What do you think?
Rate this book
Speed of Life
Sofia lost her mother eight months ago, and her friends were 100% there for her. Now it's a new year and they're ready for Sofia to move on. Problem is, Sofia can't bounce back, can't recharge like a cellphone. She decides to write Dear Kate, an advice columnist for Fifteen Magazine, and is surprised to receive a fast reply. Soon the two are exchanging emails, and Sofia opens up and spills all, including a few worries that are totally embarrassing. Turns out even advice columnists don't have all the answers, and one day Sofia learns a secret that flips her world upside down.
326 pages, Library Binding
First published April 1, 2017
93 people are currently reading
2372 people want to read
About the author
Carol Weston
24 books89 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Carol's newest novel, SPEED OF LIFE, is for ages 11+ Starred reviews: Kirkus, PW, Booklist, SLJ. New York Times: "perceptive, funny, and moving." Newbery medalist Richard Peck calls it "wonderful." Julia Alvarez says, "You won't want to put it down." Carol is also the author of AVA AND PIP, AVA AND TACO CAT and AVA XOX, (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky), a series about a fifth grade "word nerd." NYTBR says AVA AND PIP is "about sisterhood, but it's also a love letter to language." (nyti.ms/1ggyDHV) Carol has been "Dear Carol" at Girls' Life since 1994. Her first book, GIRLTALK (HarperCollins) was translated into 12 languages. A Yale grad with an M.A. from Middlebury, Carol has been a guest on Today and The View and loves visiting schools. The author of The Diary of Melanie Martin series (Knopf), her fan page is: www.facebook.com/writercarolweston. She posts helpful videos at www.youtube.com/girltalkwithcarol. She and her husband live in NYC, and have two daughters and a cat. twitter.com/carol_weston
Carol's newest novel, SPEED OF LIFE, is for ages 11+ Starred reviews: Kirkus, PW, Booklist, SLJ. New York Times: "perceptive, funny, and moving." Newbery medalist Richard Peck calls it "wonderful." Julia Alvarez says, "You won't want to put it down." Carol is also the author of AVA AND PIP, AVA AND TACO CAT and AVA XOX, (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky), a series about a fifth grade "word nerd." NYTBR says AVA AND PIP is "about sisterhood, but it's also a love letter to language." (nyti.ms/1ggyDHV) Carol has been "Dear Carol" at Girls' Life since 1994. Her first book, GIRLTALK (HarperCollins) was translated into 12 languages. A Yale grad with an M.A. from Middlebury, Carol has been a guest on Today and The View and loves visiting schools. The author of The Diary of Melanie Martin series (Knopf), her fan page is: www.facebook.com/writercarolweston. She posts helpful videos at www.youtube.com/girltalkwithcarol. She and her husband live in NYC, and have two daughters and a cat. twitter.com/carol_weston
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 264 reviews
June 21, 2017
Thank you Sourcebooks Jabberwocky for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Though it's been a year her mother passed away, fourteen year old Sofia Wolfe misses her badly. She and her father are still coping over the loss. She feels lonely without her mother's presence and she doesn't know how she'll express her feelings to her father. After Katherine Baird or well known as Dear Kate, an advice columnist at a teen magazine visited their school, she decided to email her asking for advises and talk randomnly about girl stuff. She finds comfort opening up to her but things get awkward when her father introduces her new girlfriend and it happens to be the woman behind Dear Kate.
I really like this book. It's greatly written and I like Sofia's character development. Her mother's death left a huge impact in her family and struggled in moving on. I like her honesty and innocence. There are times she's naive and that's okay because it's part of growing as she continues to learn many things. I like that she's flexible and understanding. She slowly adapts to changes and I think she adjusted really well. Also, I like the little cute romance between her and Sam and how she get along with Alexa (Kate's daughter). It's not easy for these two but I'm glad they worked it out.
Though it's been a year her mother passed away, fourteen year old Sofia Wolfe misses her badly. She and her father are still coping over the loss. She feels lonely without her mother's presence and she doesn't know how she'll express her feelings to her father. After Katherine Baird or well known as Dear Kate, an advice columnist at a teen magazine visited their school, she decided to email her asking for advises and talk randomnly about girl stuff. She finds comfort opening up to her but things get awkward when her father introduces her new girlfriend and it happens to be the woman behind Dear Kate.
I really like this book. It's greatly written and I like Sofia's character development. Her mother's death left a huge impact in her family and struggled in moving on. I like her honesty and innocence. There are times she's naive and that's okay because it's part of growing as she continues to learn many things. I like that she's flexible and understanding. She slowly adapts to changes and I think she adjusted really well. Also, I like the little cute romance between her and Sam and how she get along with Alexa (Kate's daughter). It's not easy for these two but I'm glad they worked it out.
July 6, 2017
(Note: I received a copy of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Publishers and author.)
Speed of Life is coming of age book for age group between middle grade and YA. This is perfect summer read for teens (for girls only). The book is about life of Sofia after her mom’s death, her grief and struggle, feelings, family drama, and teenage stuff. The age when she needs a mother the most, is not around and about how after all she gone through will climb the mountain of life and whether she will reach a summit or fall.
I loved the beginning of the book. It gave warning that the book is going to be sad. It was sad of course, but book had a sense of humor that lightened up the grief of Sofia. The book was actually from January to January and each chapters in month. I really liked that style, different and unique. Story was divided in 2 parts- first was from Jan to mid-year and second- July to Jan.
First part was all about characters, their background, and new change in their life. = sad, grief, fun, dramatic, exciting. When I reached the end of this part, I felt like book just ended, really because I expected this an end. So, on starting second part I was clueless. Second part = surprise, dramatic, character development which was really amazing especially of Sofia and Alexa.
click here to Read Full Review
Speed of Life is coming of age book for age group between middle grade and YA. This is perfect summer read for teens (for girls only). The book is about life of Sofia after her mom’s death, her grief and struggle, feelings, family drama, and teenage stuff. The age when she needs a mother the most, is not around and about how after all she gone through will climb the mountain of life and whether she will reach a summit or fall.
I loved the beginning of the book. It gave warning that the book is going to be sad. It was sad of course, but book had a sense of humor that lightened up the grief of Sofia. The book was actually from January to January and each chapters in month. I really liked that style, different and unique. Story was divided in 2 parts- first was from Jan to mid-year and second- July to Jan.
First part was all about characters, their background, and new change in their life. = sad, grief, fun, dramatic, exciting. When I reached the end of this part, I felt like book just ended, really because I expected this an end. So, on starting second part I was clueless. Second part = surprise, dramatic, character development which was really amazing especially of Sofia and Alexa.
click here to Read Full Review
March 17, 2018
* 4.6 STARS*
I really enjoyed this novel! I was a bit nervous that I was going to find the main character immature because she was 14. I often read books where the main character is at least 16. Then, I realized that it wasn’t even a year ago that I was 14 and went through similar moments. I really liked that the chapters were months. It allowed for me to really dive into Sofia’s life! Many times I’ll wonder about the rest of a character’s “life” beyond the pages, and I was lucky to experience an entire year! Other books only give me snippets of someone’s life. I got to know what Sofia was like spring, summer, fall, and winter!! Her life really transformed over the course of a year! While losing her mother was incredibly tragic, the events that followed were wonderful! She met so many people who loved and cared for her deeply. I’m almost jealous the way her life turned out! I could only dream of the summers she spent in Armonk with her new family. I know that her life was far from perfect, but it seemed really amazing! While the novel starts out very sorrowful, it changes drastically. I REALLY craved a new beginning after reading this. I don’t really know how to explain this so that it makes more sense so I’ll leave it at that! It was a very enjoyable read and easy to indulge in:)
I really enjoyed this novel! I was a bit nervous that I was going to find the main character immature because she was 14. I often read books where the main character is at least 16. Then, I realized that it wasn’t even a year ago that I was 14 and went through similar moments. I really liked that the chapters were months. It allowed for me to really dive into Sofia’s life! Many times I’ll wonder about the rest of a character’s “life” beyond the pages, and I was lucky to experience an entire year! Other books only give me snippets of someone’s life. I got to know what Sofia was like spring, summer, fall, and winter!! Her life really transformed over the course of a year! While losing her mother was incredibly tragic, the events that followed were wonderful! She met so many people who loved and cared for her deeply. I’m almost jealous the way her life turned out! I could only dream of the summers she spent in Armonk with her new family. I know that her life was far from perfect, but it seemed really amazing! While the novel starts out very sorrowful, it changes drastically. I REALLY craved a new beginning after reading this. I don’t really know how to explain this so that it makes more sense so I’ll leave it at that! It was a very enjoyable read and easy to indulge in:)
July 22, 2017
Disclaimer: Received a free digital copy of the book through Netgalley.
This was ADORABLE. If I had to sum my thoughts about this then I'd say it literally was the best emotional, nostalgic and relatable roller coaster ride down the memory lane of my early teen years. AND I enjoyed reading it a lot!
There were so many amazing things about this book that I appreciated and one of those was the diversity in this book. I noticed that the writer tried to have a distinguished, diverse set of characters as much as possible and that's real good because there are hardly any authors in middle grade that actively try to incorporate and celebrate diversity in their books. Characters like Lan, Kiki, Mr Kapur, Aisha, Dr Pavlica - even though secondary and primary, mentioned only once or twice (except for Kiki) were visible examples of how the author didn't want this to be a mainstream American novel with an all-white cast. Apart from this Sofia herself was not white yay! The book was not only diverse in terms of race but sexuality as well and included some LGBTQIA characters, another good addition.
The way this book was structured was really fitting in my opinion; the two parts made the character development so much more evident. The January to January concept was also really refreshing and the monthly chapters made it easy to navigate and keep pace with the plot. The themes of this book were wide-ranging and it addressed a ton of teenage dilemmas - reconstituted families and their problems (the sociology nerd in me was over the moon!), death of a parent, grief, friend problems, boyfriend problems, pimples, periods, sex, pregnancy, college, and everything else in between which made this book quite relatable to my 2 years back self that still lives in me.
The author's writing was absolutely flawless and had a brilliant flow to it - it never felt like she was trying hard to convey emotions, those sporadic sparks burst out themselves and injected me with a god-awful lot feelings - especially in the first part, I couldn't help but feel pathetically sad about Sofia. Ask the shattered pieces of my heart how they felt every time she would compare her father's reaction to her mami's and say "mom would've" *wipes tears*. The voice of the author for the 14-15 year old narrator was kept in check because never once did I feel like there was this older woman writing everything, it felt more like the diary of a 14 year old which is such an incredible feat for the writer.
The characters were such well-written, perfectly developed yet under construction ones, and I was emotionally invested in them from the very start which made their progress, dilemmas, a lot more real, honest, and relatable. The relationship between the characters were developed so wonderfully and realistically, especially Sofia and Alexa's, those two really made it seem like they were actual teenagers stuck with becoming each other's apparent sisters. Kate's character was well planned and executed and the advice she gives in the book would be helpful to girls in real life too. I liked the fact that the characters' professions weren't conventional - I mean except for 10 things I hate about you, I've hardly seen gynecologist fathers and Kate's job as a columnist was unique as well.
The novel is also filled with significant advice (Weston's job as a columnist clearly helped and shone throughout the entire novel) and important lessons for, the most highlighted one being the ignorant attitude of teenagers and kids in general towards parental love - I have absolutely no idea and every idea why I missed my mom so much and hated the fact that I had flown from the 'nest' pretty early than normal kids do. Sad life. But I really enjoyed reading about Sofia's relationship with her parents and Kate. Comparisons between private and public American schools were added in an efficient way and made me learn more about the American school system then I had before in movies/books which coupled with the mention of the flamboyant Spanish culture, language and food made reading this book an educational experience. I really wished my secondary school taught Spanish after reading this haha.
Best scene in the novel: Sofia's concert. (I LOVED THIS!)
All in all, a great middle grade/ya read, highly recommended for parents and children alike!
This was ADORABLE. If I had to sum my thoughts about this then I'd say it literally was the best emotional, nostalgic and relatable roller coaster ride down the memory lane of my early teen years. AND I enjoyed reading it a lot!
There were so many amazing things about this book that I appreciated and one of those was the diversity in this book. I noticed that the writer tried to have a distinguished, diverse set of characters as much as possible and that's real good because there are hardly any authors in middle grade that actively try to incorporate and celebrate diversity in their books. Characters like Lan, Kiki, Mr Kapur, Aisha, Dr Pavlica - even though secondary and primary, mentioned only once or twice (except for Kiki) were visible examples of how the author didn't want this to be a mainstream American novel with an all-white cast. Apart from this Sofia herself was not white yay! The book was not only diverse in terms of race but sexuality as well and included some LGBTQIA characters, another good addition.
The way this book was structured was really fitting in my opinion; the two parts made the character development so much more evident. The January to January concept was also really refreshing and the monthly chapters made it easy to navigate and keep pace with the plot. The themes of this book were wide-ranging and it addressed a ton of teenage dilemmas - reconstituted families and their problems (the sociology nerd in me was over the moon!), death of a parent, grief, friend problems, boyfriend problems, pimples, periods, sex, pregnancy, college, and everything else in between which made this book quite relatable to my 2 years back self that still lives in me.
The author's writing was absolutely flawless and had a brilliant flow to it - it never felt like she was trying hard to convey emotions, those sporadic sparks burst out themselves and injected me with a god-awful lot feelings - especially in the first part, I couldn't help but feel pathetically sad about Sofia. Ask the shattered pieces of my heart how they felt every time she would compare her father's reaction to her mami's and say "mom would've" *wipes tears*. The voice of the author for the 14-15 year old narrator was kept in check because never once did I feel like there was this older woman writing everything, it felt more like the diary of a 14 year old which is such an incredible feat for the writer.
The characters were such well-written, perfectly developed yet under construction ones, and I was emotionally invested in them from the very start which made their progress, dilemmas, a lot more real, honest, and relatable. The relationship between the characters were developed so wonderfully and realistically, especially Sofia and Alexa's, those two really made it seem like they were actual teenagers stuck with becoming each other's apparent sisters. Kate's character was well planned and executed and the advice she gives in the book would be helpful to girls in real life too. I liked the fact that the characters' professions weren't conventional - I mean except for 10 things I hate about you, I've hardly seen gynecologist fathers and Kate's job as a columnist was unique as well.
The novel is also filled with significant advice (Weston's job as a columnist clearly helped and shone throughout the entire novel) and important lessons for, the most highlighted one being the ignorant attitude of teenagers and kids in general towards parental love - I have absolutely no idea and every idea why I missed my mom so much and hated the fact that I had flown from the 'nest' pretty early than normal kids do. Sad life. But I really enjoyed reading about Sofia's relationship with her parents and Kate. Comparisons between private and public American schools were added in an efficient way and made me learn more about the American school system then I had before in movies/books which coupled with the mention of the flamboyant Spanish culture, language and food made reading this book an educational experience. I really wished my secondary school taught Spanish after reading this haha.
Best scene in the novel: Sofia's concert. (I LOVED THIS!)
All in all, a great middle grade/ya read, highly recommended for parents and children alike!
April 7, 2018
“Sometimes life ends when you don’t want it to, and sometimes it starts when you don’t want it to.”
Transition. Change. Acceptance.
Death was inevitable as we all say. It takes a lot of courage, a lot of time to heal wounds and a lot of time to bring back the pieces of a shattered heart. But even so, once broken nothing can make it as whole as it is. It just gets better and stronger and wholer the next time it gets the pace of pain, hurt and sorrow.
Speed of Life is a beautiful story depicting life after a death of someone you love and care about. It is a story of a fourteen year old girl named Sofia Wolfe who's mother died and life was never been easy. Who said it will be? Everyday is a day to cope and accept that no matter what happen, life must go on even if it's hard. Even if she didn't want to because she has to.
“I knew what was coming. And I knew that everything kept going, ready or not. Real life wasn’t like watching a movie on a laptop. You couldn’t press Pause or Rewind or Skip or Start Over. Life barely skipped a beat for Death. The planet never slowed down to let people absorb a shock or play catch- up. It just kept spinning and spinning.”
And then there's this flicker of hope.
“The end of one chapter,” I told him, “is the beginning of the next.”
A start of something new. New relationships, new adjustments. Could Sofia be ready for all this changes?
When she found out that her Doctor Dad was dating the only person she could talk about her mom. Katherine Baird a.k.a Dear Kate is a columnist at Fifteen magazine. Sofia confided with her, felt a connection and consider her as a friend. Would it felt really weird to make the confession that she's Catlover99 who refer to her Dad's girlfriend, the Mystery Woman? How about dealing with Kate's daughter Alexa and her bitchy personality? Could they be an instant family?
Death. Change. These are the two things in life that is hard to deal with. Yes! It gets easier everyday. But there were moments in life that will last forever. Moments that will split your life into Before and After . Where there is hope that everything will get better, that good things happen too.
"In science that day, Dr. Pavlica had mentioned the speed of light, and I’d heard “the speed of life.” While he was going on about E = mc², I was thinking again about how crazy it is that life just speeds along, sunrise after sunrise, season after season. Whether you’re totally miserable or insanely happy, the months keep coming, crashing like waves. There are no do - overs, no backsies, and bad stuff happens. But then I thought, Wait. Good stuff happens too. And sometimes, even a kiss can slow time down."
This book was intended for tweens but I honestly grown to love the story and understand what the characters were going through. It is deeper to its sense, truer to its core. A strong catch where you realize that this is how it is in real life. This is an impressive story for everyone who had gone through the same mourning and grief but also taught of acceptance (from death, relationships, parenthood, to puberty) in all its complexity. I actually consider this as a must-have must-buy book.
**"Thank you NetGalley, Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and Carol Weston for providing me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest
May 19, 2021
Death. Grief. Growing up. Relationships. Surprises. These problems fill up the book, Speed of Life, as we take a deep dive into everything Sofia has experienced in the past year.
Starting from April 7th, THAT April 7th, Sofia's life has a huge chip missing: her mom. When she found her mother limp on the couch, head hanging at a weird angle, it seemed as if the whole world was falling apart. She was only thirteen.
The following year was a mess. Waterfalls of tears coming at random times, drowning Sofia in an ocean of grief and sadness. But not only that, other problems too. When Sofia found out her dad is seeing someone not even a year after her Mom's death, things just feel wrong. Mom is irreplaceable, nobody else should be able to be a Mrs Wolfe, no-one except for Mom. Luckily, there's advice available for her from Dear Kate, a local advice columnist. Of course, it all crashes down when Sofia finds out her dad's new girlfriend is Dear Kate herself. Surprises.
However, as time goes on, Sofia recovers from the death of her mother. No one can replace Mom, and Mom will never be forgotten, but the tears won't come anymore, and the crashing waves had calmed down.
This book is an amazing journey filled with sadness, humor, and many realistic life problems. When reading, it's hard to not think of the question: what will I do if my mother passed away? I personally would've coped way worse than Sofia Wolfe. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone who likes a pinch of sadness in their realistic fiction novels.
Starting from April 7th, THAT April 7th, Sofia's life has a huge chip missing: her mom. When she found her mother limp on the couch, head hanging at a weird angle, it seemed as if the whole world was falling apart. She was only thirteen.
The following year was a mess. Waterfalls of tears coming at random times, drowning Sofia in an ocean of grief and sadness. But not only that, other problems too. When Sofia found out her dad is seeing someone not even a year after her Mom's death, things just feel wrong. Mom is irreplaceable, nobody else should be able to be a Mrs Wolfe, no-one except for Mom. Luckily, there's advice available for her from Dear Kate, a local advice columnist. Of course, it all crashes down when Sofia finds out her dad's new girlfriend is Dear Kate herself. Surprises.
However, as time goes on, Sofia recovers from the death of her mother. No one can replace Mom, and Mom will never be forgotten, but the tears won't come anymore, and the crashing waves had calmed down.
This book is an amazing journey filled with sadness, humor, and many realistic life problems. When reading, it's hard to not think of the question: what will I do if my mother passed away? I personally would've coped way worse than Sofia Wolfe. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone who likes a pinch of sadness in their realistic fiction novels.
September 2, 2019
This book made it to my current list of my three favorite books! I enjoyed this book deeply. Just a warning for you people, it's a bit grown up. Anyway, in the book, the main character is very mournful of her mother's death. This is like me because when something bad happens, I spend very long mourning and praying about it, and can't seem to get over it sometimes. This is like my uncle because when his application to four ivy league colleges failed, he mourned for so long about it, and even after on the second-last day, Princeton accepted him, he still mourned. This book is great, and you should check it out at the library!
September 8, 2024
3.5 stars
Good coming-of-age novel for young adult readers.
Sofia is dealing with a maelstrom of emotions, due to all the changes happening around her. She’s still grieving over her mother’s death, has been for a long time. Her friends, sympathetic and supportive at first, now seem to want her to get over her sorrow, as if Sofia can just turn it off like a switch. Maybe, if she writes to that advice columnist Dear Katie that visited her school, Sofia just might find some answers to her difficult life questions…
This book dealt with some tough, mature issues. I would recommend it for older young adult readers only.
Good coming-of-age novel for young adult readers.
Sofia is dealing with a maelstrom of emotions, due to all the changes happening around her. She’s still grieving over her mother’s death, has been for a long time. Her friends, sympathetic and supportive at first, now seem to want her to get over her sorrow, as if Sofia can just turn it off like a switch. Maybe, if she writes to that advice columnist Dear Katie that visited her school, Sofia just might find some answers to her difficult life questions…
This book dealt with some tough, mature issues. I would recommend it for older young adult readers only.
June 21, 2017
This book is a gem! I loved the main character, Sofia, and found her endearing and an honest representation of a 14-year old girl. At times her best friend Kiki, was a bit corny, and some of the dialogue was just a bit off, but overall this book rang true to some one who spends a lot,of time with pre-teens and teens. I looked forward to reading it and thought about it when I had to put it down to actually get on with my life.
Brief Summary: Sofia is a 14-year old living in New York City. She attends a private all-girls school where her mother was a beloved Spanish teacher. Was. When the story opens in January, Sofia's mother has died 8 months ago and Sofia and her father and trying to cope with the loss and their new relationship as a two person family. Sofia and her BFF, Kiki, attend a speaker at their school, Dear Kate, who writes an advice column for teenagers. Both girls are enraptured by Dear Kate's wisdom and honesty. Later that evening, Sofia's father attends a parent session with Dear Kate. The story progresses from January to January, a Year in Sophia's Life. Sofia starts writing to Dear Kate, asking for advice she wishes she could ask her mother as she struggles with life's challenges of becoming a young woman. Dear Kate writes back in endearing and sincere letters. Sofia's father begins dating, and in the spring we learn that the "Mystery Woman" is Dear Kate! Sofia's father and Kate reconnected at the school assembly - they knew each other in high school. From there, Sofia grapples with all of the changes happening in her life and begins to navigate high school and dating - with Dear Kate by her side.
What I Liked: the story is sweet, but not sappy; heartfelt but not too deep; and the relationships are honest and real. I Liked that Sofia was only 14 turning 15; a lot of YA is about kids a few years older and the content is more mature. Speed of Life goes at Sofia's speed - one month at a time. She does not rush into dating, sex, or drinking alcohol - which I appreciated in this story. I Liked that the story was realistic and believeable.
What I Didn't Like: Not much! There were some cheesy one-liners from Kiki and Alexa, Dear Kate's daughter, but other than that, I really enjoyed this book.
Final Thoughts: this is a book I will definitely recommend to my students. I think the age recommendation of 11-15 is perfect and is the same age population of the students I work with. I think it is an appropriate read for that age group and parents will not have to worry about mature content. This story made even a 30-something get teary-eyed! Sofia was 13 when her mother died; I was 15 when my father died. I felt that her experience of adjusting to life without her mother and the life situations that come up which Sofia must figure out on her own were real.
Overall, this is a fun but touching read. I cared about the characters and was invested In their lives. I highly recommend this book to teens and adults!
** I want to sincerely thank the publisher for allowing me to read this book, courtesy of NetGalley. It was a pleasure to read and review.
Brief Summary: Sofia is a 14-year old living in New York City. She attends a private all-girls school where her mother was a beloved Spanish teacher. Was. When the story opens in January, Sofia's mother has died 8 months ago and Sofia and her father and trying to cope with the loss and their new relationship as a two person family. Sofia and her BFF, Kiki, attend a speaker at their school, Dear Kate, who writes an advice column for teenagers. Both girls are enraptured by Dear Kate's wisdom and honesty. Later that evening, Sofia's father attends a parent session with Dear Kate. The story progresses from January to January, a Year in Sophia's Life. Sofia starts writing to Dear Kate, asking for advice she wishes she could ask her mother as she struggles with life's challenges of becoming a young woman. Dear Kate writes back in endearing and sincere letters. Sofia's father begins dating, and in the spring we learn that the "Mystery Woman" is Dear Kate! Sofia's father and Kate reconnected at the school assembly - they knew each other in high school. From there, Sofia grapples with all of the changes happening in her life and begins to navigate high school and dating - with Dear Kate by her side.
What I Liked: the story is sweet, but not sappy; heartfelt but not too deep; and the relationships are honest and real. I Liked that Sofia was only 14 turning 15; a lot of YA is about kids a few years older and the content is more mature. Speed of Life goes at Sofia's speed - one month at a time. She does not rush into dating, sex, or drinking alcohol - which I appreciated in this story. I Liked that the story was realistic and believeable.
What I Didn't Like: Not much! There were some cheesy one-liners from Kiki and Alexa, Dear Kate's daughter, but other than that, I really enjoyed this book.
Final Thoughts: this is a book I will definitely recommend to my students. I think the age recommendation of 11-15 is perfect and is the same age population of the students I work with. I think it is an appropriate read for that age group and parents will not have to worry about mature content. This story made even a 30-something get teary-eyed! Sofia was 13 when her mother died; I was 15 when my father died. I felt that her experience of adjusting to life without her mother and the life situations that come up which Sofia must figure out on her own were real.
Overall, this is a fun but touching read. I cared about the characters and was invested In their lives. I highly recommend this book to teens and adults!
** I want to sincerely thank the publisher for allowing me to read this book, courtesy of NetGalley. It was a pleasure to read and review.
February 21, 2018
This was precious. As soon as I had read the summary, I was expecting a good read, and I wasn't disappointed. The story was touching, the characters were great, it was an interesting read. I especially liked how it took place over a year, with each chapter being a month is Sofia's life. And the range of emotions I felt while reading! There were so many times I was holding back tears (both from sadness and from happiness) but there were also some really funny parts - intentional or not. ("Oh no! Is the bike okay?") I thought this was well-written with good characterization. It was a quick and engrossing read, and I'd definitely recommend it.
Edit 2/21/18 - Carol Weston LIKED THIS REVIEW! AAAAA!
Edit 2/21/18 - Carol Weston LIKED THIS REVIEW! AAAAA!
June 10, 2022
1 star off for saying God might be a 'Her'. 1 star off for saying kids should *at least* kiss by 14, and it's strange if you haven't. 1 star off for saying it's okay to be in a relationship with a person the same gender as you. The two stars left are for the good writing and plot twists, but honestly, that's the only things that I like about this book, but overall, it was pretty cheesy.
***Edit for 2nd time reading***
Okay, I liked it a lot better this time. And I don't think she was really suggesting to kiss at least by 14, that's just what a couple of the characters were doing. 4 stars.
***Edit for 2nd time reading***
Okay, I liked it a lot better this time. And I don't think she was really suggesting to kiss at least by 14, that's just what a couple of the characters were doing. 4 stars.
January 6, 2018
Sofia lost her mother eight months ago and is still reeling from the loss. Her friends are supportive and try to get her out of her shell, but she's just not ready to move on yet. After an advice columnist comes to her school for an assembly, she decides to write to her to ask her questions she can't bear to run by her dad, or even her best friends. The two form a correspondence and she begins to feel better... until she uncovers a secret that turns her world upside down once again.
Speed of Life tackles a lot of hard, mature topics with finesse and even humor; just a sampling of the issues covered include going through puberty, having your first kiss, when to say no, dealing with the death of a family member, having a blended family, having a multicultural background, and changing schools/having to make new friends. Sofia goes through a lot, but she manages to remain strong, and her close relationship with her father is refreshing and heartwarming. A fairly diverse cast paints an accurate picture of New York City, and readers will have no problem rooting for Sofia through all her trials and tribulations.
The only thing I would advise is that although the book jacket says 11 and up, I would skew the recommended age for this slightly higher, only because of the subject matters covered.
Speed of Life tackles a lot of hard, mature topics with finesse and even humor; just a sampling of the issues covered include going through puberty, having your first kiss, when to say no, dealing with the death of a family member, having a blended family, having a multicultural background, and changing schools/having to make new friends. Sofia goes through a lot, but she manages to remain strong, and her close relationship with her father is refreshing and heartwarming. A fairly diverse cast paints an accurate picture of New York City, and readers will have no problem rooting for Sofia through all her trials and tribulations.
The only thing I would advise is that although the book jacket says 11 and up, I would skew the recommended age for this slightly higher, only because of the subject matters covered.
July 10, 2019
Speed of Life by Carol Weston, 329 pages. Sourcebooks, 2017. $16.99
Language: R (56 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Death is unavoidable, but you aren’t supposed to have to deal with your mother dying while you’re in middle school. Nevertheless, that is Sofia’s reality. As Sofia navigates this new world without her mother—and everything her mother would have done and would have said when her dad seems to be clueless—Sofia learns that not all change is bad, even when it is unexpected.
Speed of Life is about how life continues to change without regard for time. Sofia goes through challenges that we all have to face at some point, and I found myself relating to this 15-year-old, even though I thought I had moved passed those days. Self-doubt, family problems, and making difficult decisions in general are real struggles at every age and reading Sofia’s story gave me comfort regarding my own problems. Also, I love Sofia’s unique comparisons and epiphanies that help her (and me) find solutions and peace.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
Language: R (56 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Death is unavoidable, but you aren’t supposed to have to deal with your mother dying while you’re in middle school. Nevertheless, that is Sofia’s reality. As Sofia navigates this new world without her mother—and everything her mother would have done and would have said when her dad seems to be clueless—Sofia learns that not all change is bad, even when it is unexpected.
Speed of Life is about how life continues to change without regard for time. Sofia goes through challenges that we all have to face at some point, and I found myself relating to this 15-year-old, even though I thought I had moved passed those days. Self-doubt, family problems, and making difficult decisions in general are real struggles at every age and reading Sofia’s story gave me comfort regarding my own problems. Also, I love Sofia’s unique comparisons and epiphanies that help her (and me) find solutions and peace.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2019...
December 13, 2016
Luckily, I read this book early because my bookstore had an ARC (advanced reader's copy) and let me grab it! As a mom, I can tell you that it’s perfect for that tween age. Not a kid novel, but not a young adult novel either (and yes, I know many kids are 12 going on 20). Speed of Life follows one year in the life of a girl who lost her mother eight months earlier and now befriends an advice columnist. I was a big fan of the author’s first book, Girltalk: All the Stuff Your Sister Never Told You, and my daughter liked her magazine column.
With her usual wit and wisdom, Carol Weston creates two very real teen girls (one sensitive eighth grader, one angry high school freshman), a widowed gynecologist father, and an advice columnist who gets way more involved than anyone imagined. Oh, and there’s Sam,15, a boy who has been rushed in the past and who is hoping for something more meaningful with Sofia. I see this as an ideal read (and re-read) for girls 11 to 14. It's just THAT good.
With her usual wit and wisdom, Carol Weston creates two very real teen girls (one sensitive eighth grader, one angry high school freshman), a widowed gynecologist father, and an advice columnist who gets way more involved than anyone imagined. Oh, and there’s Sam,15, a boy who has been rushed in the past and who is hoping for something more meaningful with Sofia. I see this as an ideal read (and re-read) for girls 11 to 14. It's just THAT good.
August 30, 2017
This summer, I read Carol Weston's book while sipping morning coffee at the cottage. It was a perfect kick off to my summer. Carol's characters are immediately likeable. The situations portrayed are realistic and allow a parent to step inside the emotional world of a tweens grief over the death of her mother, her own first love, parental dating, moving, step-sibling and moving along.
I hope you'll take the time to read her book as an enjoyable work of fiction that will surly provide educational insights on teens and loss.
Alyson
I hope you'll take the time to read her book as an enjoyable work of fiction that will surly provide educational insights on teens and loss.
Alyson
January 9, 2017
I read this book as prep for an upcoming podcast and I was absolutely blown away by how attached to these characters I was. The book is for pre-teen to early teenagers but I would recommend that readers of any age pick this up. It teaches young kids how to handle loss (the death of a parent) and I think it also will help adults better understand what is going through the mind of teens as they deal with difficult situations.
May 20, 2021
“Sometimes life ends when you don’t want it to, and sometimes it starts when you don’t want it to.”
Transition. Change. Acceptance.
Death was inevitable as we all say. It takes a lot of courage, a lot of time to heal wounds and a lot of time to bring back the pieces of a shattered heart. But even so, once broken nothing can make it as whole as it is. It just gets better and stronger the next time it gets the pace of pain, hurt and sorrow.
Speed of Life is a story talking about life after a death of someone you love and care about. It is a story of a fourteen year old girl named Sofia Wolfe whose mother died and life was never been easy. Who said it will be? Everyday is a day to cope and accept that no matter what happen, life must go on even if it's hard. Even if she didn't want to because she has to.
“I knew what was coming. And I knew that everything kept going, ready or not. Real life wasn’t like watching a movie on a laptop. You couldn’t press Pause or Rewind or Skip or Start Over. Life barely skipped a beat for Death. The planet never slowed down to let people absorb a shock or play catch- up. It just kept spinning and spinning.”
And then there's this flicker of hope.
“The end of one chapter,” I told him, “is the beginning of the next.”
A start of something new. A new relationships, a new adjustment, a new sister, a new school.
When she found out that her Doctor Dad was dating the only person she could talk about her mom, Dear Kate, the columnist at Fifteen magazine. Sofia confided with her, felt a connection and consider her as a friend. Would it felt really weird to make the confession that she's Catlover99 who refer to her Dad's girlfriend, the Mystery Woman? How about dealing with Kate's daughter Alexa and her bitchy personality? Could they be an instant family?
Death. Change. These are the two things in life that is hard to deal with. It gets easier everyday. But there were moments in life that will last forever. Moments that will split your life into Before and After . Where there is hope that everything will get better, that good things happen too.
"In science that day, Dr. Pavlica had mentioned the speed of light, and I’d heard “the speed of life.” While he was going on about E = mc², I was thinking again about how crazy it is that life just speeds along, sunrise after sunrise, season after season. Whether you’re totally miserable or insanely happy, the months keep coming, crashing like waves. There are no do-overs, no backsies, and bad stuff happens.
I understand what the characters were going through through this book. It is deeper to its sense, truer to its core. A strong catch where you realize that this is how it is in real life. This is an impressive story for everyone who had gone through the same mourning and grief but also taught of acceptance
in all its complexity.
Transition. Change. Acceptance.
Death was inevitable as we all say. It takes a lot of courage, a lot of time to heal wounds and a lot of time to bring back the pieces of a shattered heart. But even so, once broken nothing can make it as whole as it is. It just gets better and stronger the next time it gets the pace of pain, hurt and sorrow.
Speed of Life is a story talking about life after a death of someone you love and care about. It is a story of a fourteen year old girl named Sofia Wolfe whose mother died and life was never been easy. Who said it will be? Everyday is a day to cope and accept that no matter what happen, life must go on even if it's hard. Even if she didn't want to because she has to.
“I knew what was coming. And I knew that everything kept going, ready or not. Real life wasn’t like watching a movie on a laptop. You couldn’t press Pause or Rewind or Skip or Start Over. Life barely skipped a beat for Death. The planet never slowed down to let people absorb a shock or play catch- up. It just kept spinning and spinning.”
And then there's this flicker of hope.
“The end of one chapter,” I told him, “is the beginning of the next.”
A start of something new. A new relationships, a new adjustment, a new sister, a new school.
When she found out that her Doctor Dad was dating the only person she could talk about her mom, Dear Kate, the columnist at Fifteen magazine. Sofia confided with her, felt a connection and consider her as a friend. Would it felt really weird to make the confession that she's Catlover99 who refer to her Dad's girlfriend, the Mystery Woman? How about dealing with Kate's daughter Alexa and her bitchy personality? Could they be an instant family?
Death. Change. These are the two things in life that is hard to deal with. It gets easier everyday. But there were moments in life that will last forever. Moments that will split your life into Before and After . Where there is hope that everything will get better, that good things happen too.
"In science that day, Dr. Pavlica had mentioned the speed of light, and I’d heard “the speed of life.” While he was going on about E = mc², I was thinking again about how crazy it is that life just speeds along, sunrise after sunrise, season after season. Whether you’re totally miserable or insanely happy, the months keep coming, crashing like waves. There are no do-overs, no backsies, and bad stuff happens.
I understand what the characters were going through through this book. It is deeper to its sense, truer to its core. A strong catch where you realize that this is how it is in real life. This is an impressive story for everyone who had gone through the same mourning and grief but also taught of acceptance
in all its complexity.
June 13, 2022
I like this story itself a lot, but I don't agree with most of the things characters deemed okay and normal. So Christian girls, DO NOT READ THIS!! It just doesn't meet my moral standards.
April 22, 2017
The 411:
This is a story that called for me to read it. I couldn't put this book down even in the middle of my very busy mommy, work and blog life. There is so much I love about a girl named Sofia who like me lost her mom as a young teenager. I was going on 12. At times I found myself re-reading passages as I remember those firsts without my mom. Oddly enough the dates resonated with me. Sofia's mom died April 8th. So did my mom. Her mom's birthday was in June. So was my mom's. Sofia and Maria rhyme. OK maybe it seems like a stretch to you but that little 11 year old Motherless daughter is still living in me and I visited with her a few times during my reading this book.
When Sofia meets Advice Columnist Kate her life changes. She not only has a confident, someone she say everything she is thinking to but suddenly her dad starts dating her. What is she to do when the person she has told her deepest feelings to is now in her life face to face?
The characters are well written and real. This is a funny, sarcastic filled with heart. I have read other reviews on Speed Of Life and know some were shocked by the fact that Sofia didn't push against the changes in her life or even her father starting to date early. I can tell you as the daughter of a grieving father the last thing you wanted was to upset him more or see him cry another day. Anything that would help him not grieve was OK. Sofia is not an angsty teen so she would not push against these changes.
There is a romance in the book when Sofia meets Sam but it is the perfect first romance. I would be OK with my new 12 year old reading this book. There relationship is perfectly innocent.
It is no wonder Carol still is the Advice Columnist at Girl's Life and has been since 1994. She has a youthful way of writing that crosses across the generational lines. I think my 12 year old would love this book as much as I have at 50. Whether you associate with Sofia or Kate in this story you will love it!
This is a story that called for me to read it. I couldn't put this book down even in the middle of my very busy mommy, work and blog life. There is so much I love about a girl named Sofia who like me lost her mom as a young teenager. I was going on 12. At times I found myself re-reading passages as I remember those firsts without my mom. Oddly enough the dates resonated with me. Sofia's mom died April 8th. So did my mom. Her mom's birthday was in June. So was my mom's. Sofia and Maria rhyme. OK maybe it seems like a stretch to you but that little 11 year old Motherless daughter is still living in me and I visited with her a few times during my reading this book.
When Sofia meets Advice Columnist Kate her life changes. She not only has a confident, someone she say everything she is thinking to but suddenly her dad starts dating her. What is she to do when the person she has told her deepest feelings to is now in her life face to face?
The characters are well written and real. This is a funny, sarcastic filled with heart. I have read other reviews on Speed Of Life and know some were shocked by the fact that Sofia didn't push against the changes in her life or even her father starting to date early. I can tell you as the daughter of a grieving father the last thing you wanted was to upset him more or see him cry another day. Anything that would help him not grieve was OK. Sofia is not an angsty teen so she would not push against these changes.
There is a romance in the book when Sofia meets Sam but it is the perfect first romance. I would be OK with my new 12 year old reading this book. There relationship is perfectly innocent.
It is no wonder Carol still is the Advice Columnist at Girl's Life and has been since 1994. She has a youthful way of writing that crosses across the generational lines. I think my 12 year old would love this book as much as I have at 50. Whether you associate with Sofia or Kate in this story you will love it!
March 24, 2017
Reading Sofia's story brought me instantly back to my days of pouring over YM and Seventeen magazines in the early 90s ~ all of the angst and uncertainty combined with absolute hope that growing up would make life easier, and that magazines and advice columns could decode the entire process. This book is about grief, to be sure, but it's at the same time an incredibly happy book, as Sofia manages to miss and remember her mom so poignantly while finally experiencing a whole new life. I loved the authenticity the author's educational background in Spanish brought to the story, and Sofia's connection to her and her mother's shared Spanish heritage gave the story additional depth. Growing up, death, divorce and moving on are all difficult topics, but Weston manages to write them in a way that leaves readers smiling and hopeful.
I received a digital ARC of this book for review ~ all opinions are my own.
I received a digital ARC of this book for review ~ all opinions are my own.
December 25, 2016
I LOVED Speed of Life. When I was halfway through, I started thinking: I really care about these characters: I want to be part of their journey; I want them to find a happy ending. I was hoping the author could pull it off and I'm very glad to say that Speed of Life finishes perfectly. I highly recommend this novel and I imagine it would be especially ideal for a girl who has lost someone she loved--or for that matter a reader experiencing love for the first time.
Special bonus: Speed of Life gives the reader an inside look at a teenager's life in New York City, specifically on the upper west side of Manhattan. Kids live differently there, but it turns out they face the same challenges as kids everywhere. Very cool.
Special bonus: Speed of Life gives the reader an inside look at a teenager's life in New York City, specifically on the upper west side of Manhattan. Kids live differently there, but it turns out they face the same challenges as kids everywhere. Very cool.
March 14, 2017
I took my ARC on a family weekend getaway and had just gotten started when my 14 year old niece found it and asked if she could read it. Her Mom had been complaining that she had only been reading required school books (versus for pleasure) the last year or so. As you can see from the attached picture at the airport, I don’t think she put it down from the time she started till the time she finished. She texted me a fairly long text with her feedback… Couple of comments I pulled from the notes were:
“It was really great how the author was able to seamlessly transition from a sad moment about loss and grief to a funny or heartwarming moment:
“I really loved the book and how relate-able it was to girls my age”
“It was really great how the author was able to seamlessly transition from a sad moment about loss and grief to a funny or heartwarming moment:
“I really loved the book and how relate-able it was to girls my age”
March 26, 2017
This is a great book for any young teenager that is dealing with the death of a parent. Sophia is learning to live without her mom. Just when she is getting use to it being just her and her dad, her dad starts to date someone new. Sophia’s world is turned upside down yet again.
I got so lost in this book I read it in a day. Thankfully I never had to experience what Sophia did. My heart did go out to her though and all the other characters. I didn’t want the book to end. This is a great coming of age book for preteen/young teens.
The author is also the author of the book Girl Talk. I remember reading that book when I was young many many moons ago.
I received this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions in this review are 100% my own.
I got so lost in this book I read it in a day. Thankfully I never had to experience what Sophia did. My heart did go out to her though and all the other characters. I didn’t want the book to end. This is a great coming of age book for preteen/young teens.
The author is also the author of the book Girl Talk. I remember reading that book when I was young many many moons ago.
I received this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions in this review are 100% my own.
July 6, 2017
When I requested this book, it was listed as YA, however, I felt that it could be seen as a book for a younger age. Definitely not a child's novel by any means due to the content, but 11-12 would be a good starting point.
I found myself really getting attached to the characters, and I found my heart breaking for Sophia. It's an excellent read for those who are going through a significant loss in their lives, and how you can cope with big changes ie. a parent dating again, or changing schools. You find that Sophia's friends have a hard time understanding her pain and will continuously try to push her towards something she isn't quite ready for.
I'd definitely recommend this book to others, and certainly wouldn't push aside the thought of reading it again!
I found myself really getting attached to the characters, and I found my heart breaking for Sophia. It's an excellent read for those who are going through a significant loss in their lives, and how you can cope with big changes ie. a parent dating again, or changing schools. You find that Sophia's friends have a hard time understanding her pain and will continuously try to push her towards something she isn't quite ready for.
I'd definitely recommend this book to others, and certainly wouldn't push aside the thought of reading it again!
December 8, 2016
I really liked how the main character is so real. It’s a year and a day in the life of a girl who goes from age 14 to age 15, middle school to high school. Sofia’s mother died when she was 13, and her friends don’t get that this is not something she’s going to get over right away. They live in New York City and push her to go out and have fun but Sofia doesn’t feel ready. She starts writing to an advice columnist (the author of the book is an advice columnist) and the book has some fun surprises that I didn’t see coming and that I won’t spoil for you. I will say this though: I really liked Sam and don’t blame Sofia for falling for him!
January 4, 2017
*NOTE* I got an e-book arc of this book from the lovely people at Netgalley
Wow, what an amazing diverse book. Being half Spanish my self this books is very important. It follows Sofia, who is half Spanish, as she goes thru a new life without a mom. It will make you laugh, cry, laugh, and then cry again. I cried on the first chapter and the last one. Please go buy this book when it comes out! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE. Carol, I am so feliz for you!
Wow, what an amazing diverse book. Being half Spanish my self this books is very important. It follows Sofia, who is half Spanish, as she goes thru a new life without a mom. It will make you laugh, cry, laugh, and then cry again. I cried on the first chapter and the last one. Please go buy this book when it comes out! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE. Carol, I am so feliz for you!
February 3, 2018
The narrator of this story is Sofia, a fourteen-year-old girl whose mother died eight months before the story begins. Over the next year Sofia is healing from this loss and dealing with many changes, including her father beginning a relationship with someone else. The book touches on several issues including abortion and teenage relationships in a straight forward non-judgemental way. I would recommend to 6th grade and up.
March 8, 2017
What a fresh and funny book! I loved the main character Sofia, a 14yo who is grieving the death of her mother. When her father starts dating an advice columnist that Sofia herself has reached out to for advice via email, Sofia has to sort through all the emotions of watching her father move on when she still misses her mom so much. A great, relatable story filled with humor and heart.
June 1, 2017
loved this book. perfect combination of tragedy and love. although it was slightly predictable, it was still well written enough that i wanted to keep flipping the pages. Loved how she really gave each character a unique personality and stuck with it the whole time
March 24, 2017
Carol Weston writes with so much charm and realness, we'll read anything she writes. After enjoying the Ava and Pip books so much, we're excited for more from Weston. Can't wait to get it!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 264 reviews