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed sitting down at 1 am and reading this novel, I find Gloria Whelan's novels very relaxing and it just takes you from whatever it is that you are upset about and drives you into her characters' lives. It is an easy read, but let me tell you something, that I did not realize until the end, she kind of always makes her protagonist a smart, caring and positive person. I loved the way Kate stuck around her dad just to pursue her dreams of becoming an artist. As harsh as that man was treating her, in Kate shoes I would of just packed my bags and gone back home. So to what I was going to say, when I finished the novel I was like, it reminds me a lot of Homeless Bird, (I walk to my bookshelf) then when I come to realize, yep they are by the same author hahaha! Incredible right, I'm such a dork, but well back to the book, the story talks about how you should always go and live your dreams, but never forget about the people that are important to you. Yes even if they had never stuck around to help you, be who you are, the caring and loving person you are will one day reward your path and bring you so much happiness.
In some ways I wished I would be able to be like Kate not really involve myself with a guy like she did, she would give them space and work herself to do what she likes best, which is painting and drawing. She had her mind set and would ignore what she knew she had to. Props to Kates mom though, I think I would be that kind of mom to be like, your father has never been there for you and you want to help him out? I guess it's just the role of sons and daughters that sometimes we take, we say 'hey that's my mom or that's my dad no matter what he did or did not do they are still my parent.

It may seem weird, but Kate was independent and she didn't juggle any romances around haha A lot of people have complained about how they wanted to see more out of the relationship she had with either guy, but in my opinion you don't need a man to follow your dreams. She did well to stand by herself and not fall deeply in love, she kind of couldn't though, and the reality is, maybe she was happier with herself. The author doesn't really say that, but I concluded that myself.

I'm ready to read more of Gloria Whelan novels, so easy, so pretty reminds me of Sarah Dessen sometimes. (SOMETIMES) please don't take it the wrong way

[joy *the clean-reader extraordinaire* · Rating 5 out of 5]

a nearly perfect little story. well-balanced, -paced, and -executed. lovely general milieu and artistic detail.
believable, heart-breaking, and hopeful. great cover!

pg13 very green, for hard issues like abandonment and alcoholism, with no suger-coated fairy tale ending

very much recommended for teens or for book clubs, as there are layers of meaning and great possible discussion of choices

ie did kate's father make the right choice to devote his life full-time to art rather than his family?
is he right that it had to be either/or? or could he have had both?
should kate have insisted on moving in with her dad? should she have left when she did?
why is art important? is it more important than family?

[Jessica Bierschied · Rating 5 out of 5]

SEE WHAT I SEE, by Gloria Whelan, is a story about a young artist who will do whatever it takes to achieve her dreams of becoming a famous painter like her father, who she hasn't seen since she was a little girl. Kate is in for more than she expected when she shows up at her father's doorstep in Detroit, to find that her long absent father is dying and has only months to live.

I found this novel very uplifting and really made me think about the importance of family. Kate has had nothing to do with her father since her took off so he could paint and be famous, and makes lots of money. He was never there for her or her mother, never called, never did anything to involve himself with his daughter and then she shows up and expects maybe he'll be nice about her staying with him because she is older and she can help around the house. He almost didn't let her stay and I wanted to yell at him to get over himself!

She learns he is dying, and multiple people tell her that she is going to have to take care of him and even though he has never been there for her, she is willing to help him out if it means that she can't go to art school in Detroit. Kate has such a distinct voice, she loves her father, and aspires to be just like him, but she also can't stand him and she wants to hate him for never being there for her growing up.

She quickly finds out that her father is deteriorating fast and he needs her attention 24/7. I found myself getting upset with the book because I wanted her so badly to achieve her dreams that she so desperately wanted but her father kept bogging her down further and further. When I finished the book I had to take a deep breath and think about how much family really means. I was surprised that this book enlightened me on the importance of family in a girls life. This is feel good, feel angry, feel sad book. I could've cried, laughed and yelled all at the same time. Kate has her own voice and this story felt like a true one, I was sucked in immediately and I couldn't stop.

[Nafiza · Rating 4 out of 5]

First. It is necessary to mention the beauty of the prose. It is glorious. Like, clutch-your-heart-and-read-it-again glorious. The book reminds me of a painting. As though the empty pages were a canvas and the words the paint. Ms. Whelan is a master at using these words to create a painting that is rich, layered and textured.

The book deals with the relationships between a child and her parents. Specifically the relationship between a child who was abandoned and the father who abandoned her. It is about painting and a coming of age.

The thing is, as beautiful as the writing is, as heartfelt as the sentiments seem, I was not sold on it. For one thing, having been a teenager myself not very long ago (okay fine, some time ago), I am aware of how selfish teenagers are. At that time in life, the bulk of our attention belongs to ourselves. Kate’s selflessness which while being admirable is not very realistic. It’s not that I can’t see a teenager being that selfless, I just don’t find it very believable. Also the fact that she does not seem to resent her father as much as someone in her position would. It doesn’t ring true. Especially when the father fails to redeem himself even at the end of the novel. They don’t have a conversation, a true, real conversation and I am left perturbed by Kate’s decision to change her last name to her father’s. No matter how many justifications were made about his character, actions and words, I felt that all it would do to a child, especially a teenager, would push her away. You need age and a certain amount of retrospection to view your parents as people in their own right.

Anyway, that said, the writing is really gorgeous. I had some problems with the story but in the end, I read it through because the prose was too beautiful not to.

[Princess Bookie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts: I won't lie, I don't read many books like this. I'm more of a romance reader. But I got this for review and I liked the sound of it plus I knew a few friends were excited for it so decided to give it a chance. We meet Kate who has spent her whole life with her mom, in a trailer, barely getting by. She wants to become an artist, go to art school, do something she loves. Her father is a famous painter but he left them while she was just a child and had nothing to do with them all these years.

She decides to go to art school in the town he lives which is only 4 hours away from her home. He moved back a while back getting away from New York. She gets a scholarship so now all she needs is a room to live in. She shows up on his doorstep and asks to live with him. I don't want to spoil the whole plot but she finds out there is a lot more to his story than she originally thought. It was heartbreaking to read this book but at least it was a shorter book so I didn't have to keep those tears in my eyes for long. I think it just hit too close to home for me. Kate was very independent and loyal. She was very mature for her age and knew how to handle things.

Overall: A wonderful story about following your heart, your goals, and going after what you want but realizing things that are beyond your control may interfere sometimes. I really enjoyed reading this but felt myself tear up a few too many times.

Cover: Its such an artistic cover and it fits the book perfectly!


What I'd Give It: 4/5 Cupcakes

Taken from Princess Bookie
princessbookie.com

[Jessica B · Rating 3 out of 5]

From shutupimreading.blogspot.com

See What I See was a quick read, but I felt like it could've been so much more.

The plot moved along at a good pace and definitely kept me interested, even though I don't know that much about art. (But this book did make me want to learn more about art, mostly so I can go to art school, because it sounds COOL..)

This book lacked the emotional punch I was looking for. While I liked Kate's character a lot, I felt like I there was this barrier keeping me from loving her. Sure, I wanted her to succeed and be happy, but she almost seemed much like a character instead of a person. Also, I kept waiting for some giant, incredibly emotional ending that I just never got.

So while See What I See was definitely enjoyable and I'd probably recommend it, it lacked just a little something for me.

Plot: Well-paced and intriguing.
Characters: I liked them. I didn't love them. (Except her dad. I didn't like him.)
Writing: Very nice
Ending: Expected, but pretty good.
How kid friendly is it? Completely. I don't think there's anything "bad" in this book at all.
Should I read it? Sure, it should only take you a little while.
Overall: 3 and a half stars

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked See What I See. It is a "read it in one sitting" book. It is written in first person, very much like a diary. - Very understated, but still very powerful at times.

good quotes
(page 139)
"You're making yourself too important. Guilt comes from feeling we're at the center of the universe. We're not. We're just a small part of someone's life; there are a hundred thousand other things going on. In the case of your father it's his cirrhosis, exacerbated by portal hypertension."

(page 157)
The cemetery is not sad. It's restful, as if death were a nap you steal in the middle of the afternoon.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contemporary realistic fiction about a budding artist who moves in with her estranged artist father in Detroit while she attends art school, only to discover he is unrepentant about having abandoned her and her mom, and dying of liver failure. Complex relationships and lots of nature imagery. Reminded me in some ways of Garret Freymann-Weyr in tone.

[nidah05 (SleepDreamWrite) · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 4.5 stars. This sounded good. Liked the descriptions of the setting and especially comparing it to art and when Quinn and her dad painted. Makes me want to give painting a try again. Maybe. I like that there was a hint at a romance and that Kate had her friends old and new. A sad but quick read.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this story felt true to the art world, ultimately I felt it didn't pack enough emotion - I felt distanced from the story at all times. And it was totally predictable. Some lovely writing and a fast read.

[Grace Fassett · Rating 4 out of 5]

i liked this book because it was short but it covered everything in the story. it didn't go to fast or too slow, it went at a steady pace. the story was definitely interesting, i didn't plan on reading it i was exploring my options and this one stuck out. when i first stared reading it i kind of regret my decision because the beginning wasn't interesting but as i continued i noticed the change in emotion in the book and the emotions it portrayed. it was so deep yet open and there were so many hard decisions the character had to make but thought about them carefully. the book had a vivid image and i could actually see it playing in my head. the ending was sad but i enjoyed the outcome.

[Jenish Tailor · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a nice story! This book is a perfect example of a how a child feel when his/her parents separate and live different lives. Where child is either with mom or dad but in reality, wants to be with both. Kate is just like that. Living with her mom in a trailer, but seek chances to know her dad. Which is why she applies to school where her father is and move in with him only to know that he is suffering from illness and only has months to live. It's sad, but she is very brave to drop out of her college to take care of her father. The story revolves around her and how helpless she feels when she sees her father getting more sick as days pass by. Overall, it was a good read. Would definitely suggest this book who is looking for a nice and relaxing read with a lot of emotions.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really cool and interesting. It was cool to have it be in Michigan and the story itself was rather cool.

[A Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging.

[Luce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I entered this book with minimal expectations, but found myself pleasantly surprised at the muted poignancy in this novel.

The premise of this novel immediately brought to mind The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks; I am in the middle of reading the book now, so I cannot tell you how much the two are alike and how they differ, but there is a definite similarity between the two. The parallels between the hope and beauty of Kate's art world and the bleak and chasmic depression swirling around life with her father were smooth, realistic transitions that alternated, for me, both an excited interest in learning about her education and the sadness in reading about her situation at home.

The characters were solid; although not completely original, the realistic portraits of them fit nicely into the plot of this book and add to its depth. The standout character in the novel is, of course, the father, and I felt Kate's turns of frustration, devastation, and affection right along with her.

The prose was clear and crisp, interwoven with the soul of an artist and the mind of a teenage girl thrust into taxing and miserable situations.

Although I could guess the ending, the way that Ms. Whelan describes the events that transpire truly resonated with me. Although, at first, I was disappointed at the outcome of some of the subplots, I realized when I gave it more thought that it was a perfect way to wrap up the story. I might have liked it to be a bit longer, though; I was interested in knowing more about what came after.

Overall, I recommend this story to those who are looking to read more dramatic realistic fiction without too much darkness and tragedy, or those who enjoy a novel with subtle beauty,

Thank you to Harperteen and Goodreads for giving me this novel as part of a Goodreads Contest.

*I was not compensated or otherwise influenced during the writing of this review*

[marbella · Rating 4 out of 5]

see what i see is a story that explain how we can realize our dreams if we want to. in this case Kate had a scholarship for an art school. but she needs to move to Detroit, her dad lives there but he left her and her mom years ago. he didn't knows that she was in his house!!!! he never communicate with her and also he never ask about how was she and her mom.
when he saw her he said to her that she doesn't have nothing to do here.
she try to convene him to let her stay only for that day because she doesn't have where to stay. they made a deal that she can stay but she needs to be like his secretary. after all that she knows that her dad has a severe disease (cirrhosis) and he needs a urgent lung transplant; her dad is dying every single day........
this story made me sad because i think that, what i will do if that happen to me? what if me dad doesn't loves me like i do?
many things goes around my mind and make me reflect about all that i have and i appreciate every day....
well, Kate thinks that her dad doesn't love her but the only think that he wants is see her happy and not sad because he has an illness. when he dies she just think about why her dad left their alone but she doesn't get an answer. she return to school because the last year she could not went because she was taking care of her dad. she knew that her dad wants to see her like a great artist but she never want that all the people knows that her dad was a famous artist because that never appreciate what she do, they only appreciate who was her dad.
NEVER FORGET WHO YOU ARE AND HOW TO GET TO YOU!!!!!! :]
FAMILY, FRIENDS AND THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU MADE YOU JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
and i hope that you can SEE WHAT I SEE...... <3

[Michelle Isenhoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gloria Whelan has reconfirmed herself as one of my favorite authors with her latest book, See What I See. We share a state, and the passion with which she paints northern Michigan’s gorgeous scenery reflects my own love of “up north.” But it is her mastery of story and language that makes her one of the greats.

Kate has grown up without her father. He’s been too busy becoming a famous artist to pay her any mind. The only thing she ever received from him was a talent for art. She needs to paint as she needs to breath. So she earns a scholarship to an art school in Detroit, where her father lives, and shows up on his doorstep. You could say he isn’t pleased.

“What are you doing here? How did you find me? This is no time for a family reunion. I’m getting ready for a show and I need to be left alone.”

Yet Kate can see he isn’t well, and she digs up some stubbornness of her own. After finding a medical record indicating just how ill he is, Kate challenges him, “If you don’t let me stay, I’ll tell Mom and the newspapers and your gallery how sick you are. You won’t have your show.”

So Kate stays and adores art school. But her father weakens and grows more irritable. This will be his last show, and he works desperately to redeem his professional reputation. Kate is faced with some hard choices. Quit school and care for a man who never cared for her? One who makes it plain daily that he disdains her? Or pursue her own career and turn her back as he turned his on her so many years ago.

Emotional but not sticky-sweet, thoughtful and beautifully-rendered, See What I See is Gloria Whelan at her best. And that, I might add, is phenomenal.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, the hunt for father/daughter relationship stories continue...

So, I found this book out of the blue and I thought it would be perfect. It's about an art student, and I love art and I get what she is talking about. A recluse father, who is also an artist? That adds another intriguing part to the puzzle, and then there is another part but I won't spoil it. Unlike "Burn" "See What I See" is a better novel with more sympathetic characters. Kate is a good protagonist who grows throughout the novel, not to the extent that I wish she did...but the author does a decent job. Her father, Dalton Quinn, is the more interesting character. He's mixed up and he's cruel to Kate, but you find out why in the end. It's not like he's abusive, just an obsessive artist who thinks more about his work than the family he had. It's interesting getting an insight into him.

Although, I thought this book was really short and the pace was lightening quick. It went way too fast for me, and I wish there was more to read to be honest. The part of the story I didn't like were the supporting characters weren't really fleshed out that much, if the story was longer we would be able to know more about them. I felt like they were written as placeholders, when the real intensity was between Kate and her father. I loved how Mrs. Whelan wrote about how Kate saw the world and the way she saw it. It isn't easy to write from an artistic point of view, and I think she handled it pretty well.

This is a solid book, but I am going to continue the hunt to find the one book about a father/daughter relationship that will make my heart wrench. It hasn't happened yet.

[P.E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

See What I See was a short but packed and refreshing read.

The story is about a girl named Kate who is applying to an art school in Detroit but can't afford a place to live so she decides to crash with her famous artist Dad who had left her and her mom. What was special about this story was the relationship between father and daughter, which felt heartfelt.

Kate is a character you can't help but at least sympathize with and at most love. She loves her mom but she's always been curious about her dad too. She's an optimist and someone who plain cares. Kate is selfless and is a character very worthy of respect. I like her. She can be rash, insecure,and she'll make decisions she'll later on regret. She's real.

Like I said before, See What I See is a story about a girl's broken and fragile relationship with her father. I thought it was real and authentic. I hated Kate's Dad sometimes but then I'd love him. No matter what he did though, I always cared for him as did Kate. Their relationship really pulls you in and it's hard not to relate with them.

See What I See doesn't end with a happily ever after. I want to thank the author so much for that. There is pain and there is joy in the ending. It is satisfying and the story is over but there is still hope. As endings go, this one was fairly well done.

All in all, a fast read that's worth it. 3.5 stars,

*** & 1/2 *

[Lilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t read a great deal of contemporary YA since I’m more drawn to the fantastical side of literature but when I do venture to the realistic side of fiction, books like See What I See are great finds.

Our protagonist is Kate, an 18-yr old fresh from high school who has been granted a scholarship to one of the most prestigious art schools in the country. Problem is, neither she nor her mother have money for a dorm room. Kate’s father left them when she was only a toddler and has had nothing to do with either of them in years so Kate’s mum has had to support them both on a waitress’s paycheck.

Kate’s father is a famous painter and it just so happens that he was last heard to be living in Detroit so Kate concocts a plan: show up on his doorstep and hope he’ll let her stay. Kate didn’t think it would be easy … but she didn’t bargain for it being so hard either. I really don’t want to spoil the plot, because this is an amazing book, so I’ll cut off here.

See What I See is a gut-wrenching story of a broken family, forgiveness, and learning to follow your dreams. I’m not ashamed to say it had me in tears. 4/5.

http://www.read-all-over.net/fiction/...

[Tawni (The Charmed Shelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

See What I See is a great story about acceptance and never losing sight of your dreams even if they get put on hold or things get complicated.

Kate is an aspiring painter who decides to move in with her estranged father while she attends art school. Kate hasn’t seen her father and famous painter, Dalton Quinn, for years after he chooses work over her mother and herself.

When Kate shows up at Dalton’s home he immediately wants her to leave and hates that she’s there. What seems like a terrible and negative relationship slowly turns into acceptance when Kate offers Dalton her aid…as long as she keeps her distance.

I relate to Kate and her relationship to her father, so the book really caught me. Although my story is not identical to Kate’s, I was still able to take in the message of not allowing yourself to waste energy on negative feelings toward another and to accept it. “It is what it is”…right?

However, even though I connected deeply with the relationships in the book, it left me hanging at the end, which was disappointing! I would have liked to see things get wrapped up, instead I was asking myself the “what ifs” and “what nows”. Overall though, I really enjoyed it!

http://thebookworms.org/2010/11/see-w...

[Littlecheese · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a so-so book. It kept me ready, but left a sour taste in my mouth.

Maybe cause I have friends that are like Kate in the book. Live with their mothers and never hear from the father and such.

So the book felt kinda plain and a bit weak. Kate wasn't someone I cared to much of. Everything that happen to her was because she let it. She didn't really stand her ground or anything and it just seemed the excuse of him being sick and dying was the only thing that made them be close. Other then that, just how his actions were towards her kinda made me think he would have hit her or something if he wasn't weak.

Then the characters in it. There really wasn't anyone in there that I felt was important, just kinda there to entertain and hang with but didn't show a real need to be there.

Then the connection between the daughter and father was weird. It didn't grow or anything, it was either they were getting along and growing a relationship or they were back to stage 1. So when the end happen, it was like "And....how did this come to be?"

So the story was okay enough to finish, but I really got nothing from it. Just more my friends and I wanting to slap Kate in the face and yell "You're kinda a tool."

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kate's dad, Dalton Quinn, is a famous artist. He gained notoriety for his grisly paintings that shed a dark light on society's woes. His work has been on display in prestigious galleries throughout the world, and his reputation as an artist is both admirable and impressive. His qualities as a father, however, leave a lot to be desired. Dalton abandoned Kate and her mom years ago, so he could pursue his art, along with drinking and other women. Kate grew up in a trailer, while her mom worked extra hours to make enough to get by. When Kate grows up, she realizes she has her own art talent, enough to win a scholarship to art school in Detroit. And it just so happens that Detroit is where her estranged dad has been living. Kate is determined to repair their relationship. She's convinced that by showing up at his doorstep, her dad will take her in with open arms. Instead, she finds a grouchy, mean man, coming to terms with his own mortality. Their relationship is turbulent and awkward, but as Kate learns more about her father's condition, they learn to depend on each other for what it's worth.

[John Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate Tapert is eighteen, lives in near poverty with her mother in rural Michigan. She sees the world as a continuous series of paintings and that's how she makes sense of things, so well, in fact, that she's gotten a scholarship to a prestigious art school in Detroit. One problem, she has no money for room and board.
Her father, who abandoned her and Mom years ago, is a famous artist and recently moved to Detroit from NYC. Kate, gathers her belongings and her courage, boards a bus and goes to Detroit, determined to convince him to let her stay with him while attending school.
It's a prickly, adversarial relationship, but Kate's determined to ride it out in order to achieve her dream. In the process, she finds someone who cares for her, that her father is more important to her than she ever believed, sometimes dreams must be placed on hold because life is both unpredictable and rewarding in unexpected ways.
This is a somber story, but one with moments of hope and happiness. It's a very good book for older teens who have experienced or are experiencing the effects of a family breaking up. Kate is a strong and extremely likable character.

[Diane Ferbrache · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate sees things with an artist’s eye. All she wants is to go to art school and get to know her father. She and her mother have been barely getting by in a trailer in rural Michigan since her father left them years ago. He’s a famous painter and he’s dying, and when Kate moves in with him she learns much about her father and herself. Her life in Detroit opens her eyes in ways she could never imagine. She doesn’t find the romantic ideal of a father she longed for, but she does discover her creativity and the meaning of home and family.
This is a book with little action, yet I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Kate’s voice is so real the reader is instantly involved. We root for her to win over her dad, to end up with the guy, to graduate art school, and so much more. It’s a story of growing up that will appeal to readers of introspective fiction and touching family stories alike. Although there is no sex or profanity, Kate is 18 and her problems are for a more mature student.

[Phoebe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kate's rocky childhood hasn't stood in the way of her passion: painting. Her famous father abandoned his wife and daughter for fame and riches in New York, but now is broke and reclusive in Detroit. Kate longs to connect with him, so when she receives a scholarship to the art school in Detroit, she decides to go for it--arrive on her father's doorstep, unannounced. She finds a broken man, desperately ill, horrendously bad-tempered, but she digs in her heels and stays with him. She quits art school when it appears her father needs round-the-clock care, but keeps on painting.

I don't think this is one of Whelan's best books. The plot feels a little contrived and clunky in places, and Whelan could have developed the plot much, much more. As it is, the characters are a little stereotypical and predictable and the story is tied up neatly in a mere 200 pages. Still there are some lovely ideas about art and the nature of painting inserted into the mundanity. Upper junior high, high school.

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

By 'it was ok', I mean that I don't think I bought it as much as I tried. I love reading about someone's passion - even in fiction - whether it is painting, baking, photography. There were lots of words and sentences and paragraphs about Kate and her love of art, her painting - even a few sentences that mentioned famous artists and described their paintings - but I was never convinced, perhaps because the art and painting was unimportant. She could have been a writer, interested in cooking, science, computers - what was important is that it was her connection to her father. I didn't buy that part of the story either. It was hard to believe that after being abandoned and neglected, a child would return and care for a dying parent - especially when he did not initiate the contact or provide much encouragement. Conveniently, he left her tons of money as well as a sense of resolution and closure.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

See What I See is a novel about Kate Talpert-Quinn, daughter of the famous artists, Dalton Quinn. I loved Kate's journey of self discovery and art, but felt like there were parts left out of this book and some undeveloped characters that I would have liked to see more. Kate goes to Detroit on an art scholarship to live with her dad who she hasn't seen since he left the family when she was seven. Her hometown is up north and she misses it. It is her inspiration for painting, a love her father passed on to her before he left. Also, her dad is sick and dying and only has a few months left. Kate does the unselfish thing and quits school to take care of him. The heart breaker is when he tells her that he loves his art more than his family, and that's why he left them. This book is a simple buildingsroman about art and love. I look forward to reading more of Whelan's novels.

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked how the focus wasn't on "love" and being in a relationship; it was mostly about what Kate wanted to do with her life and her art and dealing with her selfish father. That's what I enjoyed, a break form all the romance.

What I didn't like:
I think, in the author's attempt to create a unique story, her writing suffered from not being connectable to the reader. There was a lot of telling instead of showing (perfect example of that in this book). I want to experience the relationships in Kate's life, but instead, I got a summary.

That was a let-down because I really liked some aspects of it, but sometimes Kate was too unemotional at parts that could use a bit of a reaction and then the next extreme at something that wasn't her fault. That was aggravating because I couldn't connect with this character at times.

[Tressa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from the Good Reads "First Reads" giveaway program.

"See What I See" is the story about a teenage girl heading off to college who gets more than she bargained for when she moves in with her ailing father.

I really enjoyed this book. The story immediately grabs you and you want to keep reading to find out what happened. I am glad that while this story has a general happy ending, not all of the situations that the main character finds herself in were predictable. I was hoping for a little more back story and emotional connection with the main character and I thought that the character of the father was a just a tad too unrealistic, but overall I really enjoyed the story from beginning to end.