
Not If I See You First
Hardcover
Other Editions of This Title:
Digital Audiobook (11/30/2015)
Paperback (11/1/2016)
Compact Disc (1/26/2016)
Compact Disc (1/26/2016)
Description
Parker Grant doesn't need 20/20 vision to see right through you. That's why she created the Rules: Don't treat her any differently just because she's blind, and never take advantage. There will be no second chances. Just ask Scott Kilpatrick, the boy who broke her heart.
When Scott suddenly reappears in her life after being gone for years, Parker knows there's only one way to react--shun him so hard it hurts. She has enough on her mind already, like trying out for the track team (that's right, her eyes don't work but her legs still do), doling out tough-love advice to her painfully naive classmates, and giving herself gold stars for every day she hasn't cried since her dad's death three months ago. But avoiding her past quickly proves impossible, and the more Parker learns about what really happened--both with Scott, and her dad--the more she starts to question if things are always as they seem. Maybe, just maybe, some Rules are meant to be broken.
Combining a fiercely engaging voice with true heart, debut author Eric Lindstrom's Not If I See You First illuminates those blind spots that we all have in life, whether visually impaired or not.
Praise For Not If I See You First…
"Not If I See You First is thoughtful and honest, with characters that made me laugh, cry, and surprised me at every turn. It's a book I'll recommend for years to come."—Kody Keplinger, New York Times bestselling author of The DUFF and co-founder of Disability in KidLit
"Bursting with complex, lovable, and, best of all, real characters, Not If I See You First is a beautiful story about love, loss, friendship, and the difference between looking at and truly seeing. Parker Grant feels like a friend now -- a friend I want to laugh with, to cry with, and especially...to run with."—Jennifer Brown, author of Hate List
"[Not If I See You First] possesses crackling wit, intense teen drama, and a lively pace that pulls readers in, as do the everyday details of Parker's world: spoken-word texts, clever methods of finding her way, and a guide runner who helps Parker when she considers joining the school track team. This unique coming-of-age tale is off and running from the start."—Booklist
Poppy, 9780316259859, 320pp.
Publication Date: December 1, 2015
About the Author
Conversation Starters from ReadingGroupChoices.com
As the novel is told from the perspective of a blind
narrator, the characters are not introduced with the
usual physical descriptions that authors often rely upon.
What are some unconventional descriptors that Eric
Lindstrom uses?
How do people intentionally and unintentionally break Parker’s Rules?
How does Parker’s reliance on her rules change over the course of the
novel?
Rule #11 is: “Don’t be weird.” Why is this rule important to Parker, and
why might it be a challenging one for the people in Parker’s life?
Parker claims that she “tells it like it is” and practices tough love, but
sometimes her opinions come across as abrasive or mean. How do you
differentiate between being honest and being kind?
What factors contribute to the tension in Parker’s relationship with
Aunt Celia? What might Celia’s perspective be on their situation?
Why does Parker wear blindfolds? What do you think the blindfolds
symbolize?
Once Parker learns the truth about Scott’s middle school “prank,” she
second-guesses her initial reaction to the incident. Do you believe
the depth of Parker’s anger was justified at the time? Should she have
forgiven Scott sooner, or did she make the right decision?
Even after Parker has forgiven Scott, he doesn’t want to be friends with
her. Do you believe his reasoning is justified?
What insights did you get from the novel about the life of someone
navigating the world as a blind person? What insights did you get
about navigating the world as a typical teenager?
The title on the book jacket is Not if I See You First, but the Braille says
something different. Decipher the Braille. Now that you’ve read Parker
Grant’s story, what does this second message mean to you?