Letters to Julia

--After taking her teacher's suggestion to write to a friend's sister, Julia Jones, an editor in New York, fifteen-year-old Elizabeth Beech is surprised and pleased to receive a reply. The two develop a close relationship which is backboned by Liz's confusing life which is echoed in her writing, and Julia's thoughts on her childhood, which has started to come back to her more than ever since Julia's parents have been in the hospital and she has gained control of the house she grew up in. --Since I am a writer and want to write novels when I grow up, I could identify with nearly everything said in this imaginative and nicely written novel. --Marisa

I thought that Letters to Julia was a wonderful book. I liked how you wrote in three different ways. I also liked it how you really developed Liz and Julia's friendship and then we slowly saw it break apart.

If you know a young, aspiring author or artistic child, this is a book to share with him/her. 15 year-old Liz Beech begins a two year correspondence with Julia Steward Jones, a New York City editor. Their correspondence rapidly turns into a deep friendship, one which enriches and sustains them both through difficult times. Liz gains perspective about not only her writing talent, but her wacky, disfunctional family. Julia derives comfort from her young friend as she deals with the death of her aged parents and comes to terms with her own life choices. Anyone who dreams of publishing a book or just communicating with the world through the written word will be able to relate to these characters. Liz grows into a thoughtful young adult from a tortured adolescent. Julia reconnects with dreams she had as a younger woman, while reconciling herself to the inevitability of aging and dying. Readers, too, will grow and reconnect with their pasts from reading LETTERS TO JULIA.

This is the kind of book I wish I could have written/read when I was 12 and in my "I'm going to be an author" phase. The voice of the characters rang true, and the style of writing (letters, journal entries and chapters in progress) was fast paced and interesting.

This book puts into words feelings I have had for a long time but could not articulate. It doesn't matter that the plot might be far-fetched or at times melodramatic to some people. Suspend your disbelief to enjoy this lovely story about a 15-year old girl's coming of age through both her writing and her relationship with an editor. All teenage, and maybe even adult writers, should read this book to remind them why they write. Why do we? Because it makes us feel like our "soul is soaring."