“Loco” has always seemed like a better word than “crazy.” The way it bounces along reminds me of how I feel when everything changes too fast, or when there’s so much going on that my brain is spinning. So when 15-year-old Alicia came into my head and insisted that I write a book about the way her world went crazy, My Loco Life seemed like the perfect title.

Alicia’s life is loco because:

*     She’s just moved to a new town, new school, and new family—changes that most foster kids are far too familiar with.

*    She wishes she knew about her Latina heritage, but knowing she was abandoned at age three makes it hard for her to learn Spanish.

*    She’s fighting her attraction to Hector, who already has a super-witch of a girlfriend named Brianna.

So Alicia has a lot on her plate, but she also has two major things going for her:

*      She knows how to make friends and how to be a good friend

*    She has a passion for designing beautiful clothes and a good shot at winning a fashion design contest.

Whenever things get too crazy in Alicia’s life, she calms down by spending time with her friends and by losing herself in a design project.

So what about you? Everyone’s life gets crazy at times, and everyone needs something to be passionate about. Are you a budding designer like Alicia? Or maybe just a clothes lover with a talent for putting crazy outfits together? Post a description of your perfect date outfit (including shoes and accessories, of course!) in the Book Talk segment of the message boards, and you’ll be entered to win an autographed copy of MY LOCO LIFE as well as an assortment of lip glosses. So throw open your closet door and get creative!