#MMBBR #Review SPEED OF LIFE by @carol_weston #SourcebooksJabberwocky @Sourcebooks ‏#FirstLine

Sofia lost her mother eight months ago, and her friends were 100% there for her. Now it's a new year and they're ready for Sofia to move on.

Problem is, Sofia can't bounce back, can't recharge like a cellphone. She decides to write Dear Kate, an advice columnist for Fifteen Magazine, and is surprised to receive a fast reply. Soon the two are exchanging emails, and Sofia opens up and spills all, including a few worries that are totally embarrassing. Turns out even advice columnists don't have all the answers, and one day Sofia learns a secret that flips her world upside down.

SPEED OF LIFE is the heartbreaking, heartwarming story of a girl who thinks her life is over when really it's just beginning. It's a novel about love, family, grief, and growing up.

"A wonderful book that takes us from loss to laughter." —Richard Peck, author of The Best Man and Newbery Gold Medalist A Year Down Yonder

"You won't want to put it down. But my advice is slow down and savor this delightful book, full of cariño, funny and heartfelt, and (spoiler alert) not just for teens." —Julia Alvarez, author of In the Time of the Butterflies and Return to Sender

#FirstLine ~ Warning:  This is kind of a sad story.  

I loved this book!  It was such a delight.  I lost my father and know what loss feels like.  Weston really captured that feeling it and did so brilliantly.  This may be one of those rare books that I read twice because I was so moved by the story and really cared about the characters.  But, this book is not only abut loss...there is hope, humor and heart galore in this book.  I love then YA books really get is right from start to finish.  I love when a book in this genre can be enjoyed by the parents and the kids.  I think this book is perfect for a family book club pick!   

Hi! I'm thrilled that SPEED OF LIFE has gotten *starred* reviews from PW, Kirkus, Booklist, and School Library Journal. It's about Sofia who thinks her life is over when really it is just beginning... ("You won't want to put it down" Julia Alvarez; "multicultural cast...strong voice" Kirkus; "wonderful" --Richard Peck) Age 11 and up.

My AVA series in now in paperback! The New York Times calls AVA AND PIP "a love letter to language." Ava is 10. In the first diary, she tries to help her shy big sister find her voice--and ends up finding her own. In AVA AND TACO CAT, Ava's desperate for a pet. In AVA XOX, Ava wonders if she has a crush on her best guy friend.

I've been "Dear Carol" at Girls' Life since 1994. I majored in French/Spanish comp lit major at Yale and have an M.A. from Middlebury. Photos and links at www.carolweston.com. 
GIRLTALK: All the Stuff Your Sister Never Told You, (HarperCollins), has been translated into 12 languages. Now in a fourth edition, it's as sensible, encouraging, and "outstanding" (SLJ) as ever. Among my other 16 books: The Melanie Martin (Knopf) diary series about Melanie and Matt the Brat. (Set in Italy, Holland, Spain, NYC.) Thank you!