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On the Way to Everywhere

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Though she’s nicknamed for the magical Harry Potter, six-foot, dreadlocked Harry Kavanaugh doesn’t find any wonder in her daily life at an exclusive girls’ school outside of Washington, DC. In fact she wants nothing more than to chuck her lot and enter the wilds of public school—too bad she didn’t reckon on a trip to the hospital, a runaway, and a renegade or three, which just might show her a different path to everywhere.

184 pages, Paperback

First published September 8, 2014

4 people are currently reading
421 people want to read

About the author

Kirsten B. Feldman

3 books80 followers
I grew up on Cape Cod and the Connecticut shoreline and now live outside of Boston, much too far from the ocean. I am rarely without a book in my hand. A few of my favorites include: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, Bastard Out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison, and Every Last One by Anna Quindlen.

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5 stars
19 (38%)
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18 (36%)
3 stars
7 (14%)
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4 (8%)
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1 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Profile Image for Emily.
5,819 reviews545 followers
August 31, 2015
Harry Kavanaugh wants out of the exclusive all girls school she is attending. Harry, goes by her Harry Potter nickname, she is tall, different, and a target for being bullied. Harry's home life is similar to her school life and in it all she is just trying to become the person she is meant to be. Harry begins a journey that includes finding herself and a few surprises along the way.

I think any reader of this book could find someone to identify with, whether as Harry or some of the other interesting characters that fill the book. I reflected a bit once finished thinking about the awkwardness of being that teenager and the restrictiveness of what you can or cannot do. The knowing of what yu want and not having the capacity to do it. Kristen B. Feldman writes a wonderful story readers will enjoy.
Profile Image for Jonel.
1,717 reviews311 followers
September 15, 2014
Feldman brings coming of age to light in a new and snarky manner with this in your face novel. Her writing style really allows you to get down and personal with the main character. You begin to think like she does, which makes this story that much more potent. She tactfully brings a great many issues to light in a way that forces you to think about them and how the characters deal with them. This story catches your attention on so many different levels that it’s hard not to appreciate it.

The characters definitely carry this story forward into another realm of writing. Without fail, Feldman’s characters come to life in a remarkably realistic manner. Feldman develops each with unfailing detail, but does so without detracting from the plot of the story. You can’t help but forming a connection with these unique individuals.

As a whole this is a novel that I would definitely recommend to others. Feldman combines social commentary with real life characters in such a manner that you can’t help but get caught up in it. Throw in a side of teenage snark and you’ve got it made.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Victoria Zigler.
Author 62 books235 followers
September 6, 2014
I was given a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I would give this book 4.5 stars: 5 out of 5 for character creation and worldbuilding, but only 4 out of 5 for writing quality and plot. The characters were very believable, there was plenty of description of the surroundings, and the story was very interesting, making this a great read for the most part. But there were a few places where I felt the story could have done with a bit of work, and several places where I felt a bit more editing would have been a good idea. This is still a book I would recommend though, as it was an enjoyable read over all.
Profile Image for Amanda.
225 reviews2 followers
June 16, 2015
Here's the thing I love about YA books: I love that I can read a story that isn't difficult, that keeps me engaged without me having to really work for it, and that tells a story that's geared toward the kinds of issues that we've all gone through, no matter how many years ago it happened. Even when I can't relate to what's going on in them I can still kinda relate! It's spectacular, they're the kinds of books that really pull me in and keep me hooked.

On the Way to Everywhere by Kirsten Bloomberg Feldman is exactly all of those things. It tells the story of a girl, Harry, and yes, we know you're giving her That Look about the name, who doesn't feel like she fits in at all. She's faced with all the typical issues that a not-so-popular girl in high school is handed, but it's all in addition to the very particular sort of madness that comes with having a family who's completely bonkers. Her mother is a prim and prissy dancer, obsessed with youth and fitness, and her father is a the disconnected Head of her private school. Throw in a half-brother one one side and a perfectly terrible half-sister on the other, a best friend who helps you with math and a drooling, panting sidekick, and what do you get? The perfect recipe for personal growth, that's what!

This book was everything I want out of a YA novel. The cast of quirky characters kept me entertained-- and more than that, it felt inclusive without even trying too hard to be that way. Nothing felt forced upon me in terms of diversity or plot, nor did it feel necessarily predictable, but the reader is given just enough hints to be clued into what Harry's future might hold. She's the kind of girl who wants so badly to escape her own life that she forgets to live it-- that is, until suddenly, she realizes she might be doing it wrong. It's one of those things she has to figure out for herself, and I love characters like that, who are guided into becoming the kind of person we're all rooting for by the fascinating forces around them.

Truthfully, my only complaint was that I felt like the last quarter was a little rushed. But as soon as I thought that I realized that the important parts, the struggles and exposition and movement from Harry as a hardheaded teenager with an attitude problem to a girl who finally recognizes that she cares about her life, were what we all really wanted to learn about in the first place. It's the journey that matters, and Feldman offers a truly captivating roadtrip for Harry, from beginning to end. If you're a girl who needs a reminder that you can do anything you want as long as you put your mind to it and put the effort into it to achieve it, this is definitely the book for you. It's the kind of thing I'd want my own daughters (and sons!) to read, and that's about the best compliment I can give to a book.
Profile Image for Madi.
79 reviews24 followers
December 31, 2014
Though she’s nicknamed for the magical Harry Potter, six-foot, dreadlocked Harry Kavanaugh doesn’t find any wonder in her daily life at an exclusive girls’ school outside of Washington, DC. In fact she wants nothing more than to chuck her lot and enter the wilds of public school—too bad she didn’t reckon on a trip to the hospital, a runaway, and a renegade or three, which just might show her a different path to everywhere.


I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review, this in no way has affected my review.

I got this book from the author mid-year and finished a couple months after I received it. It has been a while since I have been on Goodreads (thank you school), hence the overdue review.

'On the way to Everywhere' is a book that will bring back memories of high school as the main character (Harry Kavanaugh) shares her experiences with you. When I first started reading the book, it was hard for me to latch onto it, but once you read further into the book you just can't put it down. I enjoyed the book as a whole and I recommended it to teenagers that want a good story as well as relatable characters that you can't help but love. Kirsten, is an amazing author that creates characters that are real and relatable, as well as each of them having flaws, which just makes you love them more. I will be looking out for this author as I have enjoyed both books that she has written and I can't wait for more in the future.
Profile Image for Levian.
446 reviews2 followers
August 30, 2014
Harry was a insignificant nobody, at least that was how she tried to live her life. her father Ira, left her mother and brother behind for a new wife before Harry was born. Felicity was her half-sister. unlike beautiful Felicity who attracted all the guys, Harry was a mess. she was tall and awkward, trying hard to blend into the crowd, forcing her grades to be average with the purpose of not attracting attention to herself. at some point in her life, she had to make up for all the lost grades and achieving things that she never thought she would want.

i received a free e-book from the author in exchanged for a review. the book was an absolutely fast read. Harry was a character so lovable that i shed quite a few tears for her. it was highly relatable to see her stumbled through life, achieving things that she thought was important at first, like blending in, later in truly important things, such as her passion for running. the fun part of the book was its random plot, often throwing situations in Harry's path, having her handling it. from discovering Uriel, to Felicity's suicide attempt, Harry remained innocent yet handled each situation with such maturity that it was impossible to not root for her. then of course, also in the spotlight was Frannie, the gigantic overprotective hug-able dog of Harry. i just couldn't get enough of Harry's life!

my link: here
Profile Image for Kayla.
482 reviews5 followers
August 3, 2015
When Kirsten contacted me to read her second book, I jumped at the opportunity with no hesitation. I enjoyed her first book, No Alligators in Sight, and I was sure that this book would be no different. I was right.

Kirsten has a knack for writing characters. Once again, her characters truly come to life. Harry is fantastic. She's a little awkward and very much a teenage girl. Her family, Imogene Gayle and Jeremy, are both loving and a little dysfunctional. The girls at her boarding school are what I'd imagine. And while all of the characters are flawed, they are relatable in their own way.

On the Way to Everywhere is a great story about learning and growing up. Not just for Harry, but for everyone in the story. I loved reading about the transformations that the characters underwent throughout the book. It's clear that Kirsten has a talent for writing. Not only are her characters great, but her ability to tell a captivating story is present, too. There are no boring parts and everything feels essential to move the story forward.

This book is definitely worth the read and I recommend you read it when you get a chance.

* This book was received from the author in exchange for an honest review. *
2,934 reviews261 followers
November 18, 2014
I won this book through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

It wasn't what I hoped it would be. I think I had a hard time because from the beginning I didn't really feel like I had a reason to root for "Harry". Her acting out in an attempt to sabotage her life by flunking out where she was daring anyone, including the reader, to stop her from the start didn't make me want to sit and watch her succeed. And for all of her supposed dislike of boys and things that helped her grow she seemed to resist any kind of character development along the way. I found her self-professed superiority to the characters around her tiring and while I understand it's a story about a teenager even the timeline was also confusing - one page she's in the hospital with no hair and the next she's up and fine with some peach fuzz and then what seems to be only days after she's totally fine with her hair back in?
Profile Image for Talia.
27 reviews4 followers
November 7, 2014
I was given a free copy of this book for a too legit to quit review so here we go kids!

OK first off, (including but not limited to mind you) know that you WILL love this book if you are in agreement with any or all of the following:
1. Were/are a teenage misfit with a love for Kurt Cobain
2. Have ever fallen In love with you best friend
3. Are a non-annoying vegetarian (sometimes rare)

All of these things apply to me so naturally I was destined to love this book. I will say though at first it was a little hard to follow in the beginning, Because I wasn't used to the way it was written. Then it dawned on me that it's exactly what I sound like in my own head when ranting to myself internally. Occasional run on sentences and all. Once I realized this and got used to it I instantly gained an emotional attachment to this book and could follow it automatically. The characters are awesome and the story is very non cliché. Its hard to make a coming of age NOT cheesy sometimes, but Feldman has definitely succeeded. Both a great lighthearted read and a beacon of hope for the misfits. Heaven knows we need one!
Profile Image for Jenifer Ruff.
Author 33 books574 followers
January 15, 2015
I loved every carefully crafted and insightful sentence of this book. The dialogue is smart and funny, and the diverse characters are vividly real. "I tilt my hand back and forth, the universal symbol for eh" is just one of the many lines that made me smile.

Harry is doing her best to flunk out of her exclusive all-girls school. Unusually tall, indifferent toward grooming, virtually friendless, and living with an odd family dynamic, she seems to be the target of mean girls being mean girls, particularly her half-sister who sort of rules the school. She sounds like someone to pity, but you won’t feel sorry for her because she’s too edgy and smart. The main characters have so many dimensions. One of my favorites was Harry’s mother, the school’s well-respected and much-loved dance instructor. I alternated between admiring her and wanting to throttle her because she seemed unable to appreciate or understand her daughter.

There’s a clever twist, and not everything Harry has been led to believe is the truth.

Readers of any age will enjoy this story.
Profile Image for Nancy Brady.
Author 7 books44 followers
January 27, 2015
Full disclosure: I received this novel as a First Reads Goodreads giveaway, but this in no way affects the review.

Harry Kavanaugh, named after Rowling's Harry Potter, is a student at Barfmore, that is Boltmore, an all-girls elite high school. Feeling she doesn't fit in, she wants out. She wants to be able to go to the local high school. Her plan: flunk out, but in this coming-of-age novel, this teen is snarky, and has plenty of black humor to spare.

Once she finds Frannie, or perhaps Frannie finds Harry, and running, slowly there is a turn- around, but is it too late for Harry? Has she sabotaged her chance to stay? Can she discover friends and family who make a difference? It's a realistic, but snarky peek at high school from an unique student. She's abrasive, but easy to like, making this a fun read.
4.5 out of 5
Profile Image for Ashley.
150 reviews
October 5, 2014
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for writing an honest review of it.

The truth is, this book is great. It took me a few days of reading to get into it, but once I did, I read the rest of it in one day. The characters are so vivid, even the ones with small roles in the story.

The best part of the book is the unforgettable Harry, who is impossible not to like. She is sassy and sarcastic, and also sweet and poignant. Her insignificant miserable life completely turns around in the book, in a sweet and fun to read about way.

The setting of this book is also pretty in-depth, and you will feel like you can see the whole neighborhood in detail.

This is one of the best coming of age books I have read and I would recommend it to anyone that likes YA titles that are quirky and sweet.
Profile Image for Lynn Kidd.
25 reviews1 follower
January 5, 2015
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It wasnt what I expected it would be. It's a great tale of life and learning to do what's best for you. This is truly a wonderful coming of age book a must read for any teenage girl. Kirsten Feldman was able to combine social commentary with real life characters in such a way that you can’t help but get caught up in it.
Harry is a tall redhead teenager who doesnt seem to fit in anywhere. Her parents are divorced and she is in a private school. The only person she has on her side is Jeremy her big brother. Of course she is also on his side as he steps into a new relationship with his new boyfriend.
Id recommend this book to anybody who wants to read a wonderful coming-of-age story.

Profile Image for Ane Margaux.
136 reviews27 followers
December 14, 2014
I received this book free of charge from Goodreads!

Harry was an absolute delight! Being named after Harry Potter automatically makes you wonderful in my book. It was quite an experience watching her grow and stumble through life. Kirsten did a stellar job in making the characters so real and being descriptive in the scenes. You almost feel like you know the characters personally and that you are seeing what they see. I am now a fan. I would very much love to read her other works!
Profile Image for Denise.
242 reviews9 followers
February 9, 2015
Thoroughly enjoyed this YA/coming of age novel with its snarky main character, a 6-foot dread-locked redheaded female who is nicknamed after Harry Potter. I grew to love her character more and more as the tale progressed. While she definitely doesn't have any of her namesake's magical abilities, she does discover some strengths and talents that work well on her journey. Excellent writing, great relationships, a worthwhile read.

Thanks to my friend Nancy for the book, too!
Profile Image for Stephanie.
173 reviews
May 9, 2015
Free Book for honest review
Loved this book! It was very well written and funny. This book is a coming of age book but it was still very funny. I really enjoyed the main character’s nickname and all of the characters were well developed. I really wish that this book was longer or that I could read it again for the first time. It was very enjoyable. I would recommend it to everyone!
Profile Image for Lacy Osman.
136 reviews1 follower
December 3, 2014
Unexpectedly good

This novel wasn't what I expected but I really enjoyed it. It's a great tale of life and learning about ones self and learning to do what's best for you. Great read.
Profile Image for SMA SAM.
72 reviews
May 1, 2015
Oh the woes of a private girls school! Is she right to want to go to public school. Is failing everything her best bet to get there? This one hit a little too close to home. Read it...it is worth it.
Profile Image for Denise Kawaii.
Author 15 books18 followers
June 15, 2015
When I first started reading On the Way to Everywhere by Kristin Feldman, I didn't know if it was the right book for me. The early chapters read fast and garbled, much like the inside of my teen nephew's head. It was difficult to follow the scattered patterns... until I just "got" that the book was written from a teenager's perspective, and we're all a little batty at that age.

The book's pacing settled out about a third of the way through and became much easier to follow. The story follows a teenage girl named Harry through her life of not fitting in at her upper class girl's school, being shunned by her father and living with a free spirited mother who can't stand to share the spotlight.

By the time I reached the end, I discovered that On the Way to Everywhere was just what I hoped it would be. A coming of age story about a girl discovering her place in the world is not where she thought it would be.
Profile Image for Carl Harris.
53 reviews35 followers
May 21, 2015
First of all, let me say that I won this book as a Goodreads win, and it was autographed by the author. Six months ago, if you would have told me that one of the best book that I would read this year would be about a teenage girl in a prep school, I probably would have laughed. The book starts out with Harry (a nickname from Harry Potter, short for Henrietta) trying to bomb her classes and failing miserably at field hockey. She gets along better with her best friend William and animals than anyone else. After getting knocked out at a field hockey match though, and with some help from unlikely places, Harry starts to figure out that maybe things aren't so bad where she is. I really enjoyed this book. My only complain is that the romance between Harry and William seems a little forced. It just seems to come out of nowhere. One moment, friends, the next, BAM! I will be on the look out for more books by Kristen Feldman.
Profile Image for Brie.
1,614 reviews
May 27, 2015
I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads contest.

I was a bit unsure about this book when I started reading it. The writing style was a bit dense to me and I asked myself if I wanted to continue reading a few times as I read the first few chapters. Then I started to get sucked into the story and wanted to know what happened next.

I ended up finishing the book and actually liking it. Harry few on me and I started really caring about what happened to her, her friend William, and her family. I ended up just enjoying the book.
Profile Image for Kirsten Feldman.
Author 3 books80 followers
January 4, 2015
If Harry brings you half as much fun as she brought me as I wrote it, you will have a great time reading this novel!


Beta readers had this to say:

"I just fell in love with Harry" (EWL)

"Readers will love to follow Harry from awkward to awesome" (TC)

"I finished the book & absolutely loved it!" (anime)


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