A classic coming-of-age story that is anything but conventional, We’ve Been There follows three fourteen-year-old boys who run away to Las Vegas, only to search for meaning along the way there, and back again. The young author, A.E.Vander Kolk offers a great comparison to classics in the genre such as The Outsiders and Stand by Me while still presenting a unique angle on teenage life.

The author writes with a poise and maturity beyond the author’s age of fourteen, while at the same time authentically capturing the voices of teenage characters. A.E.Vander Kolk’s affinity with the characters creates realistic dialogue, thoughts, and emotions, elevating them with injections of realism in ways that break stereotypical molds of the typical teenager.

For the young reader, or anyone that has struggled with friendships, love, fights, and feelings of loneliness, this story is for you. Through the awkward character of a boy named Paris, his two friends and the people they meet, We’ve Been There includes issues of faith, race, and suicide...and hints of the supernatural that are less frequently found in mainstream young adult novels. This book captures the feelings of teenagers now, through a whirlwind trip full of adventure.