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The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt #1
Me, Just Different
Getting a fresh start is harder than it looks.
Skylar Hoyt is a girl who seems to have it all—she's pretty, popular, and has a great-looking boyfriend. Her senior year should be the best one yet. But a horrible experience at a summer party has changed everything. Now she's vowing to make better choices, including going back to church. But as Skylar tries to gain new perspective on life, the world as she knows it begins to fall apart.
Her parents are constantly fighting. Her younger sister has a big secret that Skylar is forced to keep. The guy she's dating is annoyingly jealous. And the new guy down the street is just plain annoying. In the midst of the chaos, Skylar starts to wonder who her real friends are and, even more importantly, who she is.
Skylar Hoyt is a girl who seems to have it all—she's pretty, popular, and has a great-looking boyfriend. Her senior year should be the best one yet. But a horrible experience at a summer party has changed everything. Now she's vowing to make better choices, including going back to church. But as Skylar tries to gain new perspective on life, the world as she knows it begins to fall apart.
Her parents are constantly fighting. Her younger sister has a big secret that Skylar is forced to keep. The guy she's dating is annoyingly jealous. And the new guy down the street is just plain annoying. In the midst of the chaos, Skylar starts to wonder who her real friends are and, even more importantly, who she is.
248 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2009
16 people are currently reading
776 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Morrill
12 books642 followersStephanie Morrill writes books about girls who are on an adventure to discover their unique place in the world. She is the author of several contemporary young adult series, as well as two historical young adult novels, The Lost Girl of Astor Street and Within These Lines. Within These Lines was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection, as well as a YALSA 2020 Best Fiction for Young Adults pick. Since 2010, Stephanie has been encouraging the next generation of writers at her website, GoTeenWriters.com, which has been on the Writer’s Digest Best Websites for Writers list since 2017. She lives in the Kansas City area, where she loves plotting big and small adventures to enjoy with her husband and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
December 5, 2011
I just put down the last book in The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series. For the second time.
I can only remember one other contemporary YA series of novels that I have ever read. The Diary of A Teenage Girl series by Melody Carlson, the Caitlin O'Conner books. I read that series twice, too, but not within a few months of each other. In fact, I can't remember when was the last time I read an entire series (or even one book, for that matter) twice in half a year. My To-Read List is just that long.
Which should tell you that these books are just that great.
I first heard about the Skylar series when I came across the Go Teen Writers, run by the author, to which I am now an avid subscriber.
{Even if you disregard this review, saying 'These books aren't for me,' if you're a young writer, stop by Go Teen Writers. Trust me. You'll thank me later.}
The thing that continually amazes me whenever I glance at these three books smiling at me from the bookshelf is that Skylar is nothing like me. She is a high school student and I've already graduated.
On the whole, I usually pick up historical-setting novels. I don't read much set in modern times. Add to that the fact that Skylar is anything but a strong Christian at the beginning of the first book, and I should have been shaking my head at page one.
But despite our outward differences, Skylar and I connected.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
There is one page number I have memorized in Book One, Me, Just Different, page 205, that contains a quote I have read over and over.
"But what happens after your best friend takes you out for ice cream? You feel better for a little bit, but eventually the pain comes back. God is the only one who can heal the pain you're carrying around."
Whatever author Stephanie Morrill has published next, I will definitely be scooping up.
I can only remember one other contemporary YA series of novels that I have ever read. The Diary of A Teenage Girl series by Melody Carlson, the Caitlin O'Conner books. I read that series twice, too, but not within a few months of each other. In fact, I can't remember when was the last time I read an entire series (or even one book, for that matter) twice in half a year. My To-Read List is just that long.
Which should tell you that these books are just that great.
I first heard about the Skylar series when I came across the Go Teen Writers, run by the author, to which I am now an avid subscriber.
{Even if you disregard this review, saying 'These books aren't for me,' if you're a young writer, stop by Go Teen Writers. Trust me. You'll thank me later.}
The thing that continually amazes me whenever I glance at these three books smiling at me from the bookshelf is that Skylar is nothing like me. She is a high school student and I've already graduated.
On the whole, I usually pick up historical-setting novels. I don't read much set in modern times. Add to that the fact that Skylar is anything but a strong Christian at the beginning of the first book, and I should have been shaking my head at page one.
But despite our outward differences, Skylar and I connected.
And the rest, as they say, is history.
There is one page number I have memorized in Book One, Me, Just Different, page 205, that contains a quote I have read over and over.
"But what happens after your best friend takes you out for ice cream? You feel better for a little bit, but eventually the pain comes back. God is the only one who can heal the pain you're carrying around."
Whatever author Stephanie Morrill has published next, I will definitely be scooping up.
December 4, 2017
Yeah... I wasn't a huge fan of this. I enjoyed Ms. Morrill's The Lost Girl of Astor Street , and the blog she coauthors (Go Teen Writers) has been a tremendous help and encouragement to me, but Throwing Stones didn't impress me. It just felt shallow and teenage-drama-y. And y'all, drama is not my thing. xP
Another thing I didn't care for was the references to Yeah, no thanks. Nothing was described in detail, but I was just not a fan of it being there.
On the positive side, I thought Chris and Owen were both sweet. I didn't care for Abbie, but that's just me.
My final rating is 2.75 stars. I haven't read any of the other books in this series, and this was just a freebie I got. Perhaps I would have liked it more if I had read the others first, but all in all, I was disappointed in this short story.
May 25, 2018
I started this book yesterday when I had free time between two events. It was so good that I finished it instead of giving myself enough time to get ready for Important Event 2. Books before looks, though.
Fantastic story of redemption!
(Content Warning: This book discusses teen pregnancy, so please use discretion. This story does take place 5 years after that, but deals with the aftermath.)
Fantastic story of redemption!
(Content Warning: This book discusses teen pregnancy, so please use discretion. This story does take place 5 years after that, but deals with the aftermath.)
May 1, 2019
Anyone who knows me in person or has a well-rounded acquaintance with my online persona probably knows two things--One, I'm not a big fan of dating stories and two, I'm passionate about orphan care.
I adore Stephanie Morrill, but her books don't exactly work well with my anti-dating thing. This one lured me in by being free and about a teen mom. Teen moms kind of slide into that orphan care passion category even though they're not orphans. Anyway, I really enjoyed Throwing Stones, even without reading the Skylar books. (I think I did read Me, Just Different years ago, actually, but I'm not 100% sure.) And while there is some heart-fluttering and kissing, it works with this story.
Abby Hoyt just turned twenty and she has a five year old math. You can do the math and the fact that everyone does makes Abby self-conscious and defensive. Something in the jumble of past hurts and present loneliness makes Abby hold the guy who loves her at arms length. Chris stayed with her through her pregnancy and after, even though her son isn't his, but it's been a long time since she's let him get close and he's losing hope. Is it too late?
I adore Stephanie Morrill, but her books don't exactly work well with my anti-dating thing. This one lured me in by being free and about a teen mom. Teen moms kind of slide into that orphan care passion category even though they're not orphans. Anyway, I really enjoyed Throwing Stones, even without reading the Skylar books. (I think I did read Me, Just Different years ago, actually, but I'm not 100% sure.) And while there is some heart-fluttering and kissing, it works with this story.
Abby Hoyt just turned twenty and she has a five year old math. You can do the math and the fact that everyone does makes Abby self-conscious and defensive. Something in the jumble of past hurts and present loneliness makes Abby hold the guy who loves her at arms length. Chris stayed with her through her pregnancy and after, even though her son isn't his, but it's been a long time since she's let him get close and he's losing hope. Is it too late?
October 14, 2009
When Eli rescues eighteen-year-old Skylar from a bad situation at a summer party, she is so relieved that she agrees to start dating him. But she is also making some life changes. No more parties, and she's going to start going to church. But her friends and family aren't making that an easy thing to do. Eli is always jealous and won't come to church with her, her little sister has a secret that Skylar is forced to keep, and her parents' marriage is falling apart. The last thing she needs is for Connor, the guy down the street, to start butting his nose in where it doesn't belong.
This was an engrossing read. Stephanie Morrill writes a story as addicting as any TV teen drama. I got sucked into Skylar's circle of friends, with all their issues and cattiness, and was rooting for Skylar to ditch the wrong people and stick with the right ones. I loved how the whole story came together. It's a sweet teen romance that doesn't skimp on the backstabbing girlfriends and clueless boys. I liked it a great deal. Looking forward to the next book in the series. Highly recommended.
This was an engrossing read. Stephanie Morrill writes a story as addicting as any TV teen drama. I got sucked into Skylar's circle of friends, with all their issues and cattiness, and was rooting for Skylar to ditch the wrong people and stick with the right ones. I loved how the whole story came together. It's a sweet teen romance that doesn't skimp on the backstabbing girlfriends and clueless boys. I liked it a great deal. Looking forward to the next book in the series. Highly recommended.
February 22, 2015
What I liked: I love how this story weaves real-teen issues into it's content, and isn't too in-your-face preachy. It was also a very easy read, and the spiritual side to this story seemed real, not too cheesy.
What I disliked: Sterotypical characters that weren't as developed as they possibly could've been. There wasn't anything special about the plot, really. It was just another chick-flick novel for teens about high school drama. Although it was an easy-read, Stephanie Morrill's writing was annoying at parts. She used a lot of telling instead of showing, and could possibly add more imagery.
Other comments: I would like to read the rest of the series, because I did like this book and I would recommend it, especially if you're a fan of Christian teen chick-flicks. Although the plot was similar to other high-school-drama-novels, I liked how the author seemed to understand the spiritual side to personal teenage issues, such as pregnancy, rape, alcoholism, appearance, etc.
What I disliked: Sterotypical characters that weren't as developed as they possibly could've been. There wasn't anything special about the plot, really. It was just another chick-flick novel for teens about high school drama. Although it was an easy-read, Stephanie Morrill's writing was annoying at parts. She used a lot of telling instead of showing, and could possibly add more imagery.
Other comments: I would like to read the rest of the series, because I did like this book and I would recommend it, especially if you're a fan of Christian teen chick-flicks. Although the plot was similar to other high-school-drama-novels, I liked how the author seemed to understand the spiritual side to personal teenage issues, such as pregnancy, rape, alcoholism, appearance, etc.
Read
October 13, 2017I didn't read this until I got it for free, because it didn't look like my kind of book.
It's not, really.
But for some reason I quite enjoyed reading it anyway? It had some compelling stuff going on, in the midst of the crazy teen girl drama I don't understand in real life, never mind fiction. I liked faults and blame on both sides of the conflicts and the unintentional hurt the characters ("good" and "bad")caused each other. Even though I saw the romantic pair from the beginning, it became apparent that this person was not Perfect Human Being while a blocking character was not Complete and Utter Jerk, which I appreciated. It seemed a lot like real life and real people.
There was more PDA and kissing than I really liked.
I'm not sure if I'd get much out of it on a second go, either.
But like I said, not really my kind of book. So I'm very satisfied with my solid 3-star reading experience.
It's not, really.
But for some reason I quite enjoyed reading it anyway? It had some compelling stuff going on, in the midst of the crazy teen girl drama I don't understand in real life, never mind fiction. I liked faults and blame on both sides of the conflicts and the unintentional hurt the characters ("good" and "bad")caused each other. Even though I saw the romantic pair from the beginning, it became apparent that this person was not Perfect Human Being while a blocking character was not Complete and Utter Jerk, which I appreciated. It seemed a lot like real life and real people.
There was more PDA and kissing than I really liked.
I'm not sure if I'd get much out of it on a second go, either.
But like I said, not really my kind of book. So I'm very satisfied with my solid 3-star reading experience.
August 6, 2016
I loved this book because it was so close to real life. I actually mostly read 18 hundreds books, but this one was quite modern.
Skylar is supposed to live the perfect life of the popular, pretty girl with a nice boyfriend. But in one horrible night everything changes. She promises herself she won't ever party again and starts going to church. But then everything seems to go wrong for her. Her best friend turns on her, there is this annoying guy, she has problems with her boyfriend (which she secretly doesn't even love or anything,) her sister makes her keep a horrid secret and her parents keep fighting. Seriously, what else could go wrong?Follow Skylar through her life struggles as God leads her to a life He really wants for her.
I also liked this book because it was realistic. Everything didn't turn picture-perfect for her in the end as it so often does in life. I am REALLY looking forward to the next books in these Skylar series. Recommend it to many (especially teen girls!)
Skylar is supposed to live the perfect life of the popular, pretty girl with a nice boyfriend. But in one horrible night everything changes. She promises herself she won't ever party again and starts going to church. But then everything seems to go wrong for her. Her best friend turns on her, there is this annoying guy, she has problems with her boyfriend (which she secretly doesn't even love or anything,) her sister makes her keep a horrid secret and her parents keep fighting. Seriously, what else could go wrong?Follow Skylar through her life struggles as God leads her to a life He really wants for her.
I also liked this book because it was realistic. Everything didn't turn picture-perfect for her in the end as it so often does in life. I am REALLY looking forward to the next books in these Skylar series. Recommend it to many (especially teen girls!)
June 30, 2009
Skylar Hoyt has it all and doesn’t know if she wants any of it anymore. She’s the leader of the popular girls, has a boyfriend who’s off the cute-meter, is known for her exotic Hawaiian looks . . . and is seriously wondering what it all matters. A near-disaster at a party when she had too much to drink scares her back to the straight and narrow—but when her family’s tossed into crisis, she has to think it’s too little too late.
Her parents are constantly fighting. Her little sister confides a secret that could very well be the ruin of life as they all know it. And to make matters worse, the only person who understands her sudden desire to change is a guy she does not want to talk to, does not want to like, and definitely does not want dating her best friend . . . who may or may not still be her best friend. Why can’t life just be simple? And why’s it so stinkin’ hard to change?
Me, Just Different is the book to read for teen girls this year. It plunges the reader into the mind of Skylar and holds them captive until they turn the last page. What I absolutely adored about this book is the way Skylar is utterly relatable, utterly real, and, because of that, utterly lovable. Even in her less-than-stellar moments. She fights, she fails, and she picks herself back up. She learns the hard way that it isn’t easy to be who you want to be . . . if you can even figure out who that is—and that to do it at all, you need Someone a little bigger to help you out.
Stephanie Morrill has penned a winner, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next two books in The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series. Skylar is a character you’re going to love to root for, one with real struggles and a real heart. Friendship, boyfriends, guy friends, and relationships with family are all challenged in these pages, and you’ll come away from it looking at your own life a little more closely.
This is one of those books that you finish but never leave behind—it’s going to stick in your mind and heart forever.
Her parents are constantly fighting. Her little sister confides a secret that could very well be the ruin of life as they all know it. And to make matters worse, the only person who understands her sudden desire to change is a guy she does not want to talk to, does not want to like, and definitely does not want dating her best friend . . . who may or may not still be her best friend. Why can’t life just be simple? And why’s it so stinkin’ hard to change?
Me, Just Different is the book to read for teen girls this year. It plunges the reader into the mind of Skylar and holds them captive until they turn the last page. What I absolutely adored about this book is the way Skylar is utterly relatable, utterly real, and, because of that, utterly lovable. Even in her less-than-stellar moments. She fights, she fails, and she picks herself back up. She learns the hard way that it isn’t easy to be who you want to be . . . if you can even figure out who that is—and that to do it at all, you need Someone a little bigger to help you out.
Stephanie Morrill has penned a winner, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next two books in The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series. Skylar is a character you’re going to love to root for, one with real struggles and a real heart. Friendship, boyfriends, guy friends, and relationships with family are all challenged in these pages, and you’ll come away from it looking at your own life a little more closely.
This is one of those books that you finish but never leave behind—it’s going to stick in your mind and heart forever.
April 12, 2015
Throwing Stones is a companion to the Me, Just Different book that I reviewed a few months ago. It follows Skylar’s sister who got pregnant in the first book and is set five years later. I loved the dynamic of this book. It dealt with the issue of teen pregnancy so well that Abbie’s feelings about the situation she got herself in were realistic and I understood how guilty she felt for her feelings. I loved seeing her fumble around interactions with other people and deal with her own self-conscious feelings about her situation. It was also fun to see the romance continued from the previous books with Skylar and Connor as we see them getting married and Abbie tries to be a good maid of honour while dealing with seeing her first love Chris all the time. I loved Chris’ character but I also enjoyed the fact that while he is important to Abbie’s story he wasn’t the main plot of it. Her relationship with her son and her sister was the most important. Abbie dealt well with situations that seem difficult even for adult parents to deal with as a single 20 year old mother of a five year old. And Owen was adorable, children in books are sometimes less fleshed out characters and are just placed in the story to be adorable but Owen faced real issues of his own with dealing with an incident that happened with his father and grandmother a while ago. It’s difficult not to feel bad for him and also difficult not to feel proud of how well Abbie has done with the life she has been handed. I gave this book four out of five stars and even recommend it even if you haven’t read me,just different because it is just amazing.
April 11, 2023
This is the first book in the Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series, which follows the title character as she leaves behind a life of partying for a Christian life. Sounds perfect, right? Well, not really. I didn’t like this book half as much as I could have.
Skylar and her love interest Connor are both okay characters. Skylar’s friends, though, were terribly self-centered, mean, and dissipated–simultaneously immature and far too mature for their own good. Why did anyone spend time around them at all, much less admire them? Though they weren’t supposed to be likable characters, I wish they had been made a little less unbearable.
Jodi, Eli, Alexis, et cetera are not the main reason I disliked this book, though. The Christian content–or lack thereof–was. In the very beginning, Skylar decides to turn her life around–to quit partying and start attending church. She does. For the most part, everything goes smoothly. But there was little to no focus at all on Skylar’s personal relationship with God. The message this book seemed to be proclaiming was that going to church makes you a Christian and you can improve your life without any help from God. The faith content felt so irreverently tacked on. There was a point when I thought it would go deeper, but it never did.
Skylar and her love interest Connor are both okay characters. Skylar’s friends, though, were terribly self-centered, mean, and dissipated–simultaneously immature and far too mature for their own good. Why did anyone spend time around them at all, much less admire them? Though they weren’t supposed to be likable characters, I wish they had been made a little less unbearable.
Jodi, Eli, Alexis, et cetera are not the main reason I disliked this book, though. The Christian content–or lack thereof–was. In the very beginning, Skylar decides to turn her life around–to quit partying and start attending church. She does. For the most part, everything goes smoothly. But there was little to no focus at all on Skylar’s personal relationship with God. The message this book seemed to be proclaiming was that going to church makes you a Christian and you can improve your life without any help from God. The faith content felt so irreverently tacked on. There was a point when I thought it would go deeper, but it never did.
March 7, 2013
This is what people need to be writing for teen girls! I love that it deals with realistic situations and relevant topics like drinking/smoking/rape/pregnancy/peer pressure that teens now days are surrounded by. Set it a typical high school setting, I found myself going back to my own teen years and relating to things going on in the book. A little stereotypical in some areas, so I have it 4 stars. I think the author could have been a little more creative in some things. A strong Christian message throughout but not too preachy, I'd give this to a non Christian to read and don't think it'd be too heavy to handle. This book encouraged me to have more grace, be more understanding and be more like Christ!! Recommended for ages 12+
June 21, 2011
Don't just look at this book, look at the cover with the smiling girl and the school lockers in the backround. Don't just see the green flower or the discription on the back. Why? These traits don't begin to describe this book.
I know, I know. The typical 'don't judge a book by it's cover' stuff.
I will not lie. I picked this book up, not really expecting to like it.
I was so wrong.
This book is addicting and extremely well written. I honestly really liked it, and soon got started on the second one. It's realistic enough that you can easily relate to it, and it's perfect for YA readers.
Huh.
Turns out all that 'don't judge a book by it's cover' stuff's true.
Who knew?
I know, I know. The typical 'don't judge a book by it's cover' stuff.
I will not lie. I picked this book up, not really expecting to like it.
I was so wrong.
This book is addicting and extremely well written. I honestly really liked it, and soon got started on the second one. It's realistic enough that you can easily relate to it, and it's perfect for YA readers.
Huh.
Turns out all that 'don't judge a book by it's cover' stuff's true.
Who knew?
May 9, 2014
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
It's books like these that can make me want to stop reading all together. It wasn't entirely a bad book. It's just that I was so excited to read a book that wasn't completely centred around romance. By the middle of the book, Skylar and Connor were best friends, but definitely not in love. I liked that. But then, by the end, things changed and it was just like every other Christian teen book that I've read recently. Is it such an uncommon idea to have a guy and a girl as JUST friends, and happy with that?
It's books like these that can make me want to stop reading all together. It wasn't entirely a bad book. It's just that I was so excited to read a book that wasn't completely centred around romance. By the middle of the book, Skylar and Connor were best friends, but definitely not in love. I liked that. But then, by the end, things changed and it was just like every other Christian teen book that I've read recently. Is it such an uncommon idea to have a guy and a girl as JUST friends, and happy with that?
May 3, 2016
Loved this glimpse into Abbi's life after the Skylar Hoyt series--and also getting to see the happily ever after of her big sister. =) Too often we judge those who made bad decisions . . . but not nearly as often as we judge ourselves for them. This, in many ways, is a story about looking at ourselves with forgiveness. A wonderful treat for Morrill's readers!
August 5, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. Very interesting with some good life lessons. One thing I didn't like was Skylar's personality. She was just almost too bratty, and I really didn't like her. She barely ever had a good moment.
May 21, 2020
A mixed bag for me. I really liked how some characters (or the reader's perceptions of them) change over the course of the book. The plunge back into teenage angst was a bit much for me but the characters were interesting enough that I stayed up until 2am to finish the book.
May 8, 2017
I had a review. The page ate it. I really don't want to rewrite it. But the book is good. :D
March 7, 2018
While reading this series I neglected to review out each one as I finished, and now having finished, all three books have meshed together in my mind and it would be nearly impossible to try to distuinguish them again for the point of three separate reviews. So instead I have decided to review all three in one review of the whole series. * MINOR SPOILERS.*
Book One. It drew me in, so it gets points for that, if for nothing else. The opener was inciting and the characters immediately intriguing. I really liked the way the series started on Skylar’s life change, rather before; it gave it a slightly different feel than other Christian YA I’ve read. I liked the way Skylar was ready to change. Though at times it felt drawn-out, for the most part it was concise.
Book Two. Book two was probably the most boring of the three. Nothing really happens that couldn’t have been condensed between books 2 and 3, much like almost every other trilogy ever. So that was a downside. Yes, she goes to Hawaii and has a life change. Yes, Owen is born. But those two events don’t need their entirely own book. And the extra drama around Eli/Connor was unnecessary, too.
Book Three. Also as typical with trilogies, it was the best in the series. For the first time, I actually really liked Skylar and Connor (more on this below). I really liked Abbie and Owen and Jodi and all the others. They became my real friends. Eli is finally told off and Skylar finally gets the memo she should avoid her other friends and that Connor is indeed the one for her. After page after annoying page of annoying Skylar, it felt very refreshing to see her finally see things. Is the delay in these situations true to real life? Absolutely. Is it always the best course of action to draw out upon when writing a book series? No.
Book summaries over, here we go.
Characters. I loved Skylar, but she also drove me absolutely crazy. I loved her, but I also couldn’t stand her. Consequently, I read this book in breaks. I couldn't do too much at one time, haha. Like I’ve mentioned, I finally really liked Skylar in book three, but before that she was just so annoying. Her relationship with Connor was the main part that irked me. She was so blind, but the problem isn’t with that as much as it is with the fact we were given example upon example upon example upon example of her blindness. It drove me crazy! The seventieth time she ditched Connor I was ready to throw the book across the room. We get the point!
And I also disliked the fact she couldn’t seem to grasp the idea that she had to stop hanging out with the bad influences. She spoke as if seeing them was absolutely inevitable, but how small of a town do they live in that she’s seriously running into them at every corner? Ditch them and move on—they’re bad infleunces! Do you not get it, Skylar!? You’re trying to turn your life around, yet you can’t let go of all former influences. Can you still be a light to them? Yes—once you’re distant and stable enough! UGHH. Now Jodi eventually ended up being great, but that wasn’t until the last few chapters. And don’t even get me started on Eli. UGH. Though really I hated Skylar’s actions toward him more than Eli himself, who I thought was kinda wimpy and pathetic when it came down to it.
Abbie I adored! I absolutely loved her. When the book started I hardly expected her to be developed much, as siblings usually aren’t, but she surprised me by being one of the most developed characters in the series. I loved her heart. Similarly Skylar’s parents were fantastic and real, too.
Connor was … Connor. Sometimes I hated him, sometimes I didn’t. I was mad at Skylar because they’re so obviously meant to be together. Girl, when you find a loyal, honest, Christian guy who loves you, you can’t just ditch him. Yes, it possible he’s not the one, but when you find a guy like that you gotta give him at least a few chances. I felt sometimes the author was trying too hard to make him fictional-crush material—but other than that he was great; not too goody-two-shoes-perfectly-righteous-Christian guy, but not a “bad boy” either.
The writing wasn’t anything incredible. It was a lot of dialogue and little description, so it was solely the characters and nothing else pulling me through the story. I still don’t know what Jodi or Connor or Eli looks like, but I know what they're like. That sort of thing. Some of the emotion at times was a little unreal or not deep enough, but for the most part it was good.
Soooo…yeah. It was a little stereotypical, a typical girl-finds-Jesus-and-her-life-changes type series, but it was pretty unique. Not cheesy for the most part, and simply a journey of following Christ. 4.0 stars.
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Book One. It drew me in, so it gets points for that, if for nothing else. The opener was inciting and the characters immediately intriguing. I really liked the way the series started on Skylar’s life change, rather before; it gave it a slightly different feel than other Christian YA I’ve read. I liked the way Skylar was ready to change. Though at times it felt drawn-out, for the most part it was concise.
Book Two. Book two was probably the most boring of the three. Nothing really happens that couldn’t have been condensed between books 2 and 3, much like almost every other trilogy ever. So that was a downside. Yes, she goes to Hawaii and has a life change. Yes, Owen is born. But those two events don’t need their entirely own book. And the extra drama around Eli/Connor was unnecessary, too.
Book Three. Also as typical with trilogies, it was the best in the series. For the first time, I actually really liked Skylar and Connor (more on this below). I really liked Abbie and Owen and Jodi and all the others. They became my real friends. Eli is finally told off and Skylar finally gets the memo she should avoid her other friends and that Connor is indeed the one for her. After page after annoying page of annoying Skylar, it felt very refreshing to see her finally see things. Is the delay in these situations true to real life? Absolutely. Is it always the best course of action to draw out upon when writing a book series? No.
Book summaries over, here we go.
Characters. I loved Skylar, but she also drove me absolutely crazy. I loved her, but I also couldn’t stand her. Consequently, I read this book in breaks. I couldn't do too much at one time, haha. Like I’ve mentioned, I finally really liked Skylar in book three, but before that she was just so annoying. Her relationship with Connor was the main part that irked me. She was so blind, but the problem isn’t with that as much as it is with the fact we were given example upon example upon example upon example of her blindness. It drove me crazy! The seventieth time she ditched Connor I was ready to throw the book across the room. We get the point!
And I also disliked the fact she couldn’t seem to grasp the idea that she had to stop hanging out with the bad influences. She spoke as if seeing them was absolutely inevitable, but how small of a town do they live in that she’s seriously running into them at every corner? Ditch them and move on—they’re bad infleunces! Do you not get it, Skylar!? You’re trying to turn your life around, yet you can’t let go of all former influences. Can you still be a light to them? Yes—once you’re distant and stable enough! UGHH. Now Jodi eventually ended up being great, but that wasn’t until the last few chapters. And don’t even get me started on Eli. UGH. Though really I hated Skylar’s actions toward him more than Eli himself, who I thought was kinda wimpy and pathetic when it came down to it.
Abbie I adored! I absolutely loved her. When the book started I hardly expected her to be developed much, as siblings usually aren’t, but she surprised me by being one of the most developed characters in the series. I loved her heart. Similarly Skylar’s parents were fantastic and real, too.
Connor was … Connor. Sometimes I hated him, sometimes I didn’t. I was mad at Skylar because they’re so obviously meant to be together. Girl, when you find a loyal, honest, Christian guy who loves you, you can’t just ditch him. Yes, it possible he’s not the one, but when you find a guy like that you gotta give him at least a few chances. I felt sometimes the author was trying too hard to make him fictional-crush material—but other than that he was great; not too goody-two-shoes-perfectly-righteous-Christian guy, but not a “bad boy” either.
The writing wasn’t anything incredible. It was a lot of dialogue and little description, so it was solely the characters and nothing else pulling me through the story. I still don’t know what Jodi or Connor or Eli looks like, but I know what they're like. That sort of thing. Some of the emotion at times was a little unreal or not deep enough, but for the most part it was good.
Soooo…yeah. It was a little stereotypical, a typical girl-finds-Jesus-and-her-life-changes type series, but it was pretty unique. Not cheesy for the most part, and simply a journey of following Christ. 4.0 stars.
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December 11, 2013
In Me, Just Different, We meet Skylar Hoyt fresh from near-catastrophe—a party gone horribly wrong and a date-rape averted only by the timely intervention of a friend. Skylar knows she won’t get another second chance. Her life has to change. Now.
But how?
It’s easy to say you’re going to wipe the slate clean and make a fresh start. Actually doing it is more complicated, and “complicated” pretty much defines Skylar’s life. Her father’s a workaholic oblivious to Skylar’s plight. Her career-focused mother doesn’t, well, mother, and is barely able to unwrap a frozen entree. Her sister’s experiencing a crisis of her own. Worst of all, Skylar is caught between her affection for two boys: Eli, the strong, comforting guy who’s always there when she needs him, and Connor, the hot-and-cold guy with a thing for telling the truth at all the wrong times, who knows her better than she knows herself.
All this plays out from Skylar’s point-of-view, which I’m sure resonates with teenage girls (and the Amazon reviews bear this out), but it drove me nuts, because the litany of adolescent minutiae about clothes, dances, dates, who’s fighting with who, who’s in or out, and what’s on television quickly became mind-numbing for a parent who’s been through three iterations of teenage self-absorption. I’d nearly finished the book before Skylar sorted out her social calendar and got around to dealing with her real problems.
Yes, life is often like that. I still wanted to *figuratively* whack her upside the head and tell her to snap out of it. More than once.
*Note: I do not in any way, shape, or form recommend this as a parenting technique. Just so we’re all clear on that. Also, I'm not the target audience for this book, so don't let my irritation with Skylar's dithering put you off.
This is a Christian story, but it’s not a conversion story. Skylar’s problem isn’t faith, it’s practice. She’s a believer who isn’t living her beliefs. Cutting out smoking, drinking, and partying are commendable, but she finds adopting a more disciplined lifestyle doesn’t solve everything. She knows her problems are somehow connected with her lack of attention to her relationship with God. Skylar gets a gentle nudge in the right direction from her church youth leader, but Morill never absolves Skylar of the responsibility to take action herself. It’s her problem, and nobody else can fix it.
To her credit, Morill doesn’t wrap up a happy resolution for Skylar with a bright pink bow. Skylar hasn’t reinvented her life by story’s end, but she’s working on it. Her family is still dysfunctional and probably will be for a long time, but there’s real hope for change, and I think that’s enough.
Morill also shows real courage charging out of the starting gate with a difficult issue—date-rape and its emotional aftermath. She handles it with fidelity and sensitivity, then rolls in another challenge, again without dispensing rote Sunday School advice.
I was disappointed that Skylar’s Hawaiian heritage was barely mentioned and didn’t have any significant impact on the story. It’s explored in more detail in later volumes, but I think a few cultural references by way of her mother would have helped distinguish Skylar from her posse of middle-class, suburban-KC friends and provided readers a hint of what’s to come. On the other end of the cultural spectrum, I think Morill captured the spirit of teen life in Johnson County, Kansas (my locality), and I enjoyed references to some familiar landmarks like Sheridan’s Frozen Custard. Yum.
All-in-all, Me, Just Different is a good selection for any mid-teen lady reader in your life.
Stephanie Morill runs Go Teen Writers, an excellent online forum and workshop for aspiring young authors. If you are one or know one, you should check it out at http://www.GoTeenWriters.com
You can also find Stephanie at her author website, http://www.stephaniemorrill.com
But how?
It’s easy to say you’re going to wipe the slate clean and make a fresh start. Actually doing it is more complicated, and “complicated” pretty much defines Skylar’s life. Her father’s a workaholic oblivious to Skylar’s plight. Her career-focused mother doesn’t, well, mother, and is barely able to unwrap a frozen entree. Her sister’s experiencing a crisis of her own. Worst of all, Skylar is caught between her affection for two boys: Eli, the strong, comforting guy who’s always there when she needs him, and Connor, the hot-and-cold guy with a thing for telling the truth at all the wrong times, who knows her better than she knows herself.
All this plays out from Skylar’s point-of-view, which I’m sure resonates with teenage girls (and the Amazon reviews bear this out), but it drove me nuts, because the litany of adolescent minutiae about clothes, dances, dates, who’s fighting with who, who’s in or out, and what’s on television quickly became mind-numbing for a parent who’s been through three iterations of teenage self-absorption. I’d nearly finished the book before Skylar sorted out her social calendar and got around to dealing with her real problems.
Yes, life is often like that. I still wanted to *figuratively* whack her upside the head and tell her to snap out of it. More than once.
*Note: I do not in any way, shape, or form recommend this as a parenting technique. Just so we’re all clear on that. Also, I'm not the target audience for this book, so don't let my irritation with Skylar's dithering put you off.
This is a Christian story, but it’s not a conversion story. Skylar’s problem isn’t faith, it’s practice. She’s a believer who isn’t living her beliefs. Cutting out smoking, drinking, and partying are commendable, but she finds adopting a more disciplined lifestyle doesn’t solve everything. She knows her problems are somehow connected with her lack of attention to her relationship with God. Skylar gets a gentle nudge in the right direction from her church youth leader, but Morill never absolves Skylar of the responsibility to take action herself. It’s her problem, and nobody else can fix it.
To her credit, Morill doesn’t wrap up a happy resolution for Skylar with a bright pink bow. Skylar hasn’t reinvented her life by story’s end, but she’s working on it. Her family is still dysfunctional and probably will be for a long time, but there’s real hope for change, and I think that’s enough.
Morill also shows real courage charging out of the starting gate with a difficult issue—date-rape and its emotional aftermath. She handles it with fidelity and sensitivity, then rolls in another challenge, again without dispensing rote Sunday School advice.
I was disappointed that Skylar’s Hawaiian heritage was barely mentioned and didn’t have any significant impact on the story. It’s explored in more detail in later volumes, but I think a few cultural references by way of her mother would have helped distinguish Skylar from her posse of middle-class, suburban-KC friends and provided readers a hint of what’s to come. On the other end of the cultural spectrum, I think Morill captured the spirit of teen life in Johnson County, Kansas (my locality), and I enjoyed references to some familiar landmarks like Sheridan’s Frozen Custard. Yum.
All-in-all, Me, Just Different is a good selection for any mid-teen lady reader in your life.
Stephanie Morill runs Go Teen Writers, an excellent online forum and workshop for aspiring young authors. If you are one or know one, you should check it out at http://www.GoTeenWriters.com
You can also find Stephanie at her author website, http://www.stephaniemorrill.com
July 18, 2009
Me, Just Different was well-written, insightful, and impossible to put down. It's the real deal in that it's an authentic representation of some serious issues. I zipped right through it. There was one point in the story where I cried real tears. That, for me, is a great sign that I cared about the characters. I was so into the story world that I felt something strong enough to be sad over. But it wasn't a depressing sad. It was a healing sad. Sometimes when your life is falling apart, that's when you know who your real friends are. And I loved that in this story the hero doesn't give up but continues to be honest with Skylar. Sure, she hates it at first, but doesn't every woman really want to know the truth from someone you think is an enemy rather than being lied to and wounded by a so-called "friend?" I also adored the subplot involving her sister, Allie.
This was a high-quality story which rang true to me. Don't many of us fear turning out like our parents when we are young? How about dating someone because you loved the idea of being with him and that all of the other girls wished they could be with him, and yet he wanted you. Wasn't that a heady, powerful feeling? What about avoiding a decent guy because he wasn't considered "cool enough" to be acceptable to your friends? Even worse than that, what about the stupid rule that says you can't date your friends' ex-boyfriends (I had a friend who did that when I was in high school. She'd tell me not to let my current boyfriend use me, so I'd be careful and then she would do the ultimate betrayal and have sex with him when I wasn't looking! At least I was smart enough not to "go there" but still... I know now that she wasn't a true friend, but at the time it felt good to hang out with someone beautiful like her.) But I digress...
Bottom line, this book is awesome and hits on all of the important things that teens often deal with. However, I didn't feel like I had to be a teen to read it. You just have to remember feeling that way and most grown people remember their high school years. Sure, we'd like to forget a lot of the stuff we did. Like lying to our parents to sneak out of the house to see our boyfriends, for example. And going to parties and getting stupid drunk so that you put yourself in a vulnerable position with someone you may not even like. Anyway, I can't say enough good things about this book. It's a must-read as far as I'm concerned and it's making my best of 2009 fiction list.
This was a high-quality story which rang true to me. Don't many of us fear turning out like our parents when we are young? How about dating someone because you loved the idea of being with him and that all of the other girls wished they could be with him, and yet he wanted you. Wasn't that a heady, powerful feeling? What about avoiding a decent guy because he wasn't considered "cool enough" to be acceptable to your friends? Even worse than that, what about the stupid rule that says you can't date your friends' ex-boyfriends (I had a friend who did that when I was in high school. She'd tell me not to let my current boyfriend use me, so I'd be careful and then she would do the ultimate betrayal and have sex with him when I wasn't looking! At least I was smart enough not to "go there" but still... I know now that she wasn't a true friend, but at the time it felt good to hang out with someone beautiful like her.) But I digress...
Bottom line, this book is awesome and hits on all of the important things that teens often deal with. However, I didn't feel like I had to be a teen to read it. You just have to remember feeling that way and most grown people remember their high school years. Sure, we'd like to forget a lot of the stuff we did. Like lying to our parents to sneak out of the house to see our boyfriends, for example. And going to parties and getting stupid drunk so that you put yourself in a vulnerable position with someone you may not even like. Anyway, I can't say enough good things about this book. It's a must-read as far as I'm concerned and it's making my best of 2009 fiction list.
October 5, 2009
Me, Just Different by Stephanie Morrill is a young adult novel, and the first in a series about Skylar Hoyt. This one is very young adult, complete with teen angst, school days, and boyfriends. Skylar is a high school senior, who, after a bad experience the summer before, decides to make some big life changes. She decides to start going to church and to stop partying.
She has a hard time, though, because she's shallow, materialistic and self-centered. Oops, did I say that out loud? Oddly enough, I still found her character likable. I think it's because she's a seventeen (eighteen for the last part of the book) year old girl, and that's how most girls are at that age. In other words, she was a realistic character. The whole book felt very true to the life period the characters were in. Not that I remember all that well. It's been a few years, but from what I do remember it seems right.
This was an extremely easy read, with no slow parts, that could be read in an afternoon. The religiosity was definitely there, but it wasn't too in your face. There were definitely some parts, though, that may feel preachy to a person who is not religious, so I will throw that out there. It was a good Christian novel, though, with good lessons for a teen (or anyone who hasn't learned it yet) to learn.
I would rate this book 4/5, and would recommend it to fans of YA books, light chick-lit fans, Christian fiction fans, and anyone looking for a quick, easy read to pass an afternoon.
She has a hard time, though, because she's shallow, materialistic and self-centered. Oops, did I say that out loud? Oddly enough, I still found her character likable. I think it's because she's a seventeen (eighteen for the last part of the book) year old girl, and that's how most girls are at that age. In other words, she was a realistic character. The whole book felt very true to the life period the characters were in. Not that I remember all that well. It's been a few years, but from what I do remember it seems right.
This was an extremely easy read, with no slow parts, that could be read in an afternoon. The religiosity was definitely there, but it wasn't too in your face. There were definitely some parts, though, that may feel preachy to a person who is not religious, so I will throw that out there. It was a good Christian novel, though, with good lessons for a teen (or anyone who hasn't learned it yet) to learn.
I would rate this book 4/5, and would recommend it to fans of YA books, light chick-lit fans, Christian fiction fans, and anyone looking for a quick, easy read to pass an afternoon.
December 20, 2016
Typical Skylar: “I’m so what?” I attempted to sound forceful enough to make Connor rethink this whole line of conversation. “Cliché,” he said. “Cliché!” Far worse than the profane description I assumed he’d assign me. “I’m anything but a cliché.” ... “I’ve never been told something so offensive in my entire life.” I could feel the twitch of my left eye as I struggled to hold in tears. “What makes me a cliché?”
After a night she wishes she could forget, Skylar knows changes have to be made. Changes like going back to church and not driving her sister to her boyfriend's place. But she never thought it would be so hard. It doesn't get easier when she finds out her sister is pregnant and her parents are on verge of separation. Is it even possible to change? Are there people out there who won't let her down?
I enjoyed "Me, Just Different" a lot! It kept me turning page after page with its beautiful story. Skylar learns that change is not easy and that God is the only One who will never let her down. I wish more was said about having a relationship with Christ. God helping you change and become nicer was accented, but not the relationship itself. I enjoyed it immensely and recommend it for older teen girls.
This is the first in the Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series. The second and third are "Out with the In Crowd" and "So Over It." Stephanie Morrill also has a novella, "Throwing Stones," free on her website.
After a night she wishes she could forget, Skylar knows changes have to be made. Changes like going back to church and not driving her sister to her boyfriend's place. But she never thought it would be so hard. It doesn't get easier when she finds out her sister is pregnant and her parents are on verge of separation. Is it even possible to change? Are there people out there who won't let her down?
I enjoyed "Me, Just Different" a lot! It kept me turning page after page with its beautiful story. Skylar learns that change is not easy and that God is the only One who will never let her down. I wish more was said about having a relationship with Christ. God helping you change and become nicer was accented, but not the relationship itself. I enjoyed it immensely and recommend it for older teen girls.
This is the first in the Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series. The second and third are "Out with the In Crowd" and "So Over It." Stephanie Morrill also has a novella, "Throwing Stones," free on her website.
November 1, 2009
This is a must-read for teen girls today. Me, Just Different reminded me of Michelle Sutton’s Second Glances series. Both this book and Michelle’s DEAL WITH ISSUES! I love that. Teens today are so deceived by the secular worldview of things, and books like this one are what they need to read. While still being fun, enjoyable reads, they really show the truth of things. They aren’t fluff, like most teen books are nowadays.
I cried SO hard! This book will really make you feel things. I felt so sorry for Skylar and what she was going through. Since I have been raised in a Christian, homeschooled environment my whole life, some of the things in this book amazed me. I’ve never had to deal with drugs, alcohol, smoking, or teen pregnancy. I feel so blessed to have been raised in such a way that I would be able to have a strong Christian foundation before having to deal with those things. So watching Skylar having to deal with them, without the strong Christian upbringing, was heartbreaking. She didn’t know what to do, or how to handle what was going on around her.
I’m really anxious to know what happens in the rest of the series! I believe that the rest of the books will be just as good as this one. Again, a must-read for teens today.
I cried SO hard! This book will really make you feel things. I felt so sorry for Skylar and what she was going through. Since I have been raised in a Christian, homeschooled environment my whole life, some of the things in this book amazed me. I’ve never had to deal with drugs, alcohol, smoking, or teen pregnancy. I feel so blessed to have been raised in such a way that I would be able to have a strong Christian foundation before having to deal with those things. So watching Skylar having to deal with them, without the strong Christian upbringing, was heartbreaking. She didn’t know what to do, or how to handle what was going on around her.
I’m really anxious to know what happens in the rest of the series! I believe that the rest of the books will be just as good as this one. Again, a must-read for teens today.
April 3, 2012
Summary: Skylar Hoyt's life changed the night she was almost raped. Vowing to be different, she stops partying and goes back to the youth group she had abandoned when she became popular. Her wild past continues to pull her back as she struggles with a jealous boyfriend, fighting parents, and a sister with a big secret. Will Skylar be able to find herself in the midst of all this chaos?
My thoughts: Although the book starts off shaky as the plot jumps around and the author tries to establish the main character, this book finds its ground about halfway through and becomes a great read. Many readers may not be able to relate to the world in which Skylar lives: pretty, popular, wealthy, but they will definitely identify with her struggle to find herself, her inability to trust, and the family pressure. The plot reads like a TV show with all the drama of boyfriend swapping, which will keep a teen reader's attention.
What I liked best was the author's way of sharing spiritual truth without being preachy. When Connor's family takes Skylar under their wings, Skylar (and the reader) get a glimpse of the Christian walk without lecturing or scripture quoting.
Overall, this book is an entertaining read and a solid first novel.
My thoughts: Although the book starts off shaky as the plot jumps around and the author tries to establish the main character, this book finds its ground about halfway through and becomes a great read. Many readers may not be able to relate to the world in which Skylar lives: pretty, popular, wealthy, but they will definitely identify with her struggle to find herself, her inability to trust, and the family pressure. The plot reads like a TV show with all the drama of boyfriend swapping, which will keep a teen reader's attention.
What I liked best was the author's way of sharing spiritual truth without being preachy. When Connor's family takes Skylar under their wings, Skylar (and the reader) get a glimpse of the Christian walk without lecturing or scripture quoting.
Overall, this book is an entertaining read and a solid first novel.
May 11, 2012
Woah. This book is incredible. I related much more to Skylar than I thought I would. I mean, I've never gone to public school, smoked, or went to keg parties (thank the Lord.) But I knew how she felt being with a guy you weren't sure you liked--much less loved. Because I found myself in a situation quite similar to hers. Once I got into this book I could hardly put it down.
Now for more about the book. Skylar Hoyt finds herself changing after a close-call at a party. It's because of this close-call that she agrees to date Eli. He's pleasant to the eyes, charming, and he loves her. What's not to like?
Skylar faces many daily high-school teenage struggles that a lot of girls could most likely relate to. An extremely jealous boyfriend, fighting parents, parties, oh yeah- and that annoying new boy down the street. She seems to handle things well at first, taking some to just be the new normal.
But something is bugging her. Why doesn't she reciprocate Eli's feelings? Skylar slowly comes to realize she can never really go back to how things were before. Can God be the key she needs to sorting out her life? To changing for good? There are so many questions and so many answers- but you'll have to read it to get them!
I highly recommend this book for any teenager. :)
Now for more about the book. Skylar Hoyt finds herself changing after a close-call at a party. It's because of this close-call that she agrees to date Eli. He's pleasant to the eyes, charming, and he loves her. What's not to like?
Skylar faces many daily high-school teenage struggles that a lot of girls could most likely relate to. An extremely jealous boyfriend, fighting parents, parties, oh yeah- and that annoying new boy down the street. She seems to handle things well at first, taking some to just be the new normal.
But something is bugging her. Why doesn't she reciprocate Eli's feelings? Skylar slowly comes to realize she can never really go back to how things were before. Can God be the key she needs to sorting out her life? To changing for good? There are so many questions and so many answers- but you'll have to read it to get them!
I highly recommend this book for any teenager. :)
January 17, 2015
I will admit, I didn't think I would enjoy this book. I didn't think I would get past the first 100 pages but boy, was I wrong.
It took me a little while to get into the story because of how much I was adverse to Skylar at first. I thought that I would have to force myself to read the rest but that was most definitely not the case.
I cried and laughed and felt for Skylar as her seemingly perfect life broke apart bit by bit. I watched and dove deeper into the story as Skylar grew less superficial and more relatable and vulnerable. I love what Morrill did with her character. I felt as thought I grew as well, reading this book, with Skylar and the rest of the characters.
I thought this would be a chiche story about a girl who gets all the guys but Connor, who claimed the things he did, twisted the story and made me gasp. I loved it.
Stephanie Morrill is a brilliant writer and I will definitely be picking up more of her books! (It's a bit hard as I live in Canada but the internet is here for a reason!)
It took me a little while to get into the story because of how much I was adverse to Skylar at first. I thought that I would have to force myself to read the rest but that was most definitely not the case.
I cried and laughed and felt for Skylar as her seemingly perfect life broke apart bit by bit. I watched and dove deeper into the story as Skylar grew less superficial and more relatable and vulnerable. I love what Morrill did with her character. I felt as thought I grew as well, reading this book, with Skylar and the rest of the characters.
I thought this would be a chiche story about a girl who gets all the guys but Connor, who claimed the things he did, twisted the story and made me gasp. I loved it.
Stephanie Morrill is a brilliant writer and I will definitely be picking up more of her books! (It's a bit hard as I live in Canada but the internet is here for a reason!)
May 31, 2013
This book is all about how one moment in your life can cause a domino effect and though it may not seem it at the time , it always ends up being for the better. Meet Skylar , She has everything Friends, Popularity, Parties , The World at her feet until one day her world comes crashing around her . Her Family's falling apart , her sister has a big secret that no-one can find out and the family down the road have moved in and are too perfect too be true. Can Skylar re-invent herself without losing her life or will she in the process realise that everything she has around her is superficial and not worth it. In this book , Skylar finds out when things come to a halt and starts crunching down that , that is the time when you start to realise who your true friends are and those who will stand by you when the going gets tough. An excellent read for teens wanting books like author Melody Carlson's or Robin Jones Gunn,
February 13, 2013
It's probably not heathy to get too attached to the characters of a book, but can you see that I actually was Skylar as I read? I mean, OMG, this woman can write, I'm thinking on page one. Then I'm at the middle of the book and all I want to do is throw it out the window because can you BELIEVE Jodi has the nerve to say that?!?!
Yeah, maybe not healthy
Anyway, I read this book like four times...ok, ten but its really an awesome book.
Yeah, maybe not healthy
Anyway, I read this book like four times...ok, ten but its really an awesome book.
July 7, 2013
When this was a free ebook a little while ago I got a copy and I decided to reread it. I actually liked it better the second time around and while this isn't a super favorite of mine it is a really good book. And the author is super sweet :) If you are looking for a good Christian YA book to read this is a great one. It does have brief mentions of smoking, partying, and almost being raped as well as teen pregnancy. But it's a sweet story, I'll be picking up the next book in the series soon!
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