Starting From Here

Sixteen-year-old Colby Bingham�s heart has been broken too many times. Her mother has been dead for almost two years, her truck driver father is always away, her almost girlfriend just dumped her for a guy, and now she�s failing chemistry. When a stray dog lands literally at her feet, bleeding and broken on a busy road, it seems like the Universe has it in for Colby. But the incident also knocks a chink in the walls she�s built around her heart. Against her better judgment, she decides to care for the dog. But new connections mean new opportunities for heartbreak. Terrified of another loss, Colby bolts at the first sign of trouble, managing to alienate her best friend, her father, the cute girl pursing her, and even her dog�s vet, who�s taken Colby under her wing. Colby can�t start over, but can she learn how to move on? From Publishers Weekly In the two years since 16-year-old Colby�s mother died, Colby�s grades have slipped, and her father�s nonstop work as a trucker leaves her to fend for herself most of the time. When Colby�s girlfriend dumps her for a guy, it�s the last straw; Colby is distraught and defensive, and she further isolates herself by avoiding the gay-straight alliance meetings at school as well as her best friend Van. Things begin to change for the better when she adopts and forms an intense attachment to a three-legged stray dog. Colby befriends a vet and finds a new love interest, but neither of the girls has come out to her parents, and Colby is reluctant to open her heart again. Debut author Bigelow capably captures a teen�s fears of abandonment and judgment, as well as the often wobbly path toward developing a sexual identity, through Colby�s pragmatic perspective. This voice-driven coming-of-age story offers a relatable glimpse at the value of honesty in relationships and of showing one�s authentic self to the world. Ages 14�up. (Aug.) From Booklist Sixteen going on seventeen isn�t so sweet for Colby. In the two years since her mother�s death, her father has been on the road driving his big rig in every direction but toward her. She�s become increasingly withdrawn and unfocused, and she is edging far too close to failing out of school. And the cherry atop her misery sundae? Her girlfriend, her first love, dumped her for a boy. There are some bright spots, however, including her best friend, Van, and her beloved dog, Mo, both of whom give her the unconditional love she craves. Bigelow effectively shapes a narrative of a girl adrift in her own loneliness. Colby has a suitcase full of issues, and while being closeted is one of them, it�s her inability to deal with her frustrated grieving process that poisons every relationship, even one with a new potential girlfriend. Though the book at times meanders�the occasional online chat�styled dialogue doesn�t help�it is a mostly winning and amiable debut. Grades 9-12. --Courtney Jones Sixteen-year-old Colby Bingham's heart has been broken too many times. Her mother has been dead for almost two years, her truck driver father is always away, her almost girlfriend just dumped her for a guy, and now she's failing chemistry. When a stray dog lands literally at her feet, bleeding and broken on a busy road, it seems like the Universe has it in for Colby. But the incident also knocks a chink in the walls she's built around her heart. Against her better judgment, she decides to care for the dog. But new connections mean new opportunities for heartbreak. Terrified of another loss, Colby bolts at the first sign of trouble, managing to alienate her best friend, her father, the cute girl pursuing her, and even her dog's vet, who's taken Colby under her wing. Colby can't start over, but can she learn how to move on? Sixteen-year-old Colby Is Barely Hanging On With Her Mother Dead, Her Long-haul Trucker Father Often Away, Her Almost-girlfriend Dumping Her For A Boy, And Her Failing Grades, When A Stray Dog Appears And Helps Her Find Hope.