STARTING FROM HERE

A young adult novel from Marshall Cavendish, coming August 7, 2012
Preorder now: Indiebound | Barnes & Noble | Amazon
ISBN 13: 9780761462330

Sixteen-year-old Colby Bingham’s heart has been broken too many times. Her mother is dead, her truck driver father is always away, and her almost girlfriend just dumped her for a guy. When an injured stray dog lands at her feet, she decides to care for it, against her better judgment. 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?

Advance Praise

“Here’s a winner of a first novel, vivid and honest, with a fast-moving plot and a cast (including a lovable dog) that leaps off the page and is headed by an appealing and realistically flawed protagonist whose struggles lead her to growth, understanding, and hope.”
—Nancy Garden, author of Annie on My Mind and Endgame

“Colby is an original—you’ll root for her as she tries to outrun her fears. Bigelow’s book takes a poignant look at moving on after loss.”
—Ellen Wittlinger, author of Parrotfish and Hard Love

“Can saving a dog’s life make you want to save your own? Wry, sad, and subtly, sweetly sexy, Starting from Here is a breath of fresh air in a storm of vampires and zombies, the kind of compulsively readable, realistic story of love lost and love found you’ll want to read over and over again.”
—Laura Ruby, author of Good Girls

“Starting from Here is full of heart. There’s romance, pain, and humor, characters you’ll quickly care about, and an ending that feels perfect. I didn’t want to stop reading. Don’t miss this one!”
—Cheryl Rainfield, author of Scars