Jennifer Longo takes a serious subject and makes it relatable – for the most part I enjoyed her writing style, the protagonist, most of the supporting characters (Natan is just a caricature).
Muiriel has spent her entire life in foster care and to survive she has learned an important lesson – travel light. But this is not just with possessions, this is with people and relationships. Muiriel can’t stay in any foster home for a year. And she is terrified because she is going to age out of the system and the odds are not in her favor.
I did like the fact that the novel exposed assumptions many of us make about kids in foster care and gives the reader insight into this life. Foster kids do not deserve to be in foster care. They are entitled to have an adult in their life that genuinely cares for them. These kids need a voice and to tell their stories – Muir’s flashbacks have a strong impact in giving these stories a voice.
There are lots of feelings in the book and introspection by the main character. I was surprised that Muiriel has such a hard time understanding that her friends and Francine want to be there for her. I wasn’t sure how realistic that was. Also, the book becomes preachy and I lost patience with it in certain parts. The author tries to pack a lot of social injustices in this book and it come across as contrived in some parts. Also, why is the white main character always recusing the small black girl and Japanese American teen girl?
I think tweens and teens would enjoy this read. Although What I Carry started out strong, it falters a little in the middle, with the ending drawn out a little too long. I wanted to really like this book, but I think it would have been more powerful if it had been more nuanced.
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I really did like this read. This book did take a awhile to grow on me. I thought the structure in this book was not as clear to follow but intreating. i def grew to love this character as this book progreseed this book de was more a of see discovery novel that I feel tackled foster care issues in a very inspireing way. I really did enjoy the various side characters in this book and really loved how much character growth happened in this novel. It was a book that def brought the emotions and overall good read, just not my favorite. ( )

I really did like this read. This book did take a awhile to grow on me. I thought the structure in this book was not as clear to follow but intreating. i def grew to love this character as this book progreseed this book de was more a of see discovery novel that I feel tackled foster care issues in a very inspireing way. I really did enjoy the various side characters in this book and really loved how much character growth happened in this novel. It was a book that def brought the emotions and overall good read, just not my favorite. ( )

"Growing up in foster care, Muir has an unbreakable rule: pack light. Toothbrush? Yes. Socks? Yes. Friends? Family? A boyfriend? No way. She knows better than to weigh herself down with additional baggage. and now Muir has just one year left before she ages out of the system. All she has to do is make it through senior year and she can start living life on her own terms. But then she meets. Francine. And Kira. And Sean. And everything changes" back cover
Poignant, compelling protagonist: resilent, a caring heart in spite of her "rules" about not getting involved, not expecting anything, from anyone, ever. A bit heavyhanded on evaluation of foster care/adoption system & the myriads of ways foster kids don't do well - an 18 yr old teen knows all this, really? - but definitely informative. Great riffs on John Muir & his passion for nature, the outdoors, preserving & protecting the environment - now Muiriel aspires (secretly, who can afford to go to college?) to be a forest ranger?, something to do with the great forests/lands of the West. Seattle/Bainbridge Island setting, including history of the past: Japanese internment of Island residents during WWII. A critical "reveal" in Ch 18 gives credence to Muiriel's dogged insistence on NOT believing in emotional ties, a family, a boyfriend, a "real" friend.
Well drawn supporting characters; an uplifting ending -what a relief after so many grim urban teen tales of young girls "in the system". Great read even for PG readers. Author's Note at end of book helps explain the themes & approach to Muiriel's story. ( )

Amazing! A wonderful story, a different story of a teenager and her path through foster care. I liked the fact that the story was not told in a negative light. Muir is a girl who just wants to make her way out, keep her head down until she is 18 and aged out. One year is all she has ...what she doesn't expect is to discover a different path, one filled with friends, friends who become her family. The symbolism for all the items she carried connected throughout the story, especially the necklace. All tangled up until she sees that these people are her family. I will admit I teared up as I read. This is a must read for YA readers. ( )