Common Sense Media Review
By Sally Engelfried
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Relatable tale of music-loving Native Tuscarora boy in '70s.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In IF I EVER GET OUT OF HERE, it's 1975, and seventh grader Lewis Blake, who's Tuscarora-enrolled, is the only Native American student in the gifted classes of his mostly White public school. He longs to have a friend, but school relationships have nuances that are different from the teasing and joking he's grown up with on the Tuscarora reservation. When a new boy from the military base turns out to have similar musical tastes to Lewis, the two slowly make their way to friendship. Although the boys share information about their different upbringings and traditions, Lewis is reluctant to disclose his family's lower-income situation. When Lewis is bullied by a White classmate whose father has a lot of clout, Lewis gets little support from teachers, administrators, or his classmates, forcing both Lewis and George to take a stand. Their final friendship hurdle is about being honest with each other and trusting that their connection is stronger than distance or economic difference.
Is It Any Good?
Lewis' struggle to fit into White-dominant spaces away from his reservation home while remaining connected to his family and culture is realistic and relatable. In If I Ever Get Out of Here, Lewis is a likable narrator who develops strong bonds with friends over shared musical tastes while also navigating significant racism and income obstacles. The extensive and minute details about 1970s music culture may confuse or bore some readers, and much of the plot and characterization is exposed through some fairly awkward dialogue, especially in the beginning. Still, if readers can stick with the first half of this novel, they'll be rewarded in the second half, when the plot gets going and Lewis starts to resolve his problems.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about racism and prejudice against Indigenous people depicted in If I Ever Get Out of Here, including the history of boarding schools and the unique relationship between sovereign tribal nations and North American governments. Do you think much has changed since the 1970s? What things have remained the same?
How is your music listening experience different from Lewis'? Do all your friends listen to the same music on the radio, or do you find new music from other places?
Have you ever heard of or listened to the bands mentioned in If I Ever Get Out of Here? Are the Beatles, Paul McCartney and Wings, Queen, and David Bowie still relevant to teens today?
The word "Indian" is used frequently because of the book's 1970s setting, but "Native American," "Native," and "Indigenous" are common today. Why is it important to use terms that people self-identify as?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Arthur A. Levine
- Publication date : July 30, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
- Number of pages : 368
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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