• Age: 13 to 18
• Grade: 8 to 12

How do you go on after making a life-altering discovery about yourself?

Sophie St. John’s grandmother, a world-renowned writer, may be as talented as she is rude, but Sophie is just Sophie: clumsy, emotional, and prone to outbursts.

When she stars in a class play based on her grandmother’s famous novel and then comes across an old legal case while doing research for homework, Sophie uncovers a profound, devastating, life-changing secret — a secret her parents have kept from her since birth.

Faced with a revelation that changes her entire future, Sophie must confront her dysfunctional family, ponder her life goals, and summon the courage to finally start living on her own terms.

Alison Hughes is the award-winning author of twenty books for children and young adults. Her YA novel Hit the Ground Running was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Awards. Hughes’ works have also won the R. Ross Annett Award and the Writers’ Union of Canada Writing for Children Award, and have been nominated for numerous provincial children’s choice awards. Hughes is a university writing advisor and gives workshops and presentations at schools, libraries, conferences and festivals. She lives in Edmonton, Alberta.

Alison Hughes' profile page

“This moody, feisty, clumsy character may prod her young adult readers into looking at their own lives, perhaps realizing just how precious their time is and how important it is for all of us to live our lives fully each and every day.”

Canadian Review of Materials

“Alison Hughes has crafted a narrative so deeply excruciating and beautiful it defied my initial expectations. I will not spoil the story as it is one that you absolutely must read.”

Canadian Review of Materials

“The character of Sophie is intelligent, and readers will recognize her struggles of trying to fit in, meet others’ expectations of her, and how she reacts to discovering life altering information. … Life Expectancy would be appropriate for any young adult reader, especially in helping readers understand how others may be affected by serious illness or other situations that aren’t happening directly ‘to them,’ and foster understanding and compassion.”

Meagan Richards, <em>Canadian Children’s Book News</em>