before i go

Riley Weston
Campfire Press (2006)
ISBN 10: 09779543
ISBN 13: 9780977954322
Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (8/06)

This is a beautifully written book about love, courage and relationships.  As Riley Weston’s first novel, it is hardly the young author’s first writing experience.  Beginning her career as a writer for the show Felicity, she also has sold several scripts for movies and is an accomplished actress.  This book proves that she is also going to be a great novelist as well. 

From the time Madison Henry puts on her ice skates at the age of five she knows one thing, she was born to skate.  Now at sixteen she has devoted her whole life to endless training for the Olympics. Trained by her mom, she practices 5-6 hours a day before and after school.  It all pays off when she puts on the performance of her life at the Nationals.  The excitement hits an all time high when her Mom tells her that she will be performing in front of the Olympic committee.  That’s when tragedy strikes and Madison soon learns that she will never be able to compete again. 

Because she was always skating or catching up on homework, Madison is on the outside at school.  Now as she faces the most important time in her life her one and only friend since she was 6 years old is trying to show his true feelings for her.  Jack Wellington, an athletic and popular student, has only ever had eyes for his best friend and as the story unfolds he does a remarkable job showing Madison just how he feels about her. 

“Before I Go” goes into great depth about the unusual relationship that Madison has with her mother Annie.  As Madison’s coach and mother, they spend most of their waking moments together.  Weston does a great job portraying their relationship as they have good times but also have typical mother and teenager struggles.  Annie and her husband have also made huge sacrifices so that Madison would be able to realize her dream of skating in the Olympics.  Annie and Madison have a strong bond to the end, but that bond is tried almost to the breaking point as Annie helps Madison face what is coming. 

I had a hard time putting this book down once I started reading it.   As I was finishing it at 3 a.m. with a box of tissues in hand I did not want the story to end.  I look forward to reading Riley Weston’s future novels.  This book is not just for teenage girls, all women, especially mothers with teenage girls would enjoy reading it.  It is such a beautiful story that it would also make a great movie. 

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