Title: You’re Welcome, Universe (2017)
Author: Whitney Gardner
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Description:
When Julia finds a slur about her best friend scrawled across the back of the Kingston School for the Deaf, she covers it up with a beautiful (albeit illegal) graffiti mural.
Her supposed best friend snitches, the principal expels her, and her two mothers set Julia up with a one-way ticket to a “mainstream” school in the suburbs, where she’s treated like an outcast as the only deaf student. The last thing she has left is her art, and not even Banksy himself could convince her to give that up.
Out in the ’burbs, Julia paints anywhere she can, eager to claim some turf of her own. But Julia soon learns that she might not be the only vandal in town. Someone is adding to her tags, making them better, showing off—and showing Julia up in the process. She expected her art might get painted over by cops. But she never imagined getting dragged into a full-blown graffiti war.
Read an excerpt…
Six stencils in and it’s gone. Okay, the tag vanished by Stencil Number Two, but I have a point to prove. I’m not covering up your scribbled slur with just anything. I’m making art here. I’m creating. I’m on fire.
I’ve never thrown up such an intense piece—I was worried I wouldn’t be able to pull it off in time. My arm flies across the wall, pink paint striping across the last stencil. It looks like it’s going to work out. I chuckle to myself. This is what it’s all been for, the hours of paint-pen practice, filling up every inch of every sketchbook with tags and words and pictures. All my hard work has paid off, and it’s all up here on the wall.
I know I shouldn’t be tagging the school. I know that. But I wasn’t the first, and that mess had to go. Jordyn told the principal that someone tagged the gym, she had to. The vandal singled her out, and word gets around real quick at Kingston School for the Deaf. But three weeks went by, and “Jordyns a SLUT” was still there on the back of the gym for all to see. And good ole Principal Howard hadn’t done a damn thing.
Have you read this book yet? 💗✨
This sounds like a really interesting read. Nothing like I’ve ever read before! I’ll definitely have to check this one out! Thanks for sharing, Reg 🙂
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It really is! Don’t think we’ve had a graffiti artist main protagonist before… hope you like it. 😉
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I haven’t read it yet, but I’m going to! Love the outfit, too! Those shorts are freakin’ adorable!
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I hope you like it, Megan! And thank you. 🌸
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Love this look, Reg. It’s super cute. Especially those shorts.
I read the book over the weekend, and really adored it. It’s a great book about friendship with no romance!
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Thanks, Nick! I’m really into those shorts as well. And I’m glad you adored the book – I quite enjoyed it myself. 😊
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Oh, I like the sound of this book!
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Me too! It’s not bad too, now that I’ve read it. 😊
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This is ADORABLE. I really want to read this book too. Hopefully soon!
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Thank you! I hope you like it – it really is quite sweet and the protagonist is very strong. 💕
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Lol!!!! Omg that unicorn tshirt 😂 in my previous jobs we used to call ourselves “Unicorn Hunters” 🙈
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That’s super cute! What did you actually “hunt” for? 😂
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Legitimately “unicorns” – unrealistic fantastical beings which will fulfill all sorts of requirements and dreams. No joke 😂
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Sounds like fun. 😂
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This is an amazing outfit Reg, basically I was thinking, ‘Yes, I really want to own that’ as I saw each piece. It kind of makes me think of Summer which is right around to corner now (it’s actually getting warmer and I am so excited about not needing a winter coat anymore)
Also I love the sound of this book too. It’s been on my to-read list for a while but from the reviews I’ve seen it’s just as amazing as it sounds. Do you plan to pick it up soon, if you haven’t already? 🙂
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Thanks, Beth! It’s summer where I am too… though from now on it’s probably gonna be summer all the time, haha.
I have read it, actually! I think it has flaws, but I enjoyed it quite a bit – the protagonist definitely grew a lot and the focus on friendship was lovely. I hope you like it!
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It feels closer to summer every day over here. I ate outside for the first time this year. Granted I had to leave my jacket on but it counts! 🙂
Oh that’s great to hear. I’ve seen some positive reviews for it so far so I may have to see if I can move it up my to-read list! 😀
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Oh wow! So before it was just entirely too cold to eat outside? As someone who eats outside ALL THE TIME that’d be super inconvenient for me. 😅
I can’t wait for your thoughts for this one. Depending on what you like, it might be worth moving up your TBR. 😉
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Yeah. We had some days in January and February where the temperate was down to 2 or 3 degrees, a couple of days we even had snow. Ohh, if you eat outside all the time I would not recommend moving to England anytime soon.
Well in that case I’ll be sure to let you know, and actually I may move it up a little as well! 😀
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That’s so cold! I forgot how cold the UK gets, haha. In Australia our winters were pretty docile in comparison. 😛
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There are times when I wish it wasn’t so cold here. It was the first day of Spring today and it rained pretty much all day. Kind of feel like it sets the tone for Summer in England this year! 🙂
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I love that look! I can’t wait to read the book!
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Thank you! Hope you enjoy it. 💕
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Yasssssss, Reg. This is such a cute ensemble 😍😍
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Thanks, Kevin! Well, I think so. 😂
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That’s my summer outfit sorted 😉
I’ve also heard some amazing things about this book so I’ll be keeping an eye on it.
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Yay! I hope you end up giving it a chance somewhere down the line – I quite enjoyed it myself. 😊
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Love it! I’ve seen some really wonderful reviews for this book. The book reminds me of an American TV show that used to be on called “Switched at Birth.” I think it was/is on Netflix… It has many of the same elements as this book.
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Thanks! And yeah, now that I’ve read it, I can see why it’s got quite a lot of glowing reviews. Though it has flaws it’s definitely worth a read. 🙂
I’ve actually heard about Switched at Birth too but I haven’t watched it! I think someone else has mentioned the similarity, so I’m kind of intrigued now.
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[…] » Reg @She Latitude shares a “Book Look” for You’re Welcome, Universe → Book Looks: You’re Welcome, Universe – Whitney Gardner […]
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This book has been on my TBR for so long, I’m going to ask for it for my upcoming birthday hehe 🙂 . I’m new to your blog and I LOVE it! This entire look is like exactly my style, I could wear that forever! I can’t wait to read this book, and I adore your Book Looks!
ThePastryPoet
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Thank you so much! I really appreciate you saying that, and hey, have a good birthday. Hope you enjoy the book when you get to it. 😉
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