Riley Weston

I have very mixed feelings about this book. A small part of me liked it, but the majority of me hated it. Hate is strong word but I strongly disliked over half of this book. I am honestly surprised I even finished it.

To be honest, you could rip about half of the book out and not miss anything. The book starts off okay. It tells the story of a young girl who loves to skate. The problem is that you read about nothing but her skating for over half the book. There are several chapters that basically repeat themselves.

Another problem is that Madison is not a person I would ever want to meet. Her character is so unlikable throughout most of this book that it is nearly unbearable. If her rude remarks and terrible attitude started after her diagnosis, I would probably understand. But no, Madison has always been a snotty little brat who cares only for herself.

Madison isn't the only unlikable character either. Her parents are both rather loathsome in their own way. Annie is just as rude and immature as her 16 year old daughter. David means well but is a sad push over who can't properly stand up for himself. He allows himself to be pushed aside and very nearly forgotten by wife and daughter and therefore plays no real role in the story.

There is one character that is very likable, however. This is perhaps the main reason I continued reading. The one decent, redeeming thing this book has to offer is Jackson. Jackson is one of those extremely talented and popular kids. But not one of those that lets his talent and popularity go to his head. He is, in fact, Madison's only friend. I spent the entirety of this book feeling sorry for Jackson. Everything he did was for Madison. Even though she treated him like complete dirt most of the time. Even in the end when you're supposed to believe that Madison has done something amazing for Jack, you soon realize that it was actually for Madison. And yet no matter how many times Madison blew him off or stood him up, he was always right there when Madison needed him. I think the saddest part of the book was actually watching Jackson throw his entire future away for a spoiled, awful girl who had never done anything for him… (plus d'informations)

Reviewed by Safia Abdul for TeensReadToo.com

For Madison and her mother, ice skating has been their life. Madison started figure skating when she was three, and now, at sixteen, she is well on her way to her Olympic dream, thanks to coaching from her mother, a former ice star. Their skater-coach, daughter-mother relationship has been through it all, from heated disagreements to tough decisions, but nevertheless they are a winning duo headed for success.

Shine as Madison does on ice, she isn't popular at school and doesn't fit in well with the cliques. Her only friend is Jackson, her lifelong buddy who does fit in very well with the group and is a popular athlete at school. Their friendship is priceless, but Madison doesn't even know the extent of Jackson's feelings for her.

Then when Madison's strange dizzy spells turn into their worse fears, Madison just may have to say goodbye to the ice and to everyone she loves.

Although a little rusty, this is a wonderful debut novel from author/screenwriter Riley Weston. I greatly enjoyed this emotional novel with the complex, loving bonds between the characters and the different struggles they all faced in the end. Overall, it was a heart-touching read in the same style as Lurene McDaniel's and Nicholas Sparks's novels.… (plus d'informations)