NOT IF I SEE YOU FIRST: Book Review

Does anyone else listen to PW Kidscast? I adore hearing authors being interviewed about upcoming releases and getting the "inside scoop" on their writing/story process. A few weeks ago debut author Eric Londstrom was on the podcast (check it out here). I was so intrigued with his book. Parker is legally blind, and not the typical blind where you can see some light, her optic nerves are severed. She's in pitch black always. Braille has always interested me. In fact, I've told myself multiple time that I need to learn it in case I do go blind as my eye sight is awful. I literally can't recognize anything   right in front of my face without my glasses or contacts. Plus, I've always been intrigued with people without one of the five senses. I studied ASL and the deaf culture in college and so I was really curious about this book and Parker's story, but knew I'd have to wait until release date December 1, 2015. 

But then I saw it up on Net Galley. After forever, but they took pity on me and let me read an advanced copy. Imagine my thrill of reading the first chapter and realizing our beloved Parker is a runner. A blind runner. I was hooked and couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I read NOT IF I  SEE YOU FIRST in two days. 

We all have obstacles to overcome to compete, but Parker's are much larger...if she even wants to run track. She's always run for herself, across and across a field close to her house before school every morning, walking the field for new obstacles, then counting paces. Now, when the track coach wants her to try out, she has to decide if she wants to run in front of people, if she could manage being "tethered" to another runner, or if it's too wild for her to even attempt. She has grit, determination, and a satisfying story.

My one warning: It does start with a dream, a long one, which is a pet peeve of mine, and longish dreams come back to give us backstory along her journey. While this isn't my preference, everything else was really fun and real. 

I hope you'll add NOT IF I SEE YOU FIRST to the top of your TBR pile! And/or even give it as a gift.

From Goodreads:
The Rules: 

Don't deceive me. Ever. Especially using my blindness. Especially in public.

Don't help me unless I ask. Otherwise you're just getting in my way or bothering me.

Don't be weird. Seriously, other than having my eyes closed all the time, I'm just like you only smarter. 

Parker Grant doesn't need 20/20 vision to see right through you. That's why she created the Rules: Don't treat her any differently just because she's blind, and never take advantage. There will be no second chances. Just ask Scott Kilpatrick, the boy who broke her heart.

When Scott suddenly reappears in her life after being gone for years, Parker knows there's only one way to react-shun him so hard it hurts. She has enough on her mind already, like trying out for the track team (that's right, her eyes don't work but her legs still do), doling out tough-love advice to her painfully naive classmates, and giving herself gold stars for every day she hasn't cried since her dad's death three months ago. But avoiding her past quickly proves impossible, and the more Parker learns about what really happened--both with Scott, and her dad--the more she starts to question if things are always as they seem. Maybe, just maybe, some Rules are meant to be broken.