#BookReview: Speed of Life by J.M. Kelly

Synopsis: 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.



Goodreads | Amazon

Rating: 3 Stars
My Review: The only part of this one that I really enjoyed what the dynamics of the sisters and how their relationship grew over the course of the story.   The rest of it was kind of meh.  I would say that this one is a take it or leave it kind of story and if you decide to check this one out I would do so through your local library.  

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—Twin sisters Amber and Crystal want to be the first in their family to graduate from high school, get better jobs, and move to a safer neighborhood. But when Amber gets pregnant in their junior year, they decide to become a family unit to support each other and the baby. At the beginning of their senior year, Crystal's good grades put her on the radar of the new guidance counselor, who plants the idea that college isn't out of her reach. Crystal starts to think that there is more to life than just struggling and that maybe she can create an even better life for herself and her family. This is a good read about a theme not found in many young adult books; poverty is front and center. It adequately addresses some issues but misses other important topics that lower-income students deal with while applying for colleges (such as fee waivers). The twins' push to make a better life for themselves will resonate with some teens. There is a twist that doesn't seem necessary, but it doesn't detract from the overall plot. VERDICT The subject and the teen's efforts to succeed make this a good purchase for libraries, especially those looking for realistic fiction that addresses class disparity.—Faythe Arredondo, Tulare County Library, CA

Review

"Kelly presents a realistic, yet hopeful, portrayal of teen pregnancy... the characters’ struggles to rise up, discover their identities, and raise a baby remains emotional and utterly believable." — Booklist   "...Crystal is a sympathetic and original protagonist, and readers hanging in for the possible revelation of secrets may be pleased to find more than expected." —Bulletin   "...the book remains a believable portrait of blue-collar teens struggling to make it work against tough odds." —Publishers Weekly   "The subject and the teen’s efforts to succeed make this a good purchase for libraries, especially those looking for realistic fiction that addresses class disparity." —School Library Journal   "Crystal's struggles with independence and identity are realistic and palpable. Feminist readers in particular will appreciate this strong young woman who doesn't conform to gender norms." —Kirkus   “I loved this book. I wanted to invite Crystal and Amber over to my house where I could make them a nice dinner and then help them figure out their lives while we enjoyed pie. Speed of Life grabs ahold of your heart on page one and doesn’t let go even after you’ve turned the final page.” —Eileen Cook, author of With Malice   —

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Posted in: 3 Stars, Clarion Books, Review, Young Adult