Before I Go: A Novel

By Riley Weston and Alex Brown

Book Overview

Sixteen-year-old Madison Henry has been skating as long as she's been walking. Coached by her mother, Annie, she is on her way to the Olympics. When tragedy strikes unexpectedly, Madison is forced to... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0977954323
• ISBN13: 9780977954322
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: Campfire Pr
• Length: 403 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 1.3" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

before I go by Riley Weston. Once I started this book - I could not put it down!!!

I could not put this book down! This book is not only a great book for teens to read; it is one for all ages! A good reminder of how our lives are all entwined and how very precious life is! After reading, I ordered several more books for my granddaughters.

An Absolutely Wonderful Book!!

Every once in a while a book comes along that moves you in a way that words simply can't describe. Before I Go is THAT book, the one that reaches into your soul, touches and envelops your heart and soul and has such a strong impact on your emotions that you find yourself truly moved and changed forever. Finally, a book that is real, that deals with real life subject matter, takes you on a wonderful and heartbreaking journey and does not sell out for a happy ending. Before I Go is the story of a 16 year old figure skater, Madison, who is coached by her mother, taking her protégé to the Olympics. We see the trials and tribulations of a mother/daughter relationship and the will of the human spirit. We see a young girl fall in love for the first time, learn of sudden tragedy in her life and witness a mother who will sacrifice anything and everything for her young daughter. This book has it all; humor, heart, and moments where you almost find yourself listening to an actual conversation, rather than reading a book. This book reads as though you are watching a great classic movie. One moment I was laughing hysterically, the next moment I was so overcome with emotion, I wanted to reach out and comfort the characters. For those of you who are looking for a cheap, light summer beach read, this book is not for you. This book deals with serious subject matter, real life scenarios and will surly make you feel as though you have found, then lost a best friend or sibling. I absolutely loved this novel and would highly recommend it to mothers, daughters and is a must read for every book club looking for a book that will inspire great discussions and debate. Warning: Once you start reading this book you won't be able to stop. And make sure you have a box of kleenex at your side.

Tears and Laughs until the final page... incredible

What starts out to be the story of a figure skating champion and her coach on their way to glory, becomes a beautiful and awakening tale of real friendship and love. Before I Go is the account of Maddison Henry. She is a girl with big dreams that are nearly within her reach, but then reality comes crashes in and pulls her out of the clouds. Priorities are rearranged... No more Olympics- how about living to see tomorrow? Be prepared for many tears... it's a real heart-breaker. This love story is a definite must read for teens and adults alike.

Before I go....

Wow. I picked up this book yesterday with the mentality of it begin 300 pages filled with boring ice skating garbage. I was so wrong...this was such a wonderful book. I picked it up at about 7 in the morning and couldn't put it down until I finished that night. I'm sixteen and it was so eye opening to see this girl struggling against a disease she never knew she had. I don't think I can say enough about this...I love love love the ending I cried ab out 3 times throughout. Amazing.

A beautiful story of love and courage

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.

Iced Dreams

An excellent debut from Riley Weston, telling the story of a mother and daughter brought together by an Olympic ice-skating dream. A sports themed novel with a difference, the story revolves around the two extremely strong female characters, mother and daughter, coach and protégé, both strong willed and ambitious. Annie once had an Olympic dream of her own, but now lives to see her daughter Madison on the podium with the five rings. Driving both herself and Madison relentlessly, Annie schedules multiple practice sessions every day at the local rink, beginning before daybreak and again into the night. Between her working hours as a nurse and Madison's school curriculum, the stress is telling on them both, but neither even considers giving up. Madison's success is all that matters, and even though this means that Annie's relationship with her husband is strained and the finances of the family are in bad shape, she will stop at nothing to realize their mutual dream. Because of this schedule, Madison has no time for friends or extra-curricular activities, but she does have one person other than her parents whom she can count on, and that's Jack, her childhood friend and confidante. Things finally start coming together when Madison wins the qualifying tournament for the Olympics, but the celebration is cut short when unforeseen circumstances cause everything to unravel. Family ties and friendships are sorely tested as Madison faces life without skating, and Annie and Jack bend over backwards to accommodate her every wish, only to be rebuffed and closed out as Madison retreats into herself. Only when Madison finally understands the extent of her mother's sacrifice and the true nature of Jack's feelings for her does she finally realize how lucky she really is. This tear jerker covers life, love and loss, and especially the special bond that exists between mother and daughter. Rated: 4.5 stars Amanda Richards, September 19, 2006