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Young adult book reviews for ages 12 and up - middle school and high school students




*Before I Go* by Riley Weston- young adult book review
 



 
Before I Go
by Riley Weston
Grades 7-12 408 pages Campfire Press September 2006 Hardcover    

Wow. It is a rare and brilliant book that can capture the reader to such an extent that they can feel the pain and release the tears along with the characters within the story. Before I Go is an amazing story of courage, dedication, and above all love.

Madison meets Jackson Wellington III, her lifelong best friend and soul mate, when she is six. They meet over a struggle for a dirty deflating yellow balloon. Neither care about the condition of the balloon; both have missed the parade, and this balloon is their only evidence of its existence. In a battle of wits, Madison offers up friendship - not just friendship, but the offer is to be his best friend. Jackson acknowledges defeat without requiring best friendship, but the connection is already made, their fate already sealed.

Madison continues to miss parades, friendships, and most other events of a young girl’s life as she trains for one skating championship after another. The grand goal, of course, is the Olympics, and she shows definite promise of meeting that goal. What she does maintain is a solid relationship with her mother, who is also her coach (being an Olympic hopeful herself), and her best friendship with Jackson.

When Madison is sixteen, it is beginning to look like her lifelong focus is about to come to fruition. With Madison training madly for her dream and Jackson scouted for a world soccer team, they are two young champions set for an elite path in life. But then their world is shattered. As they try to piece together their new reality, they rediscover each other with a new level of love, and a new level of pain.

Before I Go will capture your heart, touch your soul, bring a tear to your eye, and stay with you for a long time. A tale of shattered dreams, boundless devotion, and intense love, it will leave the reader reeling in emotions. An amazing debut from a new young author!

Young adult book reviews for ages 12 and up - middle school and high school students

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  Regan Windsor/2007 for curled up with a good kid's book  






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