Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Unavailable
    My Life Before Me
    Unavailable
    My Life Before Me
    Unavailable
    My Life Before Me
    Audiobook5 hours

    My Life Before Me

    Written by Norah McClintock

    Narrated by Karen Rowe

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    Cady has always wanted to be a reporter, like her hero Nellie Bly, so after a fire burns down the orphanage she lives in, she’s ready to leave small-town Ontario and make her mark as a newspaperwoman. A crumbling newspaper clipping leads her to Orrenstown, Indiana, where her investigation into a long-ago murder earns her a hard lesson in race relations. Smart and determined, and more than a little headstrong, Cady pokes a stick into a wasp’s nest of lies, dirty politics, corrupt law enforcement and racial tension and ends up fearing for her life as she closes in on the truth about her own origins
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherOrca Book Publishers Audio
    Release dateSep 22, 2015
    ISBN9781459810938
    Unavailable
    My Life Before Me
    Author

    Norah McClintock

    Norah McClintock won the Crime Writers of Canada's Arthur Ellis Award for crime fiction for young people five times. She wrote more than sixty YA novels, including contributions to Seven (the series), the Seven Sequels and the Secrets series.

    Related to My Life Before Me

    Related audiobooks

    YA Social Themes For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      4 Delightful New Books For Middle-grade Readers

      Jun 7, 2018

      History, fantasy, humor, and drama mingle in these four wonderful new books for middle-grade readers – out just in time for summer reading.

      3 min read

    • Article

      You’re The Dirty Rascal

      Apr 6, 2023

      You’re The Dirty Rascal
      5 min read

    • Article

      Ashleigh Bryant Phillips

      Jun 10, 2020

      Ashleigh Bryant Phillips
      6 min read

    • Article

      Penguin Pride.

      Jun 28, 2019

      Penguin Pride.
      16 min read

    • Article

      Hilton ALS

      Jun 15, 2018

      Hilton ALS
      29 min read

    • Article

      DEFINING Memories

      Aug 5, 2021

      DEFINING Memories
      7 min read

    • Article

      La Bohème

      Mar 1, 2022

      ON A SATURDAY or Sunday afternoon in the cold early months of 1988, I sat alone at a table for two in a Greenwich Village diner, twenty-four years old, hopelessly young, my notebook open in front of me. At the table next to mine were three people, al

      13 min read

    • Article

      Chris Bohjalian

      Apr 12, 2021

      Chris Bohjalian
      12 min read

    • Article

      Ben Okri

      Apr 25, 2022

      Ben Okri
      5 min read

    • Article

      The Courage To Be Happy

      Feb 1, 2023

      MARRIAGE and columns have this in common: you tend to repeat yourself. More than once in these pages, I have quoted the New Yorker’s legendary film critic Pauline Kael. After President Nixon’s landslide victory in 1972 she wrote: ‘I live in a rather

      3 min read

    • Article

      Luis Alberto Urrea

      Jun 12, 2023

      Luis Alberto Urrea
      12 min read

    • Article

      I Never Called Her Momma

      Sep 13, 2023

      I Never Called Her Momma
      39 min read

    • Article

      The Art of Nonfiction No. 11

      Dec 7, 2021

      The Art of Nonfiction No. 11
      26 min read

    • Article

      31 Writer Dreams: A List

      Aug 14, 2017

      Since Woman No. 17 has been published, I've wondered what would have to occur for me to feel 100% satisfied with the book's performance and reception. The post 31 Writer Dreams: A List appeared first on The Millions.

      4 min read

    • Article

      Adulting in Motion: The Millions Interviews Emma Straub

      May 1, 2020

      I was working to better understand women in my mother's generation—maybe mothers in all generations—mothers who are further down the road than I am. The post Adulting in Motion: The Millions Interviews Emma Straub appeared first on The Millions.

      8 min read

    Reviews for My Life Before Me

    4/5

    9 ratings14 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      A young orphan goes out into the world to make her fortune, and detours to find her origins. I really liked the narrator, although I was a bit distracted by the casual country hopping. Didn't Canadians in the 1960's think of the US as a separate country?I'm a little interested in seeing the other books in the series, although I can't see how much overlap they will have, as I think they all start with the orphans getting thrown out on their own. I liked how Cady kept pushing to figure out the mystery, and how it was personal for her but she kept pushing that down and being objective about things.
    • 4/5
      When the orphanage Cady grew up in burns down, she travels to Toronto to work and achieve her dream of becoming a reporter like her hero Nelly Bly. But being 1964, the gritty newspaper world is not hospitable for plucky young women and she sets on a plan to dig up a great story to get a toe in to the field. She begins with her own mysterious past, the only clue being a torn newspaper clipping with the photo of a desecrated grave. Her search leads her to a small town in Indiana, where she discovers a secret murder with hints of KKK involvement. A fun YA mystery that handles the race issues of the time period fairly well.
    • 5/5
      I received this book this morning and had to wait until after work to start it. I read it straight threw. I literally could not put it down.The characters were well drawn and for the most part realistic. The plot was just intricate enough to keep you guessing and the ending did not disappoint. However, after I finished that it dawned on me, how unlikely it was that Cady, the main character, was not only so very color blind (even if she was from Canada) but also unaware of the role it played in America.But other than that - it was pretty much flawless
    • 3/5
      Received this book via Early Reviewers Giveaway. This was a good read for someone who wanted something light and fast. At times, I felt like I couldn't really understand what age the book was for... sometimes it felt like a solid YA and other times it felt more middle-grade. The reveals were predictable (part of why I couldn't get a feel for the audience age.) But overall a fine book.
    • 4/5
      I received a free copy of this book from Orca as part of the Early Reviewers program in exchange for my honest review.I wish I could go back in time and give this to the fourteen-year-old wannabe-investigative-journalist that I used to be. Because, let me tell you, I would have loved My Life Before Me. And here's why:First of all, Cady. I love Cady. Intrepid and daring, she sets out in search of the truth and refuses to let anyone get in her way. She's an aspiring reporter, citing Nellie Bly as one of her heroes, and battles against sexism in 1960s newspaper offices. She's principled, and strong, and such a fantastic main character.Secondly, the plot. Cady starts off delving into her past, convinced that she's sniffing out the story that will be her big journalistic break. But as the plot progresses, it's less about her and more about racism in small-town America. The book grapples with a lot: lynching, KKK membership, police coverups and conspiracies, and a town full of people who don't want the truth to come up. It's a disturbing but important topic to read about -- and it's one that is unfortunately still relevant today.Finally, the writing. I loved the main character's voice, the plot moved along at a good pace, and the mysteries kept me guessing. I haven't read anything by Norah McClintock before, but I have a hunch this will be the first of many of her books that I'll pick up.
    • 3/5
      I very much liked the idea of this story and for the most part, I actually enjoyed the follow through. It is very well-written and generally kept me on my toes. Cady was interesting and realistic, though I didn't in any way find her relatable. It was strange to me how ignorant she was though, her wanting to be a reporter so badly. She was incredibly color blind, which I found grossly ignorant. I didn't enjoy the ending, I found it very anticlimactic. I felt I was getting hints that LeSalle and Jefferson had a secret romance, which really would have been a wonderful addition, though it may have made cady's relationship to the newspaper clipping difficult. It was a very white-savior type story, which is never a good thing.
    • 3/5
      I like the idea of a group of stories that work together, but aren't essential to one another. This YA mystery was a pleasant read, though I didn't really get swept up in it. The fact that Cady works for a newspaper was nice for me, since I, too, have worked as a journalist.
    • 4/5
      "My Life Before Me" by Norah McLintock is one of seven novels about a group of orphans trying to discover their pasts. Set in 1964 this is the story of Cady Andrews, an aspiring journalist. Cady doesn't set out to learn about her past, but after getting turned down from a newspaper job because she was a woman and had no hard news reporting experience she sets out to prove herself by doing some investigative reporting on her own past. It leads her to a small Indiana town where racial tensions have always run high. The residents don't like her digging into their secrets, Cady continues her investigation into the death of an African American man that occured years ago. Determined to find proof he was wrongfully convicted of murder, Cady digs into the town's secrets and discovers a larger story than she anticipated. Cady is a strong, brave, and determined young woman. The story moved along at a good pace and was a really engaging and suspenseful mystery. There were enough clues to keep you thinking, but the ending still had surprises. Racism was a major issue addressed in the story. Cady's discoveries about the actions of people in the town are horrifying. The book would be a good jumping off point for further reading about the Civil Rights Movement. Women's Rights is also a large focus as Cady fights barriers to achieve her dream of being a journalist. I really enjoyed Cady's story. It was a great blend of mystery, historical fiction,and social issues that are still relevant today. YA mystery and historical fans will enjoy this book and series.
    • 3/5
      I loved the concept of this series- an orphanage burns down, each of the teenaged orphans are sent out into the world with some money and an envelope containing what they arrived at the orphanage with. What a great mystery! I also loved that it was set in 1964, giving it a historical bend.This story is an engaging adventure with many twists and turns. A few sections were tough for me to swallow, in particular the section at the cabin seemed difficult to buy, but overall it was a good story, I liked the characters and the ending was not overly predictable. I wish the reading level was just a touch lower. As a school librarian, I feel like this story would have been good for my older strugglers if it were just a bit easier.
    • 3/5
      The book follows 16 year old Cady Andrews, a Canadian orphan and aspiring reporter that sets off on a journey to find herself and her career when her orphanage burns down. Her trip takes her to a small town in Indiana and finds her digging up an unsolved murder from 20 years prior. She becomes fully involved in the turmoil surrounding the Civil Rights movement, very much a incerdianry topic even in the North. In solving the case, Cady hopes to not only bring justice to a dead end case but find out more about who she is as well.The book is well constructed and the story moves along at a nice pace. The descriptive language is good and dialogue seems light and natural. It does a decent job attempting to encapsulate a very tumultuous time in American history and presents it in a way that challenges the reader to question the progress in race relations. While I do compliment the research that went into period language, style, mannerisms, etc. it does seem almost as if it constructed after simply reading a history book. A layer of grit and realism seemed to be missing throughout the book, even in the tenser moments when scenes feel lifted from an earlier cannon of work about this time period. I kept waiting for a line of dark humor to fill that void left by the lack of real human feeling, despair, and angst that characterized this time period. I can understand that certain scenes were probably indicative of the times but here they are all put together in a manner which detracts from the gravitas of the story. While dialogue is good as mentioned above, none of the characters really feels particularly fleshed out beyond a period archetype. They is lots of room for it in the story and the author seems more than capable of doing so, but none of the characters manages to break the 2-D mold and seem truly alive.My Life Before Me is a good read with a strong protagonist and would be a good read for those who enjoy mystery light. The author is more than capable and while the book has its issues with depth, I could recommend it.
    • 3/5
      MY LIFE BEFORE ME is a mediocre book that seemed to drag on a bit before speeding up quickly at the end. It might be good for students who love mysteries, but as an adult reader, this one didn't really hold my attention.
    • 5/5
      My Life Before Me is a gripping YA mystery that takes place in 1964. I absolutely adored the orphaned teen narrator, Cady Andrews, an aspiring journalist on a mission to discover her origins. Right before Cady embarks on her journey, she receives an envelope that contains a clue about where she's from. This story involves murder, racism (with historic references), classism and buried secrets. There are also quite a few twists and turns, but McClintock did a superb job of laying the plot points out in an easy-to-follow manner. Even though this book covers several mature themes (all presented tastefully, in my opinion), I think it would be a wonderful addition to any middle or high school library.I read My Life Before Me out loud to my husband while we were on a road trip. We were bummed when we had to stop reading in order to eat dinner. During dinner, we discussed possible outcomes for the mystery Cady was trying to solve. Then, we finished reading as soon as we got settled into our hotel room for the night. My husband and I both loved Cady's story!A big thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC via LibraryThing!
    • 5/5
      I won! And it really was a nice prize. I came across this book in the Early Reviewers list and took a chance. Since I enjoy YA lit, this was an interesting premise: an orphan from Canada searching out her roots in early 1960s USA. The first chapter seemed like a very different book, reminiscent of Hope Was Here by Joan Bauer. I really thought Norah McClintock was taking the protagonist, Cady Andrews, on a very different journey. It seemed more logical that she would move further into the Toronto area, so the twist of having an Indiana, USA connection was a surprise - both for Cady and the reader. Cady's journey to the USA was glossed over. It would have been a more interesting book if we could have seen from her viewpoint the adventure of travelling outside of her town, her county and her country into the USA, where she passed through, etc. Taking a bus all that way would have been daunting for anyone, much less an orphan girl who had never been outside the small town of Hope, Ontario. The comparisions between Orrensville, IN and Hope, Ontario, Canada were a little too pat, but, judging from how the teen mind works (yes, I have a teen), it is probably a pretty accurate portrayal of Cady's 17-yr-old thinking. I noticed another reviewer who said it was unlikely that Cady would have been unaware of the civil unrest of early 1960s USA. While, to a point, that statement is a good one, I believe McClintock has Cady accurately drawn. Having been a child of the 1960s myself, I can guarantee that if you were growing up in a small town that was mostly white, it really probably was a foreign concept. Cady's hometown bears a lot of resemblance to Orrenstown, Indiana, but does not have the neighboring African American village. To Cady's credit, she doesn't act like some who came from small predominantly white towns at that time, staring at people of color like they came from Mars. She is very open-minded, probably because she feels a kinship with the socially displaced. Cady may not have been following the American civil rights movement at that time, but she understands it when it is explained. I think she is a well-rounded character who fits her time.Cady is a fun character: driven, ambitious, intrepid but still real enough to admit she is scared and that she does hope to find her family. In the end, she does, to a point. It isn't happily ever after, but it is a satisfying end to the story. I highly recommend this book.
    • 3/5
      MY LIFE BEFORE ME is a mediocre book that seemed to drag on a bit before speeding up quickly at the end. It might be good for students who love mysteries, but as an adult reader, this one didn't really hold my attention.