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Speed of Life
Twins Crystal and Amber have the same goal: to be the first in their family to graduate high school and make something of their lives. When one gets pregnant during their junior year, they promise to raise the baby together. It’s not easy, but between their after-school jobs, they’re scraping by.
Crystal’s grades catch the attention of the new guidance counselor, who tells her about a college that offers a degree in automotive restoration, perfect for the car buff she is. When she secretly applies—and gets in—new opportunities threaten their once-certain plans, and Crystal must make a choice: follow her dreams or stay behind and honor the promise she made to her sister.
Feminist readers in particular will appreciate this strong young woman who doesn’t conform to gender norms.. -Kirkus
Crystal’s grades catch the attention of the new guidance counselor, who tells her about a college that offers a degree in automotive restoration, perfect for the car buff she is. When she secretly applies—and gets in—new opportunities threaten their once-certain plans, and Crystal must make a choice: follow her dreams or stay behind and honor the promise she made to her sister.
Feminist readers in particular will appreciate this strong young woman who doesn’t conform to gender norms.. -Kirkus
352 pages, Hardcover
First published October 11, 2016
11 people are currently reading
1033 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Kelly
1 book28 followersJ.M. Kelly is the YA pen name for the children's author Joelle Anthony. She loves the rain, which is good because she was born and raised in Portland, Oregon and now lives in British Columbia, Canada. She spent her childhood with her nose in a book, often in the backseat of whatever old car her dad had at the time. She's worked as an actress, a Minor League Baseball souvenir hawker, the Easter Bunny, and various other not-so-odd jobs. Now she mostly writes novels, but she still dabbles in sketch comedy, nonfiction articles, and teaching writing to both kids and adults. She recently wrote and starred in her first full-length play, along with her husband.
Books by Joelle Anthony include: Restoring Harmony, The Right & the Real and the forthcoming A Month of Mondays. She maintains one website at http://www.joelleanthony.com
Books by Joelle Anthony include: Restoring Harmony, The Right & the Real and the forthcoming A Month of Mondays. She maintains one website at http://www.joelleanthony.com
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June 24, 2016I wrote this...so...you know...I like it. I hope you do too!
October 7, 2016
5/5
This is the best YA contemporary I've ever read, period.
I'm both exhausted from the week and emotionally drained from finishing this tonight (basically I read half of the book today) but I need to write this review ASAP because the book is coming out so soon and I just need to share my feelings with prospective readers.
This is probably going to get long and rave-y so here's a quick overview of what made this book such an incredible standout for me:
- Feminist without being preachy
- A stunningly accurate portrayal of living in near-poverty in America
- Also very accurate portrayal of raising a baby
- Complex and realistic familial relationships
- NO FORCED LOVE INTERESTS
- Narration with a relatable but emotionally-stirring voice
So let's discuss in that order. Firstly one of the twins, our narrator, Crystal, works at a gas station. She loves cars and her mustang is her baby. She wants to spend the rest of her life working in automotive restoration. And guess what- not once does any single character in this book question that. I was keeping my eyes peeled, so certain that I would eventually find that line like "You're pretty good with cars, for a girl." or some other trite, sexist line. It never happened. It was like the heavens opened up above this story as I was reading it. And the best part was that it felt like an effortless exclusion. That type of dialogue wouldn't have effected Crystal's choices or passion anyway so it was just irrelevant! Because interests don't have genders. I could keep going about this but honestly it was just so straightforwardly feminist (without Crystal even having to use that word) that I was just blown away. Kudos.
Next I need to discuss their lifestyle. Crystal and Amber do not have easy lives. Their mom has a gambling addiction, their stepdad is pretty much a lazy stoner. The girls both work part-time jobs in order to pay for their own needs, for Natalie's ("their" baby), and also combine their income into a joint bank account so they can save to buy their own apartment in a better neighborhood. How rough is it where they live? Crystal leaves the family dog to sleep in her mustang to prevent carjackings at night, if that helps give you some indication. The issues that they faced, as well as their reactions to small windfalls, were portrayed in an incredibly realistic way. I have family members whose lifestyles and choices are shockingly similar to a lot of what happens in this book, so I know firsthand just how well these topics were dealt with. It's tough to read about but also so important. I also found this point of view incredibly refreshing, seeing as most YA contemporary novels feature protagonists of higher socioeconomic status (think the ever-popular politician's daughter trope).
Similarly, I was very impressed with the lifelike writing in regards to raising a baby. As a nanny and pre-service teacher, it's my personal pet peeve when children are written wildly inappropriately for their stage of development. Kelly handled Natalie's aging and characterization so well and I found many of the small parenting moments in the novel to be super relatable (i.e. "you only wake a sleeping baby once because she's cute, and then you learn your lesson"- too real). Likewise, the struggles Amber and Crystal go through to raise her- coordinating alternating schedules for daycare pickup, endeavoring to provide for her ever-changing needs (such as clothes as she grows), and even simple moments like removing a sleeping baby from a car seat and praying you don't wake her up- are written with an astonishing level of realism.
Furthermore I loved the familial relationships within the novel. Of course Crystal and Amber, being twins, are the standout. I thought their closeness and their differences were both shown well, and some of the most emotionally stirring moments for me were while reading the descriptions of how physically ill it made Crystal feel to lie to her twin sister. I also loved their mothering toward Natalie, as I've touched on. But most surprisingly, I enjoyed learning more and more about the twins' relationship with their mother. Their mom certainly had her fair share of issues- the gambling problem, having to raise twins at a young age- and in the beginning of the book I felt a lot of resentment toward her for Crystal and Amber's upbringing and living condition. However, there were so many small moments we see Crystal share with their mom where... I just sort of got it. Like I didn't suddenly wish she was my own mother, but sometimes you just love your family because they're your family and they usually want what's best for you even if they don't always act that way. There were also some complex and interesting relationships with extended family members, which I enjoyed as well. I also have a great appreciation for Crystal's boss Jimmy, and the bond that they shared.
Okay I'm going to put the love interests bit under a spoilers section because I know some people are real sticklers about this stuff, but I'll first just say that this was one of the saving graces that took this book from "I like it" to "I LOVE IT." Why every contemporary seems obligated to have romance I do not understand. There are a thousand problems that contemporary teenagers have to face and I promise you a relationship is only one of those.
Finally I just want to briefly add that I really loved Crystal as a narrator. Based on perspective alone she seems like a character I wouldn't be able to relate to, but I found her voice to be so frank and real that I not only felt like I understood her but I felt for her. I wish I was exaggerating when I say I lost count of the number of times this book had my eyes welling up with tears. I just loved it and was so moved by the entire story. The lone complaint I have from the entire book is that a Spanish-speaking character said "no problemo" instead of "no problema". That's IT, my friends.
Okay, as per usual I got much too emotionally involved with my review. But this is a young adult contemporary that I think could be enjoyed by fans of the genre and those who avoid it (I'm typically in the latter category). It's so touching, it's so raw, but not without funny moments and a whole lot of heart. I recommend everyone to give this book a chance.
I received an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
This is the best YA contemporary I've ever read, period.
I'm both exhausted from the week and emotionally drained from finishing this tonight (basically I read half of the book today) but I need to write this review ASAP because the book is coming out so soon and I just need to share my feelings with prospective readers.
This is probably going to get long and rave-y so here's a quick overview of what made this book such an incredible standout for me:
- Feminist without being preachy
- A stunningly accurate portrayal of living in near-poverty in America
- Also very accurate portrayal of raising a baby
- Complex and realistic familial relationships
- NO FORCED LOVE INTERESTS
- Narration with a relatable but emotionally-stirring voice
So let's discuss in that order. Firstly one of the twins, our narrator, Crystal, works at a gas station. She loves cars and her mustang is her baby. She wants to spend the rest of her life working in automotive restoration. And guess what- not once does any single character in this book question that. I was keeping my eyes peeled, so certain that I would eventually find that line like "You're pretty good with cars, for a girl." or some other trite, sexist line. It never happened. It was like the heavens opened up above this story as I was reading it. And the best part was that it felt like an effortless exclusion. That type of dialogue wouldn't have effected Crystal's choices or passion anyway so it was just irrelevant! Because interests don't have genders. I could keep going about this but honestly it was just so straightforwardly feminist (without Crystal even having to use that word) that I was just blown away. Kudos.
Next I need to discuss their lifestyle. Crystal and Amber do not have easy lives. Their mom has a gambling addiction, their stepdad is pretty much a lazy stoner. The girls both work part-time jobs in order to pay for their own needs, for Natalie's ("their" baby), and also combine their income into a joint bank account so they can save to buy their own apartment in a better neighborhood. How rough is it where they live? Crystal leaves the family dog to sleep in her mustang to prevent carjackings at night, if that helps give you some indication. The issues that they faced, as well as their reactions to small windfalls, were portrayed in an incredibly realistic way. I have family members whose lifestyles and choices are shockingly similar to a lot of what happens in this book, so I know firsthand just how well these topics were dealt with. It's tough to read about but also so important. I also found this point of view incredibly refreshing, seeing as most YA contemporary novels feature protagonists of higher socioeconomic status (think the ever-popular politician's daughter trope).
Similarly, I was very impressed with the lifelike writing in regards to raising a baby. As a nanny and pre-service teacher, it's my personal pet peeve when children are written wildly inappropriately for their stage of development. Kelly handled Natalie's aging and characterization so well and I found many of the small parenting moments in the novel to be super relatable (i.e. "you only wake a sleeping baby once because she's cute, and then you learn your lesson"- too real). Likewise, the struggles Amber and Crystal go through to raise her- coordinating alternating schedules for daycare pickup, endeavoring to provide for her ever-changing needs (such as clothes as she grows), and even simple moments like removing a sleeping baby from a car seat and praying you don't wake her up- are written with an astonishing level of realism.
Furthermore I loved the familial relationships within the novel. Of course Crystal and Amber, being twins, are the standout. I thought their closeness and their differences were both shown well, and some of the most emotionally stirring moments for me were while reading the descriptions of how physically ill it made Crystal feel to lie to her twin sister. I also loved their mothering toward Natalie, as I've touched on. But most surprisingly, I enjoyed learning more and more about the twins' relationship with their mother. Their mom certainly had her fair share of issues- the gambling problem, having to raise twins at a young age- and in the beginning of the book I felt a lot of resentment toward her for Crystal and Amber's upbringing and living condition. However, there were so many small moments we see Crystal share with their mom where... I just sort of got it. Like I didn't suddenly wish she was my own mother, but sometimes you just love your family because they're your family and they usually want what's best for you even if they don't always act that way. There were also some complex and interesting relationships with extended family members, which I enjoyed as well. I also have a great appreciation for Crystal's boss Jimmy, and the bond that they shared.
Okay I'm going to put the love interests bit under a spoilers section because I know some people are real sticklers about this stuff, but I'll first just say that this was one of the saving graces that took this book from "I like it" to "I LOVE IT." Why every contemporary seems obligated to have romance I do not understand. There are a thousand problems that contemporary teenagers have to face and I promise you a relationship is only one of those.
Finally I just want to briefly add that I really loved Crystal as a narrator. Based on perspective alone she seems like a character I wouldn't be able to relate to, but I found her voice to be so frank and real that I not only felt like I understood her but I felt for her. I wish I was exaggerating when I say I lost count of the number of times this book had my eyes welling up with tears. I just loved it and was so moved by the entire story. The lone complaint I have from the entire book is that a Spanish-speaking character said "no problemo" instead of "no problema". That's IT, my friends.
Okay, as per usual I got much too emotionally involved with my review. But this is a young adult contemporary that I think could be enjoyed by fans of the genre and those who avoid it (I'm typically in the latter category). It's so touching, it's so raw, but not without funny moments and a whole lot of heart. I recommend everyone to give this book a chance.
I received an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
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February 5, 2017This was a fast read with really clear positives and negatives, and it made me wish it were possible to hand a book back to an author and say, "You have something so good here; please just rewrite the last quarter or so." This is the first YA I've ever read where the main character is taking care of a baby in a maternal capacity from start to end, and I really loved watching her balance the challenges with school, work, sharing the responsibilities with her sister, coming from a very low-income household, and planning her future. (There wasn't a ton of interacting with the baby - raising her was a very telling, not showing experience - and I still can't quite decide if I think that was by design or not, but I'm leaning toward the former.) But I'm very here for books that discuss that kind of economic/home-life balancing and where college isn't everyone's goal.
To be honest, I'm not clear what David's role was in any of that - in the book at all, really, since I think having the "gets everything handed to him" foil he was supposed to be sort of crumbled and he turned into plot convenience - and I totally expected a story with him that wasn't there. The secondary characters in the book other than Amber all kinda fell to that - they seemed like they'd have real roles but then just sort of fell into serving whatever plot points were happening and making Crystal's life a little easier when needed. And the fat-shaming of Crystal's mother is pretty damn cringe-y.
My biggest problem, though, was the attempts at twists that just did not really work as such. One was fairly harmless - it was easy to see coming, and it was something that needed to be addressed, but the idea that it should've had shock factor was piled on pretty heavy. And I get it - it's sort of hard to unfold things like that naturally, which is one of the reasons I revere Conviction by Kelly Loy Gilbert so strongly; it has a kind of mastery at that I've seldom seen elsewhere. But the second one...God, everything about that was just wrong, and to fix it probably would've taken an entire other book. That was a plot point that just needed not to happen, and it's hard to confidently recommend this book now that it has.
Still, I think if handling of child-rearing by teens in YA and/or socioeconomic diversity is of interest to you, this is worth picking up. Just don't resist the urge to DNF when things take a major turn.
To be honest, I'm not clear what David's role was in any of that - in the book at all, really, since I think having the "gets everything handed to him" foil he was supposed to be sort of crumbled and he turned into plot convenience - and I totally expected a story with him that wasn't there. The secondary characters in the book other than Amber all kinda fell to that - they seemed like they'd have real roles but then just sort of fell into serving whatever plot points were happening and making Crystal's life a little easier when needed. And the fat-shaming of Crystal's mother is pretty damn cringe-y.
My biggest problem, though, was the attempts at twists that just did not really work as such. One was fairly harmless - it was easy to see coming, and it was something that needed to be addressed, but the idea that it should've had shock factor was piled on pretty heavy. And I get it - it's sort of hard to unfold things like that naturally, which is one of the reasons I revere Conviction by Kelly Loy Gilbert so strongly; it has a kind of mastery at that I've seldom seen elsewhere. But the second one...God, everything about that was just wrong, and to fix it probably would've taken an entire other book. That was a plot point that just needed not to happen, and it's hard to confidently recommend this book now that it has.
Still, I think if handling of child-rearing by teens in YA and/or socioeconomic diversity is of interest to you, this is worth picking up. Just don't resist the urge to DNF when things take a major turn.
September 27, 2022
This book was pretty good and the writing was great. but there was times where I found myself annoyed with it.
May 26, 2018
2.5 stars.
This wasn't my cup of tea for a boatload of reasons. I think I'm just going to leave it at that.
This wasn't my cup of tea for a boatload of reasons. I think I'm just going to leave it at that.
September 26, 2016
Huge thank you to Raincoast for this ARC!
It upsets me how much this book isn't being talked about. This is one of those contemporary gems that has no buzz behind it, and it's just such a genuine and thoughtful read. Speed of Life is about two twin sisters who share everything, are dirt poor, and are looking to get out of their backwater town and make real lives for themselves and the child that one of them has had out of wedlock. While this doesn't sound like the most original plot line, there is something so engaging about the way in which Kelly shares this story.
What I loved about this novel is Crystal's narrative. She's very thoughtful, has a huge sense of pride in herself and her abilities as a mechanic, and she wants to be able to rescue herself, her sister, and the baby they are raising from the poverty that they face. I love the way the author establishes the sister's relationship to both each other and their friends and family. The writing and looking at the world through Crystal's eyes are just so vivid. She has aspirations, she has goals, and she hopes that Amber will share those goals with her. When the fall out in the story occurs, it just really broke my heart into several pieces because I just connected so deeply with the sisters conflict, despite not having experienced it personally.
I think the author does such a great job of sucking the reader into the story and making the reader connect with the girls and connect with their story. I think what I also loved about Speed of Life is that there is such a larger mystery going on with who is Natalie's parents, why are the girls caring for her, and I think Kelly does an amazing job keeping the reader looking for these answers.
I wish more folks would read this wonderful novel, especially those who love contemporary. Speed of Life is raw, heartfelt, and it asks the reader to open themselves up to a situation that is just so emotionally exhausting. I hope when this novel releases that more readers consider checking this one out. Everything about it just left me emotionally drained in the best kind of way.
It upsets me how much this book isn't being talked about. This is one of those contemporary gems that has no buzz behind it, and it's just such a genuine and thoughtful read. Speed of Life is about two twin sisters who share everything, are dirt poor, and are looking to get out of their backwater town and make real lives for themselves and the child that one of them has had out of wedlock. While this doesn't sound like the most original plot line, there is something so engaging about the way in which Kelly shares this story.
What I loved about this novel is Crystal's narrative. She's very thoughtful, has a huge sense of pride in herself and her abilities as a mechanic, and she wants to be able to rescue herself, her sister, and the baby they are raising from the poverty that they face. I love the way the author establishes the sister's relationship to both each other and their friends and family. The writing and looking at the world through Crystal's eyes are just so vivid. She has aspirations, she has goals, and she hopes that Amber will share those goals with her. When the fall out in the story occurs, it just really broke my heart into several pieces because I just connected so deeply with the sisters conflict, despite not having experienced it personally.
I think the author does such a great job of sucking the reader into the story and making the reader connect with the girls and connect with their story. I think what I also loved about Speed of Life is that there is such a larger mystery going on with who is Natalie's parents, why are the girls caring for her, and I think Kelly does an amazing job keeping the reader looking for these answers.
I wish more folks would read this wonderful novel, especially those who love contemporary. Speed of Life is raw, heartfelt, and it asks the reader to open themselves up to a situation that is just so emotionally exhausting. I hope when this novel releases that more readers consider checking this one out. Everything about it just left me emotionally drained in the best kind of way.
February 7, 2017
I am not sure if there will ever come a time in my reading life when I am able to pass up a book about twins… And with a long love of Sweet Valley High, I particularly cannot pass up a book about identical twins set during their high school years. Although, this Washington state town is a far cry from Sweet Valley – and these twins don’t live in a split-level ranch with a kidney shaped pool. No, these red-headed twins live in a bedroom made illegally out of a garage, and the book opens with the birth of a daughter – a tradition in Amber and Crystal’s family in that teen pregnancy runs rampant amongst them – with aunts and cousins also having children during high school.
So while their financial status is not similar to the Wakefields at all (these teens even have jobs), their love and the strength of their bond is very familiar. Told entirely from Crystal’s perspective, she is a unique girl – into cars more than clothes and has enjoyed her job at a garage/gas station and restoring her own car. Both she and her sister compliment each other and work together to stick to their plan of moving out after graduation – they pool together their resources and share the care of “their” baby.
But soon the plan begins to crumble when Crystal learns of an opportunity that will bring her farther from her sister than they ever imagined. Secrets build and while the book isn’t terribly fast-paced, it does remain interesting and engaging until the very end. In a lot of ways, these twins are a lot more adult than many others found in fiction, and I think that their general situation isn’t one that often lands in fiction either. I do wish that there had been a little more balance – in having the entire novel from Crystal’s point of view, it makes Amber much less developed and feels like some of her idiosyncrasies are just overly convenient. The ending’s “twist” feels a little overly manufactured and while not hard to predict, doesn’t make that much sense in a school environment. But on the whole, this makes for an entertaining and fresh read.
So while their financial status is not similar to the Wakefields at all (these teens even have jobs), their love and the strength of their bond is very familiar. Told entirely from Crystal’s perspective, she is a unique girl – into cars more than clothes and has enjoyed her job at a garage/gas station and restoring her own car. Both she and her sister compliment each other and work together to stick to their plan of moving out after graduation – they pool together their resources and share the care of “their” baby.
But soon the plan begins to crumble when Crystal learns of an opportunity that will bring her farther from her sister than they ever imagined. Secrets build and while the book isn’t terribly fast-paced, it does remain interesting and engaging until the very end. In a lot of ways, these twins are a lot more adult than many others found in fiction, and I think that their general situation isn’t one that often lands in fiction either. I do wish that there had been a little more balance – in having the entire novel from Crystal’s point of view, it makes Amber much less developed and feels like some of her idiosyncrasies are just overly convenient. The ending’s “twist” feels a little overly manufactured and while not hard to predict, doesn’t make that much sense in a school environment. But on the whole, this makes for an entertaining and fresh read.
September 17, 2016
I really enjoyed this book by Kelly, and I was surprised at the twist toward the end of the book. I don't usually expect twists in my contemporaries. This offers a glimpse into the life of two small-town teen sisters who are raising a daughter together after one of them gets pregnant. They're part of a low-income family and doing their best to give the baby what she needs and working hard to a better life together. It's one of the most realistic books I've ever read- every character has flaws and there's tension between everyone (just as in most family and friend relationships), but there's also lots of love and sacrifice when it matters most. This was simply a fantastic novel, and if you like contemporary, get this when it's released.
November 5, 2016
Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book. I chose to review it and this in no way impacts my opinion of it.
DNF @ 82%
To be fair, I wasn't enjoying this novel at like 20% but decided to continue on because I had nothing better to do but now I'm SO MAD that I did. I just can't after the "plot twist" that is shitty writing tbh. The first plot twist was stupid but meh, but the second?? I basically rage quit. Full DNF review tomorrow on Books and Ladders.
DNF @ 82%
To be fair, I wasn't enjoying this novel at like 20% but decided to continue on because I had nothing better to do but now I'm SO MAD that I did. I just can't after the "plot twist" that is shitty writing tbh. The first plot twist was stupid but meh, but the second?? I basically rage quit. Full DNF review tomorrow on Books and Ladders.
May 18, 2018
4 stars.
The pacing and story was great, but knocked off a star because of fatshaming and the twist wasn't done very well.
The pacing and story was great, but knocked off a star because of fatshaming and the twist wasn't done very well.
January 15, 2018
“I drop off Natalie at the school's daycare and head to the lab to type Amber's paper for her.
We're both going to graduate, even if it kills me.”
The Speed of Life shines incredible insight on the realities of living in predominantly low-income neighbourhoods and the adversity faced by our fiercely loyal and dedicated sister and co-parent protagonists, Crystal and Amber, in taking care of their infant daughter Natalie.
The events of this novel are followed from Crystal, who is often portrayed to be the more studious and cautious of the two; but the girls have worked out a plan: to stick out high school, earn their GED, and go out and take on the world together. From the start, the book makes it clear that the sisters' dependence on one another is rooted deeper than a need to fulfill the needs of their daughter; Crystal and Amber are the foundation of their household often holding the entity of it together…in stocking up on food, filing taxes, and scraping together the finances of their often stoned step-father and gambling mother. They’re in it together, determined to foster a better future for their daughter than the one they have experienced themselves; though everything is jeopardized when Crystal’s secret (and originally unintentional) acceptance to college in Kansas (they’re in Portland) comes to light.
The novel’s plot is centric to three main ideas: Crystal and Amber’s deteriorating relationship, their uncertain futures, and Crystal’s passion for cars. At least, that was what I had perceived from the first two-thirds or so of the novel. Over the last third, however, it seemed as if the book itself had taken a detour, with an interesting plot twist that launched (no pun intended) us into darker periods in our protagonists’ lives, with the emergence of a sudden urgency to answer questions that were seemingly put on the back burner, being unrelated to the three ideas above. At that point it was as if the greater mood of the novel had shifted, no longer about a young adult’s aspirations to leave the only life she knew behind, but to delve deeper into specific events that had unfolded in all the time that she has stayed.
While that specific change of pace in the novel was not entirely my cup of tea, I thoroughly admire the manner in which the author never strayed an inch from the focus of the entire novel: to tell a story about family. There’s no romance and I like that; there’s a time and a place. I certainly believe that there was no belonging of it within Crystal and Amber’s story.
The Speed of Life is by no means a perfect novel, but it has heart. If you are looking for one of those simple yet captivating stories of life and it’s messy and complex ways, perhaps, I’d give this one a try.
August 18, 2020
Crystal and amber are twin sisters. They make a perfect plan between them to graduate high school and find a cozy place to stay. But things don't go according to plan as one of them accidentally pregnant and had a baby. The biggest problem of all is went one of the twin decide to go to college. Living behind the baby and broken promises.
How do you react to that? Dream or sister?🤷♀️ I'm totally torn. But there's a tagline said, “Do what makes you happy. Follow your dream.” Lose something in order to gain something? Or it doesn't consider a loss? I don't know about you but it's complicated to choose between those as both matter. I'm sure I'll be completely sad to be apart from my sister.
So leaving others behind is another thing but can you be brave enough to let go of your precious dream? 🤔 I know the feeling of uneasy will be inseparable. It comes side by side. I know I will be heartbroken and cry a lot when that happens (what a baby??). But things like following a dream is beautiful. Having something to make you keep on going and be something is excited.
Speed of life teaches me that you can't take control of other people's lives forever. You can talk them through but it's their decision whether to stay or go.
Secondly, it's important to make peace with our past as it already left a scar. It would be for nothing if we don't learn something from it. Third, having a dream is beautiful. Find it. Lastly, our family is for a lifetime. Just because we followed our dream doesn't make us fall apart. We have to respect each other.
How do you react to that? Dream or sister?🤷♀️ I'm totally torn. But there's a tagline said, “Do what makes you happy. Follow your dream.” Lose something in order to gain something? Or it doesn't consider a loss? I don't know about you but it's complicated to choose between those as both matter. I'm sure I'll be completely sad to be apart from my sister.
So leaving others behind is another thing but can you be brave enough to let go of your precious dream? 🤔 I know the feeling of uneasy will be inseparable. It comes side by side. I know I will be heartbroken and cry a lot when that happens (what a baby??). But things like following a dream is beautiful. Having something to make you keep on going and be something is excited.
Speed of life teaches me that you can't take control of other people's lives forever. You can talk them through but it's their decision whether to stay or go.
Secondly, it's important to make peace with our past as it already left a scar. It would be for nothing if we don't learn something from it. Third, having a dream is beautiful. Find it. Lastly, our family is for a lifetime. Just because we followed our dream doesn't make us fall apart. We have to respect each other.
September 9, 2017
Twins Crystal and Amber have a clear plan for their future, which includes graduating high school and leaving home for an apartment of their own. The baby was a speed bump, but nothing can stop the sisters from fulfilling their promise to each other. When Crystal's grades catch the attention of the guidance counselor at school, she suddenly has a chance at a future that has the potential to help them. Will Amber be on board with the college plan, or will Crystal be on her own for the first time?
Speed of Life is a well paced book with good characterization. Some of the situations in which the sisters find themselves are pretty far-fetched, but the novel had an overall realistic feel. I am getting tired of books with clueless parents and authorities, as the neglect and substandard living conditions would not have gone unnoticed. Crystal is the more likeable of the twins, although Amber's story is finally told toward the conclusion. Speed of Life is a good YA realistic fiction and will appeal to readers who are fans of the genre.
Speed of Life is a well paced book with good characterization. Some of the situations in which the sisters find themselves are pretty far-fetched, but the novel had an overall realistic feel. I am getting tired of books with clueless parents and authorities, as the neglect and substandard living conditions would not have gone unnoticed. Crystal is the more likeable of the twins, although Amber's story is finally told toward the conclusion. Speed of Life is a good YA realistic fiction and will appeal to readers who are fans of the genre.
May 24, 2020
a spoiler free review
Speed of Life is an honest YA novel about two twins, Amber and Crystal, that plan to be the first in the family to graduate high school and not get pregnant young like all their relatives before them. But when just that happens, the sisters still become determined to make something of themselves, including new little baby Natalie into the picture. But when Crystal gets the opportunity to apply for a college in Kansas and gets in, suddenly, things don’t seem as simple as moving out and graduating like it did before. Tangled in a web of lies that dig Crystal deeper and deeper into something she suddenly becomes unsure of, J.M. Kelly’s raw contemporary book portrays what life is like for people who don’t have much but their own demons and yet still somehow turn it into something beautiful and hopeful with just a little love and honesty.
I have to admit and say at first, Speed of Life was very not my speed. Pun intended. Crystal is the main protagonist we follow with a first person POV narrative and she insists on telling us she’s a tomboy and “not like other girls” every second she gets just because she’s a mechanic. It started to bog me down as I felt this was the only faucet of her personality. She owns an old Mustang that she semi-restored I suppose and she never lets us forget how cool it is to other people. I, as far from a car buff as you can get, did not get the deal or hype no matter how many times it was drilled in about how “she never let anyone drive it.” The parts where “car talk” was involved was just flashy and was only meant to show off how much Crystal (or the author) truly knew about cars instead of progressing the story. Which was fine but overdone. You got me at “she worked at a mechanic shop.” I was already impressed. There’s a scene towards the end where she changes a tire and goes step by step through how to do it and I’m like… I’m 300 pages in. I KNOW Crystal KNOWS about cars. It was just to show much she knows and how little the other character didn’t know and I’m like… bro. Let us move on.
This book truly left me wanting more and not in a good way. I am a fantasy novel lover so long complex plots, twists and turns, and magical worlds really excite me so going to such a book grounded in reality I am wondering if that was my main problem. The book does attempt to give a twist in the end and I didn’t see it coming but others did so I can't tell if it was a success. I just know for me personally, I didn’t think it matched with the plot until it did some thorough explaining and even then, I thought it was still far-fetched.
I thought this book would be like the last one I read, Trouble by Non Platt that goes through the motions of people discovering someone is pregnant and the journey of the pregnancy when Kelly’s starts right as little Natalie is about seven months old. So we’ve already seen how the twins incorporate and include Natalie into their daily lives and I will say that part was interesting and even scared me away from having kids even more. Very stressful to think: who’s picking Natalie when? How? What time?
Kelly does an amazing job of painting a world in which a family doesn’t have much. The kids live with their mom and stepdad who are more lazy than anything. They work but don’t help out much. They aren’t alcoholic deadbeats but they have been known to steal the girls money for bingo gambling from time to time so the girls are pretty much on their own. They struggle between choosing to graduate high school or drop out full time and work because the money would be worth it and those are real questions real people have to face in their life. Is my education more important than paying for rent and keeping food on the table? And this novel tackles that along with figuring out accepting responsibility for your actions as the girls sacrifice their youth and free time. The girls struggle with how to replace damaged and old baby items, how to pay for a simple speeding ticket, hiding and rationing food for later. All these were interesting sides to the twins story that I loved hearing and reading because I often rarely see the struggle. I think authors use financial struggles as a story sprinkle instead of actually part of the plot cake. (Did you like my metaphor?)
The ending or last quarter of the book as I’ve seen in some reviews really does need to be rewritten. It is truly all over the place. All of it was dramatic and probably the least realistic thing in the book. The way baby Natalie did come into the world did upset me a little bit. Natalie was conceived on a iffy night that no one really remembers so that rubbed me the wrong way and even though it turned out “okay” in the end. I felt if this happened to my friend, I could see more skeletons in the closet that needed to be processed later. I like how it was resolved though and I will say that I was sad to have it ended. I was heartwarming to see Crystal reach a decision and finally have peace because it was bittersweet and I did grow to love these sisters as characters.
A part of me wants to say they lucked out with the people in their life. Some turn out to play a more important role than I originally thought and I will say I didn’t see it coming but that might’ve been because I took a 20 day break in the middle of the book before I finished reading it. My bad, I bought a dog.
All in all, not a bad read. It was very dry and the font is so big with the paragraphs spaced out the 340 something pages fly by like it’s nothing, which I feel some publishing companies do to make the book seem fuller and a longer read but us Goodreaders know better. I would recommend this to people who like chick lit read about sisterhood and growing up. It doesn’t deviate from that or try to make itself a story that isn’t what it is. Truly it's about two sisters and the promises they make to each other, which in it of itself, is a good reason to read any book.
Thanks for making it this far. Follow me on Instagram for more reviews @Kayelina
Speed of Life is an honest YA novel about two twins, Amber and Crystal, that plan to be the first in the family to graduate high school and not get pregnant young like all their relatives before them. But when just that happens, the sisters still become determined to make something of themselves, including new little baby Natalie into the picture. But when Crystal gets the opportunity to apply for a college in Kansas and gets in, suddenly, things don’t seem as simple as moving out and graduating like it did before. Tangled in a web of lies that dig Crystal deeper and deeper into something she suddenly becomes unsure of, J.M. Kelly’s raw contemporary book portrays what life is like for people who don’t have much but their own demons and yet still somehow turn it into something beautiful and hopeful with just a little love and honesty.
I have to admit and say at first, Speed of Life was very not my speed. Pun intended. Crystal is the main protagonist we follow with a first person POV narrative and she insists on telling us she’s a tomboy and “not like other girls” every second she gets just because she’s a mechanic. It started to bog me down as I felt this was the only faucet of her personality. She owns an old Mustang that she semi-restored I suppose and she never lets us forget how cool it is to other people. I, as far from a car buff as you can get, did not get the deal or hype no matter how many times it was drilled in about how “she never let anyone drive it.” The parts where “car talk” was involved was just flashy and was only meant to show off how much Crystal (or the author) truly knew about cars instead of progressing the story. Which was fine but overdone. You got me at “she worked at a mechanic shop.” I was already impressed. There’s a scene towards the end where she changes a tire and goes step by step through how to do it and I’m like… I’m 300 pages in. I KNOW Crystal KNOWS about cars. It was just to show much she knows and how little the other character didn’t know and I’m like… bro. Let us move on.
This book truly left me wanting more and not in a good way. I am a fantasy novel lover so long complex plots, twists and turns, and magical worlds really excite me so going to such a book grounded in reality I am wondering if that was my main problem. The book does attempt to give a twist in the end and I didn’t see it coming but others did so I can't tell if it was a success. I just know for me personally, I didn’t think it matched with the plot until it did some thorough explaining and even then, I thought it was still far-fetched.
I thought this book would be like the last one I read, Trouble by Non Platt that goes through the motions of people discovering someone is pregnant and the journey of the pregnancy when Kelly’s starts right as little Natalie is about seven months old. So we’ve already seen how the twins incorporate and include Natalie into their daily lives and I will say that part was interesting and even scared me away from having kids even more. Very stressful to think: who’s picking Natalie when? How? What time?
Kelly does an amazing job of painting a world in which a family doesn’t have much. The kids live with their mom and stepdad who are more lazy than anything. They work but don’t help out much. They aren’t alcoholic deadbeats but they have been known to steal the girls money for bingo gambling from time to time so the girls are pretty much on their own. They struggle between choosing to graduate high school or drop out full time and work because the money would be worth it and those are real questions real people have to face in their life. Is my education more important than paying for rent and keeping food on the table? And this novel tackles that along with figuring out accepting responsibility for your actions as the girls sacrifice their youth and free time. The girls struggle with how to replace damaged and old baby items, how to pay for a simple speeding ticket, hiding and rationing food for later. All these were interesting sides to the twins story that I loved hearing and reading because I often rarely see the struggle. I think authors use financial struggles as a story sprinkle instead of actually part of the plot cake. (Did you like my metaphor?)
The ending or last quarter of the book as I’ve seen in some reviews really does need to be rewritten. It is truly all over the place. All of it was dramatic and probably the least realistic thing in the book. The way baby Natalie did come into the world did upset me a little bit. Natalie was conceived on a iffy night that no one really remembers so that rubbed me the wrong way and even though it turned out “okay” in the end. I felt if this happened to my friend, I could see more skeletons in the closet that needed to be processed later. I like how it was resolved though and I will say that I was sad to have it ended. I was heartwarming to see Crystal reach a decision and finally have peace because it was bittersweet and I did grow to love these sisters as characters.
A part of me wants to say they lucked out with the people in their life. Some turn out to play a more important role than I originally thought and I will say I didn’t see it coming but that might’ve been because I took a 20 day break in the middle of the book before I finished reading it. My bad, I bought a dog.
All in all, not a bad read. It was very dry and the font is so big with the paragraphs spaced out the 340 something pages fly by like it’s nothing, which I feel some publishing companies do to make the book seem fuller and a longer read but us Goodreaders know better. I would recommend this to people who like chick lit read about sisterhood and growing up. It doesn’t deviate from that or try to make itself a story that isn’t what it is. Truly it's about two sisters and the promises they make to each other, which in it of itself, is a good reason to read any book.
Thanks for making it this far. Follow me on Instagram for more reviews @Kayelina
November 30, 2021
THAT PLOT TWIST. Usually I’m pretty good at spotting stuff like that but I was not expecting that. I guessed who the father was but… wasn’t expecting that other detail. Overall a great read with a heartfelt message about family.
October 27, 2016
I received this ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review.
For the first part of this book, I wasn't totally sure I liked it. Crystal and Amber are raising a baby. One of them got pregnant (the author doesn't let us know who the mother is at first) and they make a promise to each other that they will raise the baby together. They have a plan. They both work their butts off to pay for Natalie ("their" baby) and they are STILL in high school. Amber and Crystal are determined to be the first ones in their family to graduate high school. After graduation, they plan on getting their own apartment and going to work full time. It's crazy how determined they both are and how much they have to overcome. It's also really refreshing to see a book that doesn't glorify teen pregnancy and shows what life is like living in poverty. Crystal and Amber save every single cent they can in a joint savings account. Amber, Crystal and Natalie all share a bedroom and they barely have enough money to eat. They shop at Goodwill, they eat macaroni a lot, they panic about something as simple as a broken headlight because they can't afford anything extra. The author did a great job of showing the difficulties of raising a baby while going to school and trying to pay your way. Their mom and stepdad are around and they do help with Natalie with babysitting sometimes, but 99% of the financial and physical responsibility went to Amber and Crystal. The parents can't even afford to really pay their rent, so Amber and Crystal are pretty much on their own.
So why did I have an issue with this book for the first half of it? It's hard to say. For a large part of the book, I just didn't like Amber very much. It seemed as if she was super flighty and was not super responsible and it seemed like she was asking Crystal to give too much up. Crystal would stay up all night doing Amber's homework and Crystal would have to go and pick Amber up at a party when she drank too much. It was annoying. Then Crystal gets into college in Kansas and all of their carefully thought out plans just went away. I thought both of them were acting a little selfish. It was selfish of Amber expect Crystal to give up college, but it was also selfish of Crystal to expect Amber to just put her life on hold for four years and move to Kansas with her. The sisters were just so enmeshed and I was waiting for them to realize that they could BOTH follow their dreams and neither had to give up anything. Honestly, it took me half the book to realize that the author had never even identified the mother. They even had Natalie call them by their names instead of "mom" or "aunt." I will admit that I made assumptions and I judged the situation incorrectly. I thought I knew who the mom was, but I was wrong. I think I started enjoying the book more once I had all the information. Suddenly, everything clicked and I could understand both sisters a little more.
There was a lot of character development in this book from both of the girls. I absolutely loved their relationship and how much they depended on each other. Yes, I thought it was unhealthy at times, but I'm not a twin so I can't relate to that. Another thing I loved about this book was NO ROMANCE! Seriously, it was AWESOME. There was this one guy, David, who worked with Crystal at the car shop and I thought he was going to be a romantic interest. He was wealthy and clean cut and preppy and Crystal kind of hated him at first so I thought that's where I thought it was headed. I am so glad it didn't go that way. They became genuine friends and bonded over cars and he helped her with her college stuff and he encouraged her. It was great to see a straight man and a straight woman be friends with no romance and it was just nice to read a book that focused on family instead.
This ended up being a great read with very realistic characters and great messages. I would highly recommend this one.
For the first part of this book, I wasn't totally sure I liked it. Crystal and Amber are raising a baby. One of them got pregnant (the author doesn't let us know who the mother is at first) and they make a promise to each other that they will raise the baby together. They have a plan. They both work their butts off to pay for Natalie ("their" baby) and they are STILL in high school. Amber and Crystal are determined to be the first ones in their family to graduate high school. After graduation, they plan on getting their own apartment and going to work full time. It's crazy how determined they both are and how much they have to overcome. It's also really refreshing to see a book that doesn't glorify teen pregnancy and shows what life is like living in poverty. Crystal and Amber save every single cent they can in a joint savings account. Amber, Crystal and Natalie all share a bedroom and they barely have enough money to eat. They shop at Goodwill, they eat macaroni a lot, they panic about something as simple as a broken headlight because they can't afford anything extra. The author did a great job of showing the difficulties of raising a baby while going to school and trying to pay your way. Their mom and stepdad are around and they do help with Natalie with babysitting sometimes, but 99% of the financial and physical responsibility went to Amber and Crystal. The parents can't even afford to really pay their rent, so Amber and Crystal are pretty much on their own.
So why did I have an issue with this book for the first half of it? It's hard to say. For a large part of the book, I just didn't like Amber very much. It seemed as if she was super flighty and was not super responsible and it seemed like she was asking Crystal to give too much up. Crystal would stay up all night doing Amber's homework and Crystal would have to go and pick Amber up at a party when she drank too much. It was annoying. Then Crystal gets into college in Kansas and all of their carefully thought out plans just went away. I thought both of them were acting a little selfish. It was selfish of Amber expect Crystal to give up college, but it was also selfish of Crystal to expect Amber to just put her life on hold for four years and move to Kansas with her. The sisters were just so enmeshed and I was waiting for them to realize that they could BOTH follow their dreams and neither had to give up anything. Honestly, it took me half the book to realize that the author had never even identified the mother. They even had Natalie call them by their names instead of "mom" or "aunt." I will admit that I made assumptions and I judged the situation incorrectly. I thought I knew who the mom was, but I was wrong. I think I started enjoying the book more once I had all the information. Suddenly, everything clicked and I could understand both sisters a little more.
There was a lot of character development in this book from both of the girls. I absolutely loved their relationship and how much they depended on each other. Yes, I thought it was unhealthy at times, but I'm not a twin so I can't relate to that. Another thing I loved about this book was NO ROMANCE! Seriously, it was AWESOME. There was this one guy, David, who worked with Crystal at the car shop and I thought he was going to be a romantic interest. He was wealthy and clean cut and preppy and Crystal kind of hated him at first so I thought that's where I thought it was headed. I am so glad it didn't go that way. They became genuine friends and bonded over cars and he helped her with her college stuff and he encouraged her. It was great to see a straight man and a straight woman be friends with no romance and it was just nice to read a book that focused on family instead.
This ended up being a great read with very realistic characters and great messages. I would highly recommend this one.
October 19, 2016
You may already be familiar with author J.M. Kelly, a Canadian writer, as she has authored a few books under her name Joëlle Anthony! Her newest YA novel, Speed of Life, has been well-reviewed and received in journals ranging from Kirkus and Publisher's Weekly to School Library Journal, and it is indeed a terrific addition to the genre of realistic young adult lit.
Speed of Life is told through the strong, candid and revealing first-person narrative of Crystal Robbins, a high school senior in Portland, Oregon. Crystal and her twin sister Amber live in substandard conditions with their mom and step dad (both of whom are arguably ineffective as parental figures and providers). Not only is their money, or lack-thereof, an ever-present consideration and worry in everything that the girls do- including juggling school, homework, working their part-time jobs as much as they can- Amber and Crystal also have a daughter to look after. Sharing responsibilities as moms to a bright and gorgeous baby girl named Natalie, Crystal and Amber do everything together and have planned to live together and co-parent Natalie after high school. That changes, however, when Crystal finds that her passion in life- the restoration of vintage muscle cars- might actually be a career that she can pursue with education beyond high school. While Amber is content to stay in Portland and work at a family-owned tavern full-time after graduation, Crystal starts feeling the push and pull of stepping out from Portland and her family's name.
Crystal's first-person narrative is such a great surprise: a memorable, wonderfully-defined voice, blunt and guarded yet full of reflexiveness and care. Kelly certainly puts her characters through multiple emotional and physical wringers throughout the course of the novel; you can't help as a reader but to root like crazy that Amber and Crystal (and Natalie) find some kind of better-after for themselves. While the teen mom/teen pregnancy component is a major aspect of the novel, Kelly rather fascinatingly leaves the reveal of which of the twin sisters actually gave birth to Natalie until a late point in the novel. Another significant topic which Kelly broaches in Speed of Life is that of class and poverty, as narrated through Crystal's uncompromising eyes. The introduction of a character named David, who becomes a co-worker and classmate of Crystal's, and is from a relatively wealthy family, works especially to highlight the severe discrepancies that Crystal faces: not only as a young mom trying to pursue a non-traditional career but also as a young woman who is held back by financial limitations and missing parental support.
Overall, Speed of Life is a solidly written, thoughtful and weighty contemporary YA novel. It is a compelling read with well-developed protagonists that places characters in arduous, serious (and real-life) situations, but a read that ultimately proffers a lot of hope. Readers who tend toward the more uncompromising realistic YA novels, or who appreciate the writing of authors such as Sara Zarr, Jessica Martinez, Holly Goldberg Sloan, or C.K. Kelly Martin might especially enjoy J.M. Kelly's Speed of Life.
I received a copy of this title courtesy of Raincoast Books in exchange for an honest review and for the purposes of a blog tour. All opinions and comments are my own.
December 30, 2016
Rating: 3.5/5
Review posted on my blog, The Basic Bookworm
Crystal and Amber are twins who want to be the first in their family to graduate high school, despite their poverty and family circumstances. When one of them gets pregnant and has a baby, they agree to raise it together and not reveal who the mother is. They have a plan for their future, where both of them use their part-time jobs to move into an apartment in a better neighbourhood where they can raise their daughter Natalie. During their final year of high school, Crystal, a car buff who works at a gas station, discovers a college that has a degree in automotive restoration. Her acceptance jeopardizes their plans, and both Crystal and Amber struggle to chose the best path for them and Natalie.
As a narrator, Crystal was enjoyable. To the point and outspoken, it was easy to empathize and feel immersed in her life. I liked seeing how she interacted with the other characters in the story. She had a super strong relationship with her sister, as you would expect from twins, and they used their different strengths to help each other throughout the story. My favourite secondary character would probably Jimmy, the owner of the gas station. He was one of those people who's tough on the outside, but a really genuine, kind person on the inside.
My favourite thing about Speed of Life was that there was NO romance. Do you know how hard it is to find books in any genre without romance, let alone YA contemporary? It's almost impossible. Speed of Life had multiple female/male friendships, which I liked, and I was glad to see that they didn't become anything more. Not every girl needs to/will be in a relationship, come on people!
I love that Crystal was into cars, and that it was a big part of her character. A lot of YA books have girls with super stereotypical interests, like being into music or playing volleyball or something (not that there's anything wrong with that, but it doesn't represent everyone). It's nice to see a protagonist with an atypical interest, as it helps normalize hobbies that might seem "uncool" or "masculine" to many teenage girls. The icing on top of the cake was the fact that not a single character in Speed of Life made a big deal about her interest in cars. There was no sexist comments or questions about her future goals, it was just accepted, which was awesome.
The description of Crystal and Amber's family relationships was also a highlight for me. While their mother and stepfather were FAR from model parents, they did occasionally do little things to show that they existed and weren't totally terrible. Crystal and Amber also do little things to show that they care in return. It was a nice, realistic middle ground between having perfect, cookie cutter parents and the horrible, abusive parents that are sometimes shown in YA books about tough stuff.
My main complaint with Speed of Life was that the "shocking reveal" late in the book was pretty transparent (I called it a few chapters in). It didn't ruin the story or anything, but I really hate when the plot is that predictable. The book was also a bit too dramatic for my taste, and certain parts (like literally not a single person asking whether the baby was Natalie's or Crystal's) seemed a bit too convenient.
Overall, I enjoyed Speed of Life more than I thought I would. While covering some difficult topics, it remained a quick and fairly light read. That said, it didn't sugarcoat anything, and it definitely realistic. Would definitely recommend for those who like contemporary YA and books without romance.
*Book received from Book Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on Goodreads in exchange for review
Review posted on my blog, The Basic Bookworm
Crystal and Amber are twins who want to be the first in their family to graduate high school, despite their poverty and family circumstances. When one of them gets pregnant and has a baby, they agree to raise it together and not reveal who the mother is. They have a plan for their future, where both of them use their part-time jobs to move into an apartment in a better neighbourhood where they can raise their daughter Natalie. During their final year of high school, Crystal, a car buff who works at a gas station, discovers a college that has a degree in automotive restoration. Her acceptance jeopardizes their plans, and both Crystal and Amber struggle to chose the best path for them and Natalie.
As a narrator, Crystal was enjoyable. To the point and outspoken, it was easy to empathize and feel immersed in her life. I liked seeing how she interacted with the other characters in the story. She had a super strong relationship with her sister, as you would expect from twins, and they used their different strengths to help each other throughout the story. My favourite secondary character would probably Jimmy, the owner of the gas station. He was one of those people who's tough on the outside, but a really genuine, kind person on the inside.
My favourite thing about Speed of Life was that there was NO romance. Do you know how hard it is to find books in any genre without romance, let alone YA contemporary? It's almost impossible. Speed of Life had multiple female/male friendships, which I liked, and I was glad to see that they didn't become anything more. Not every girl needs to/will be in a relationship, come on people!
I love that Crystal was into cars, and that it was a big part of her character. A lot of YA books have girls with super stereotypical interests, like being into music or playing volleyball or something (not that there's anything wrong with that, but it doesn't represent everyone). It's nice to see a protagonist with an atypical interest, as it helps normalize hobbies that might seem "uncool" or "masculine" to many teenage girls. The icing on top of the cake was the fact that not a single character in Speed of Life made a big deal about her interest in cars. There was no sexist comments or questions about her future goals, it was just accepted, which was awesome.
The description of Crystal and Amber's family relationships was also a highlight for me. While their mother and stepfather were FAR from model parents, they did occasionally do little things to show that they existed and weren't totally terrible. Crystal and Amber also do little things to show that they care in return. It was a nice, realistic middle ground between having perfect, cookie cutter parents and the horrible, abusive parents that are sometimes shown in YA books about tough stuff.
My main complaint with Speed of Life was that the "shocking reveal" late in the book was pretty transparent (I called it a few chapters in). It didn't ruin the story or anything, but I really hate when the plot is that predictable. The book was also a bit too dramatic for my taste, and certain parts (like literally not a single person asking whether the baby was Natalie's or Crystal's) seemed a bit too convenient.
Overall, I enjoyed Speed of Life more than I thought I would. While covering some difficult topics, it remained a quick and fairly light read. That said, it didn't sugarcoat anything, and it definitely realistic. Would definitely recommend for those who like contemporary YA and books without romance.
*Book received from Book Houghton Mifflin Harcourt on Goodreads in exchange for review
September 9, 2019
Cover love AND incredible writing. I honestly felt like I was there, experiencing the day to day life of a blue collar family, namely hardworking twin sisters who, for lack of knowing the baby's father, have made a pact to raise her together with equal love and responsibility, like two aunts, without even acknowledging which one is her biological mother. Sounds strange, but it made total sens as I was reading it.
Given their parents' fiscal irresponsibility and general lack of involvement -- stepdad mostly drinks/smokes and works intermittently at a relative's business; mom works third shift and gambles much of her paycheck away -- the girls live with them for free but otherwise pay for all of their own as well as the baby's expenses, including most of their food. They live, as Crystal describes it, in Portland -- but not in one of its nicer areas. And Kelly makes that world come alive, with details including but not limited to:
-descriptions of how common car theft is
-the abysmal graduation rate at their high school
-the attendance award is given for missing less than fifty days of school across 4 years
-how they rent a house (that they can afford only because it's in such crummy shape that the landlord could never find anyone else to rent it without upgrades)
-Crystal's mention that her family seems to be super-fertile and/or super-irresponsible, with most of them becoming teen moms, dropping out of high school, and often having a second kid in short order
-the amount of junk food in the house, where pizza and day-old bakery items are commonplace because they can be brought home free from work
Aside from the poverty, the relationship between the sisters and the baby, Natalie, is also beautifully evoked. I don't even like babies, and I was still charmed enough to think, "Yeah. I can see how you might love this kid." I loved all the little details about her care, from the in-house daycare at the high school where they're also responsible for attending parenting classes at night, to searching for cheap secondhand baby accessories and shopping for her clothing at Goodwill, to interacting her on a daily basis, whether she's happy and content and sweet, or screaming in outrage at an unattended need. The former actually made a bigger impression on me than the latter -- no small miracle.
(However, I still suuuuper do not agree with the prologue, where the sister who gave birth wants nothing to do with her newborn and is saying to take her away, give her to one of the waiting families, and the other sister is like "absolutely not, you would regret it." What?? Do not discourage the rare teen mom who DOESN'T magically bond with her baby at birth -- and who doesn't even have parents who would riot about losing a grandchild -- from giving her up to the adults who are emotionally and financially twenty times more prepared than you to be parents!!)
As an aside, they have a wonderful big lunky dog aptly named Bonehead, technically their stepdad's but for whom Crystal is the primary caretaker. He has to live outside, mostly on a chain, except when he sleeps in her car -- another working class/poverty marker, I think, especially given the fact that he isn't neutered -- but he's so friendly and lovable, and he's even super good with Natalie. What a treat to have him included in the story.
Crystal and Amber themselves have a wonderful bond, too. At one point when they're talking about potentially getting a 2-bedroom apartment so Natalie can have her own room, Amber panics and says no, she wants them all to stay together and keep sleeping in the same room. That's the level of bonding we're at. Amber is a homebody who has great relationships with their extended family; their parents might suck, but their aunt who owns the restaurant where Amber works and plans to manage one day is a wonderful mentor, and despite Crystal's disapproval, she's very close to their cousins as well.
I love how early on you can see how important relying on family is to her, and how poorly that would mesh with Crystal's newfound desire to attend 4 years of college in another state, hundreds of miles away, even though obtaining a degree for the latter would allow her to earn enough money to give them a comfortable life.
Speaking of that, I'm the opposite of a car buff -- in fact, cars are about the only thing in the world where New Is Always Better to me, and roughly the only maintenance I'm capable of doing is pumping my own gas and maybe buying replacement wiper blades -- but I was still so impressed by Crystal's passion for it, and fascinated by her descriptions of her work. OK, to be fair, I have recently started to be snookered in by old cars on display at local summer festivals. But even though I still have no desire to own or learn how to work on one, I genuinely loved the camaraderie at the shop, and the respect she earned from older men -- because let's be honest, that's usually the opposite of what women in male-dominated hobbies/professions experience.
And then there are the guys -- as others have mentioned, there are 2 possible love interests for Crystal who both seem great, but she doesn't get together with either one. There's Han, her friend from high school, whose crush on her and total enchantment with the baby make him seem like great boyfriend material if she'd consider him. There's also David, a certified Rich Kid who shares her passion for old cars & restoration -- but he has a girlfriend he's happy with, so they simply go from being at odds (she resents him getting hired & taking her shifts just because he's related to her boss) to genuine friends.
Crystal even says at one point in a flashback, "I don't really like guys. Or girls. I mean, I think I like guys more, but everyone I know is an idiot. Someday I'll probably fall in love, once me and Amber have our new life, but right now I'm too busy to screw around with high school boys," and honestly I could just cry a little bit at what a refreshingly good and normal yet uncommon-in-fiction attitude that is.
There is a point in the book where I couldn't figure out why it wasn't over. Page 219/end of chapter 22, to be precise. It maybe slightly rushed the ending, but it still honestly made sense to me as a conclusion. I was a little nervous as to what else there would be...but I wanted more stories about these sisters, so I pushed on, and OH WOW. It definitely hit my heart some, and I actually did not see the twists coming, but once I got over my shock they were SUPER satisfying. The ending is exactly what it needed to be.
Long story short, this is an incredible and incredibly realistic saga. A thousand thanks to the Thrift Books recommendation algorithm for bringing it to my attention, because otherwise I would never have heard of it.
Given their parents' fiscal irresponsibility and general lack of involvement -- stepdad mostly drinks/smokes and works intermittently at a relative's business; mom works third shift and gambles much of her paycheck away -- the girls live with them for free but otherwise pay for all of their own as well as the baby's expenses, including most of their food. They live, as Crystal describes it, in Portland -- but not in one of its nicer areas. And Kelly makes that world come alive, with details including but not limited to:
-descriptions of how common car theft is
-the abysmal graduation rate at their high school
-the attendance award is given for missing less than fifty days of school across 4 years
-how they rent a house (that they can afford only because it's in such crummy shape that the landlord could never find anyone else to rent it without upgrades)
-Crystal's mention that her family seems to be super-fertile and/or super-irresponsible, with most of them becoming teen moms, dropping out of high school, and often having a second kid in short order
-the amount of junk food in the house, where pizza and day-old bakery items are commonplace because they can be brought home free from work
Aside from the poverty, the relationship between the sisters and the baby, Natalie, is also beautifully evoked. I don't even like babies, and I was still charmed enough to think, "Yeah. I can see how you might love this kid." I loved all the little details about her care, from the in-house daycare at the high school where they're also responsible for attending parenting classes at night, to searching for cheap secondhand baby accessories and shopping for her clothing at Goodwill, to interacting her on a daily basis, whether she's happy and content and sweet, or screaming in outrage at an unattended need. The former actually made a bigger impression on me than the latter -- no small miracle.
(However, I still suuuuper do not agree with the prologue, where the sister who gave birth wants nothing to do with her newborn and is saying to take her away, give her to one of the waiting families, and the other sister is like "absolutely not, you would regret it." What?? Do not discourage the rare teen mom who DOESN'T magically bond with her baby at birth -- and who doesn't even have parents who would riot about losing a grandchild -- from giving her up to the adults who are emotionally and financially twenty times more prepared than you to be parents!!)
As an aside, they have a wonderful big lunky dog aptly named Bonehead, technically their stepdad's but for whom Crystal is the primary caretaker. He has to live outside, mostly on a chain, except when he sleeps in her car -- another working class/poverty marker, I think, especially given the fact that he isn't neutered -- but he's so friendly and lovable, and he's even super good with Natalie. What a treat to have him included in the story.
Crystal and Amber themselves have a wonderful bond, too. At one point when they're talking about potentially getting a 2-bedroom apartment so Natalie can have her own room, Amber panics and says no, she wants them all to stay together and keep sleeping in the same room. That's the level of bonding we're at. Amber is a homebody who has great relationships with their extended family; their parents might suck, but their aunt who owns the restaurant where Amber works and plans to manage one day is a wonderful mentor, and despite Crystal's disapproval, she's very close to their cousins as well.
I love how early on you can see how important relying on family is to her, and how poorly that would mesh with Crystal's newfound desire to attend 4 years of college in another state, hundreds of miles away, even though obtaining a degree for the latter would allow her to earn enough money to give them a comfortable life.
Speaking of that, I'm the opposite of a car buff -- in fact, cars are about the only thing in the world where New Is Always Better to me, and roughly the only maintenance I'm capable of doing is pumping my own gas and maybe buying replacement wiper blades -- but I was still so impressed by Crystal's passion for it, and fascinated by her descriptions of her work. OK, to be fair, I have recently started to be snookered in by old cars on display at local summer festivals. But even though I still have no desire to own or learn how to work on one, I genuinely loved the camaraderie at the shop, and the respect she earned from older men -- because let's be honest, that's usually the opposite of what women in male-dominated hobbies/professions experience.
And then there are the guys -- as others have mentioned, there are 2 possible love interests for Crystal who both seem great, but she doesn't get together with either one. There's Han, her friend from high school, whose crush on her and total enchantment with the baby make him seem like great boyfriend material if she'd consider him. There's also David, a certified Rich Kid who shares her passion for old cars & restoration -- but he has a girlfriend he's happy with, so they simply go from being at odds (she resents him getting hired & taking her shifts just because he's related to her boss) to genuine friends.
Crystal even says at one point in a flashback, "I don't really like guys. Or girls. I mean, I think I like guys more, but everyone I know is an idiot. Someday I'll probably fall in love, once me and Amber have our new life, but right now I'm too busy to screw around with high school boys," and honestly I could just cry a little bit at what a refreshingly good and normal yet uncommon-in-fiction attitude that is.
There is a point in the book where I couldn't figure out why it wasn't over. Page 219/end of chapter 22, to be precise. It maybe slightly rushed the ending, but it still honestly made sense to me as a conclusion. I was a little nervous as to what else there would be...but I wanted more stories about these sisters, so I pushed on, and OH WOW. It definitely hit my heart some, and I actually did not see the twists coming, but once I got over my shock they were SUPER satisfying. The ending is exactly what it needed to be.
Long story short, this is an incredible and incredibly realistic saga. A thousand thanks to the Thrift Books recommendation algorithm for bringing it to my attention, because otherwise I would never have heard of it.
August 7, 2016
Connected since birth, twin sisters Crystal and Amber have always done everything together. They share a bank account, finish each other's homework, and will be the first in their family to graduate from high school. After adding a newborn baby to the list, they devise a plan to finish school, save their hard-earned money, and get their own place. At least, that was the original plan, but after a meeting with the new guidance counselor, Crystal realizes that she might actually have the chance to go to college, and enter an automotive restoration program. Ultimately, the choice is hers to make, but keeping the possibility a secret threatens her bond with Amber and places them on different paths of life.
The struggles of surviving senior year with a baby are exquisitely captured in this first-person narrative. Crystal, the protagonist, strives for freedom from her responsibilities and independence from her family, and her decisions lead her to experience tremendous personal growth and unexpected opportunity along the way. Flashbacks, strong characterization, and Crystal's inner conflict sets the tone for this touching story about the realities of teenage pregnancy entwined with the love of automotive restoration.
The struggles of surviving senior year with a baby are exquisitely captured in this first-person narrative. Crystal, the protagonist, strives for freedom from her responsibilities and independence from her family, and her decisions lead her to experience tremendous personal growth and unexpected opportunity along the way. Flashbacks, strong characterization, and Crystal's inner conflict sets the tone for this touching story about the realities of teenage pregnancy entwined with the love of automotive restoration.
October 16, 2016
Interesting (I need a new word), though I think maybe not entirely successful. I thought Crystal was being selfish and unrealistic and the book didn't explain her reasoning well enough until something like the 80% mark. Which was a bit too little, too late.
I'm also think the book should've talked more about why they decided to keep Natalie (in either an adoption or abortion scenario).
I'm also think the book should've talked more about why they decided to keep Natalie (in either an adoption or abortion scenario).
October 26, 2016
I am still reeling from how much I absolutely loved this book. I want more of the characters' stories immediately. My single complaint is the way the mother was treated for being overweight, but I'm going to assume that was Crystal's voice and not the author's. Other than that, everything was perfect. I'd read 3 more books about Crystal, Amber, Han, and Natalie.
January 14, 2018
*3.5ish/5 stars*
13/01/18 Quick, easy read; full review here!
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First 2018 White Pine book I read -- I plan to write a full review (for this book + the last two books I read), which will probably be done sometime later this week!
13/01/18 Quick, easy read; full review here!
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First 2018 White Pine book I read -- I plan to write a full review (for this book + the last two books I read), which will probably be done sometime later this week!
May 14, 2016
At Reading Rants: http://www.readingrants.org/2016/05/1...
June 7, 2018
This book ended up being such a great surprise. It’s nearly impossible to talk about it without giving away major spoilers, but I just want to say, for anyone who might have abandoned the book due to frustrations with certain narrative choices in the first half, there’s absolutely a purpose for the way it all unfolds and I found the end result very rewarding. I still think that it was perhaps too risky a maneuver on Kelly’s part and her choices create some baffling obtuse narration in the first half, but the novel in its entirety absolutely deserves a fair chance.
SPOILERS AHEAD
The first chapter consists of an incredibly short and spare conversation between the two sisters, told only in lines of speech, with minimal narration and no dialogue tags. The second chapter jumps ahead four months after the baby’s birth, and we are thrown into the harsh reality of the twins’ daily lives as teen mothers growing up in poverty. At the time I questioned why the opening scene was so vague, and why there were no flashbacks or detailed references to the pregnancy itself, but soon I became engrossed in the narrative and chalked my reservations up to poor storytelling choices on the part of the author. Our first-person narrator, Crystal, paints herself as the responsible twin and she feels immediately trustworthy. Combined with the fact that I wasn’t expecting a plot twist in a book like this at all, when the truth finally comes out it’s a complete shocker that makes you reevaluate everything that’s happened in the book thus far and helps you see Crystal’s twin Amber in a completely different light. The best scenes in the book come right after the bombshell revelation when Crystal takes off across the country in her Mustang to deal with the fallout. I felt like I was right there with her, trying to piece together what had really happened and why I had so easily believed otherwise. I recommend reading it while listening to the Tracy Chapman song “Fast Car.” I was reminded of the tune, which was one of my favorites growing up, for the entire duration of the novel, and during that portion I finally put it on while reading. It captured the mood and emotions perfectly. The book’s strength lies in how powerful shame can be, and the lies it can force us to tell ourselves. As Crystal slowly uncovers the truth of baby Natalie’s conception and subsequently reveals it to us, more truths come to light. But compared to that initial blow, they become a bit anticlimactic. There are so many YA books and TV shows out there about teens with varying degrees of economic privilege. One of the reasons this book is important is it offers a voice that is not only refreshing but underrepresented. It also offers a protagonist who is a badass mechanic and doesn’t conform to gender norms, but who is also vulnerable and not immune to making some of the worst mistakes. (Sidenote: How gorgeous and fitting is this cover?)
Grade: B+
SPOILERS AHEAD
The first chapter consists of an incredibly short and spare conversation between the two sisters, told only in lines of speech, with minimal narration and no dialogue tags. The second chapter jumps ahead four months after the baby’s birth, and we are thrown into the harsh reality of the twins’ daily lives as teen mothers growing up in poverty. At the time I questioned why the opening scene was so vague, and why there were no flashbacks or detailed references to the pregnancy itself, but soon I became engrossed in the narrative and chalked my reservations up to poor storytelling choices on the part of the author. Our first-person narrator, Crystal, paints herself as the responsible twin and she feels immediately trustworthy. Combined with the fact that I wasn’t expecting a plot twist in a book like this at all, when the truth finally comes out it’s a complete shocker that makes you reevaluate everything that’s happened in the book thus far and helps you see Crystal’s twin Amber in a completely different light. The best scenes in the book come right after the bombshell revelation when Crystal takes off across the country in her Mustang to deal with the fallout. I felt like I was right there with her, trying to piece together what had really happened and why I had so easily believed otherwise. I recommend reading it while listening to the Tracy Chapman song “Fast Car.” I was reminded of the tune, which was one of my favorites growing up, for the entire duration of the novel, and during that portion I finally put it on while reading. It captured the mood and emotions perfectly. The book’s strength lies in how powerful shame can be, and the lies it can force us to tell ourselves. As Crystal slowly uncovers the truth of baby Natalie’s conception and subsequently reveals it to us, more truths come to light. But compared to that initial blow, they become a bit anticlimactic. There are so many YA books and TV shows out there about teens with varying degrees of economic privilege. One of the reasons this book is important is it offers a voice that is not only refreshing but underrepresented. It also offers a protagonist who is a badass mechanic and doesn’t conform to gender norms, but who is also vulnerable and not immune to making some of the worst mistakes. (Sidenote: How gorgeous and fitting is this cover?)
Grade: B+
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2018
This was such a beautiful book! When I was in the library, I felt drawn towards this book because the cover was just so beautiful. Then, I read the synopsis and I loved it even more. Finally, I read the book and it was literally as good as I imagined! The character development is perfect, the story unravels nicely, and it makes you feel so good at the end. When you look at the cover, you think it's the story about a girl growing up but it's a lot more than that. There's these twins, who live in a small town, dangerous neighbourhood, and they come from a family of people who didn't go to college, have drug addictions, and don't have good jobs. They decide to change their lives, and decide that they are going to get great jobs, their own house, and move out of this hillbilly little town. However, one of them gets pregnant and has a baby. This changes their whole lives. The pregnant twin wants to put the baby up for adoption but the sister declines, saying that they will raise the baby together because if she gives the baby away, the twin will grow up hating them both. So, they make a new life plan, where they go to school, have part time jobs, and also take care of this baby. The baby is in daycare, and they go to parenting classes. They alternate days of picking up the baby from daycare, and the baby really comes first in their lives. They are motivated to work hard to give the baby a good life. They have this secure plan. Then, one of them applies to college out of state, and gets in. She wants to go to college to get a better job and better life, but the other twin is heartbroken that she's literally destroying their entire life plan. They have to decide whether to separate and follow their individual dreams, or hold onto their childhood dream, and how their lives can be separate but still together. There's so much detail, and it's a pretty realistic book. It's so touching and I just loved it. I could feel the love in the story. Also, they never tell us which twin had the baby, and you read the whole book with a specific twin in mind, but let me just say, this book has a lot of twists and turns that just left me so surprised. The plot twist actually made my jaw drop.
February 28, 2017
Highly enjoyable read, but the "big twist" wasn't all that shocking. I think I might have read a spoiler about it here, promptly forgotten about it as I read the book, and recalled it once again once it happened.
Crystal's situation was pretty interesting. I spent a lot of time judging Amber, for sure. This story was a good way to see what it's like on the other side of the tracks. I've never really understood people who dropped out so close to the end of high school. You're almost there! And... there's so much more left to do! The struggle between short-term and long-term gain is depicted in such a realistic way here. Yes, people come from humble backgrounds. There's still pride in that.
I had very little sympathy for Crystal and Amber's mom and stepdad. Seriously, how did they survive until adulthood? Honestly, good for the twins for making it as far as they did.
Natalie is a bundle of joy. Han, he's all right. He can stay.
I also warmed up to Stanford boy, but I can totally see why people would resent him. His final scenes were hilarious. I hope he gets a huge dose of reality in university, but considering how his future is mapped out for him, I also doubt it. But that's okay too. He's loyal and helpful to a fault, and I'm glad Crystal had him to push her to new heights.
Similarly, that guidance counsellor also created some monumental changes. And she didn't even remember Crystal! The situation sheds light onto reasons why people don't end up pursuing their dreams: they don't have the resources or knowledge, and the system is overextended. But for the lucky few, a little bit of help can make a world of difference. I guess all we can do is do our jobs as best as we can, and help out people whenever possible. You never know when your actions will help someone realize their wildest dreams, and lead them to a better future. I'm excited for Crystal, and hope she has a bright future ahead.
Crystal's situation was pretty interesting. I spent a lot of time judging Amber, for sure. This story was a good way to see what it's like on the other side of the tracks. I've never really understood people who dropped out so close to the end of high school. You're almost there! And... there's so much more left to do! The struggle between short-term and long-term gain is depicted in such a realistic way here. Yes, people come from humble backgrounds. There's still pride in that.
I had very little sympathy for Crystal and Amber's mom and stepdad. Seriously, how did they survive until adulthood? Honestly, good for the twins for making it as far as they did.
Natalie is a bundle of joy. Han, he's all right. He can stay.
I also warmed up to Stanford boy, but I can totally see why people would resent him. His final scenes were hilarious. I hope he gets a huge dose of reality in university, but considering how his future is mapped out for him, I also doubt it. But that's okay too. He's loyal and helpful to a fault, and I'm glad Crystal had him to push her to new heights.
Similarly, that guidance counsellor also created some monumental changes. And she didn't even remember Crystal! The situation sheds light onto reasons why people don't end up pursuing their dreams: they don't have the resources or knowledge, and the system is overextended. But for the lucky few, a little bit of help can make a world of difference. I guess all we can do is do our jobs as best as we can, and help out people whenever possible. You never know when your actions will help someone realize their wildest dreams, and lead them to a better future. I'm excited for Crystal, and hope she has a bright future ahead.
March 17, 2019
Like the title, it was a speedy read for me. Speedy and meaningful. This book was so light yet so deep in life meaning. It’s a very real problem, more into feminist issue but not so serious talk.
So first, let’s meet the twins, Crystal as narrator here and Amber her twins. They’re 18 and have a baby named Natalie. Natalie was unwanted, a shame result from getting drunk and doesn’t know who’s her father. As time went, they both agree to take care Natalie fairly. They even have a plan to have a separate life with their parents and make their own livings after graduation. But then, Crystal must make choices between the college of her dreams or sticking to the baby and family plan.
I love the twist about Natalie at the end, so unpredictable. All the bickering was good, kinda reminding us that all kinds of relationship with people always need some bickering scene for good reason behind. Struggling for money was so real too, I can feel how tired they are at school, continue with their part-time job, plus taking turns taking care of Natalie. I adore both of you and all strong women out there! One thing more, there is NO ROMANCE here and I like it. Lol. Really.
Oh, don’t forget about Han too, the lifesaver for the twins and Natalie. I admire his kind characters so much. He’s so good and always ready whenever he needed. Bonehead was a cute spotlight stealer for me. He’s also done a great job of taking care of Natalie, so it’s true that dogs and babies are always a good friend.
One thing to complain is just about the ending, it’s predictable. However, I truly recommend this for anybody who needs a light read but meaningful story. It’s touching, so freaking realistic, and many great messages. Go give it a try!
So first, let’s meet the twins, Crystal as narrator here and Amber her twins. They’re 18 and have a baby named Natalie. Natalie was unwanted, a shame result from getting drunk and doesn’t know who’s her father. As time went, they both agree to take care Natalie fairly. They even have a plan to have a separate life with their parents and make their own livings after graduation. But then, Crystal must make choices between the college of her dreams or sticking to the baby and family plan.
I love the twist about Natalie at the end, so unpredictable. All the bickering was good, kinda reminding us that all kinds of relationship with people always need some bickering scene for good reason behind. Struggling for money was so real too, I can feel how tired they are at school, continue with their part-time job, plus taking turns taking care of Natalie. I adore both of you and all strong women out there! One thing more, there is NO ROMANCE here and I like it. Lol. Really.
Oh, don’t forget about Han too, the lifesaver for the twins and Natalie. I admire his kind characters so much. He’s so good and always ready whenever he needed. Bonehead was a cute spotlight stealer for me. He’s also done a great job of taking care of Natalie, so it’s true that dogs and babies are always a good friend.
One thing to complain is just about the ending, it’s predictable. However, I truly recommend this for anybody who needs a light read but meaningful story. It’s touching, so freaking realistic, and many great messages. Go give it a try!
December 7, 2017
Speed of Life is about twin sisters sharing the raising of a baby. They live with their dirt-poor Mom and Stepdad, both useless parents who actually beg-borrow-steal money from their daughters!
At first I was rather put off by the language and poor grammar, considering that I had purchased this for my 16-year old niece – but once I realized it is simply how these sisters talk (yup, real-world, can’t escape it) I accepted it and enjoyed the story.
The girls have a realistic plan to improve their situation and make good lives for themselves once they finish school. But it is hard! Juggling school, daycare, and jobs leave them exhausted and performing at less than peak. A moral dilemma presents itself when one twin is offered a full scholarship and living expenses to a school in Kansas. It means a change of plan – but the other twin does not want to go to Kansas.
How does this author manage to get so transparently into the heads of these teens? Other reviewers have questioned the ending, but the twist near the end puts a whole new light on the story. Definitely worth a read, and a hard book to put down.
At first I was rather put off by the language and poor grammar, considering that I had purchased this for my 16-year old niece – but once I realized it is simply how these sisters talk (yup, real-world, can’t escape it) I accepted it and enjoyed the story.
The girls have a realistic plan to improve their situation and make good lives for themselves once they finish school. But it is hard! Juggling school, daycare, and jobs leave them exhausted and performing at less than peak. A moral dilemma presents itself when one twin is offered a full scholarship and living expenses to a school in Kansas. It means a change of plan – but the other twin does not want to go to Kansas.
How does this author manage to get so transparently into the heads of these teens? Other reviewers have questioned the ending, but the twist near the end puts a whole new light on the story. Definitely worth a read, and a hard book to put down.
October 21, 2017
A beautiful book about two sisters, you’ll fall in love with this book right off the bat.
Nice easy flow - and conversational style - to the writing. Well developed character, plot and setting.
Wry, witty humour underscores the pretty crappy life situation the two sisters find themselves in. The girls are living in grinding poverty, their subsidised/free lunch plans the only decent meal of their day, with little parental support to help them out.
That one sister ends up as a teen mom could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. But this is where the book shines… They are both incredible, strong, determined young women, supportive of each other and with a clear vision as to how to be more than what they’ve come from.
And have I mentioned cars yet? I know nothing about cars, but I do appreciate vintage cars - not that I can tell one from another - and what goes into them. I enjoyed ‘the car’ as both literal object and as metaphor.
Nice easy flow - and conversational style - to the writing. Well developed character, plot and setting.
Wry, witty humour underscores the pretty crappy life situation the two sisters find themselves in. The girls are living in grinding poverty, their subsidised/free lunch plans the only decent meal of their day, with little parental support to help them out.
That one sister ends up as a teen mom could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. But this is where the book shines… They are both incredible, strong, determined young women, supportive of each other and with a clear vision as to how to be more than what they’ve come from.
And have I mentioned cars yet? I know nothing about cars, but I do appreciate vintage cars - not that I can tell one from another - and what goes into them. I enjoyed ‘the car’ as both literal object and as metaphor.
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