Alexia Andriamandroso

Passionate about books and children, Alexia has a bachelor’s degree in Education Sciences,and a master’s degree in Writing for Young People. She moves around a lot, and draws her inspiration from the people and cultures she encounters – her heartfelt poems and stories are her way to remember them. Like a shot in the dark that bloomed into dawn, Alexia once said during an English presentation in high school: ‘If I ever have the courage, I’ll become a writer.’

Wherever

From Madagascar to Côte d’Ivoire and now France, eighteen-year-old Iray never stops wondering where ‘home’ is. As he starts college in Paris, he finds himself torn between meeting everyone’s expectations and figuring out what he wants. Through chasing impossible standards and borrowed dreams, he inevitably ends up losing himself. Soon enough, life catches up, reminding him he never truly belongs, Wherever he is.

An ode to the quietly painful yet wonderful journey of being a diaspora kid. This endearing YA verse novel subtly navigates the universal theme of identity, through carefully crafted relationships and an authentic teen voice. It’s perfect for fans of Home Is Not a Country, Me: Moth and Punching the Air.