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Memoirs of a Girl Who Loves God
Fourteen-year-old Krystal finds herself flailing when her parents separate. Unable to cope, she begins cutting. No one knows.
At her new school, she makes one single friend, Em, who invites her to volunteer at the local homeless shelter. There, Krystal discovers fellow misfits, including Brandon, a boy from her school. How can Krystal start a new life when the scars of her old one will never fully heal?
At her new school, she makes one single friend, Em, who invites her to volunteer at the local homeless shelter. There, Krystal discovers fellow misfits, including Brandon, a boy from her school. How can Krystal start a new life when the scars of her old one will never fully heal?
300 pages, Paperback
First published June 18, 2015
About the author
C.L. Wells
10 books106 followersC.L. Wells is a JANE-OF-ALL-TRADES, with a passion for writing and animals. She lives in Kansas with her family, which includes a fat doggie who is not named Toto and a cat who moonlights as an escape artist. Feel free to ask her about the ‘escape artist.’ She plans to write about it someday. She would love hearing from you.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 20, 2015
Krystal is typical of any fourteen year-old who suddenly experiences a major change in life. The destruction of the family unit she had always known causes her to begin cutting. She's able to wear long sleeves and hide it from everyone, including her mother and the "new" man who's house they now live in. Failing in most of her classes, Krystal joins her only friend Em to volunteer in the local shelter. She has no idea the misfits she meets there hold a key that may have the power to restore her self-worth and provide a glimpse into a life that hasn't existed for her for a very long time. Nick, the new friend who looks remarkably like Santa instantly bonds with Krystal. Ralph, Walt and Peety also have stories to tell as Krystal begins to soak in the inspiration these wonderful souls decide to share with her. I think what I love most about this story is that it paints teens as the vulnerable souls they truly are. I could connect with Krystal's valiant efforts to hide the pain she feels from others because at one time I did the same. Any young person who shields their pain from the world will connect with Krystal and appreciate her struggle to understand and survive the challenges of growing up in a world that isn't always what we hope it will be. It's a reminder that money, degrees and prestige do not define a person's worth.
July 19, 2015
If you wan't to be captured by a story and taken away, you've got to read this Novel. It is a breath taken!!!! Two thumbs up. C.L. Wells has done an excellent job in bringing this story to life. I loved it, both times that I read it.
October 31, 2015
I received this book from the free giveaway at Goodreads.com, and after reading this book I can understand some of the reasons behind feelings that cause people to cut and hide it from everyone. It was well written and very meaningful to me because I know someone that this happened to and luck and God was with my friend also. I enjoyed this book very much, it brought smiles and sometimes tears to me throughout the book. It made me feel like I was right there in person seeing everything that was happening. I enjoy a book that makes you feel this way. It is a wonderful story and I would recommend everyone read this book. God bless the author for writing such a good book. I am sure I will re-read this book.
November 13, 2017
Some scars just can't stay hidden.
Fourteen-year-old Krystal's life is falling apart. Her parents have split up, and won't talk to each other, except through her. Being caught in the middle is bad enough, but being forced to stay with her unfaithful mom and the adulterous man that knocked her up is driving her over the edge. She blames her mother for the wreckage of her family, but even more, she blames God.
To cope, she's been cutting herself. No one knows. Not even her best friend Em. When Em gets her to volunteer at the local homeless shelter, she finds purpose and meaning. Brandon, a boy from her school, is getting meals at the shelter while his family struggles, and Krystal vows to keep his secret, even if she knows she can never reveal her own to him.
As Krystal begins to rebuild her life, however, her well-hidden secret is about to blow up in her face.
Content:
Drug Content:
PG - A few characters have drug addictions at the shelter. One character had a serious alcohol problem in his past.
Violence:
PG - A soldier is wounded, and his comrades are all killed. The main character has a long-standing habit of cutting, and it has left many scars, and draws blood. One person is shot and killed. None of the violence is graphic.
Language:
G - Squeaky clean.
Adult Content:
PG-13 - Krystal's mother is unfaithful and ends up pregnant. A counselor asks questions about a couple's sex life. Two characters have been raped repeatedly by someone they know, though it's a past wound not on screen.
Christian content:
This story covers the conversion stories of several characters at the shelter, and God is definitely at work in what appear to be amazing coincidences. God's hand in action is clearly displayed, and characters see answers to prayer. The disappointment that people face when God doesn't answer a prayer with a Yes, is a major topic of this novel.Dealing with grief, loss, and disillusionment, are major topics as well.
Final analysis:
This was a well-written book that would find shelf space alongside good Christian teen books like the Lilly series. The characters are very real and the struggles they face are common to many teens. Issues like Anorexia and teen suicide are covered, and characters find hope in the midst of tragedy. The plot was well-constructed, the pace steady, the characters true to life. Five Stars!
*I received an electronic copy for an honest review.
Fourteen-year-old Krystal's life is falling apart. Her parents have split up, and won't talk to each other, except through her. Being caught in the middle is bad enough, but being forced to stay with her unfaithful mom and the adulterous man that knocked her up is driving her over the edge. She blames her mother for the wreckage of her family, but even more, she blames God.
To cope, she's been cutting herself. No one knows. Not even her best friend Em. When Em gets her to volunteer at the local homeless shelter, she finds purpose and meaning. Brandon, a boy from her school, is getting meals at the shelter while his family struggles, and Krystal vows to keep his secret, even if she knows she can never reveal her own to him.
As Krystal begins to rebuild her life, however, her well-hidden secret is about to blow up in her face.
Content:
Drug Content:
PG - A few characters have drug addictions at the shelter. One character had a serious alcohol problem in his past.
Violence:
PG - A soldier is wounded, and his comrades are all killed. The main character has a long-standing habit of cutting, and it has left many scars, and draws blood. One person is shot and killed. None of the violence is graphic.
Language:
G - Squeaky clean.
Adult Content:
PG-13 - Krystal's mother is unfaithful and ends up pregnant. A counselor asks questions about a couple's sex life. Two characters have been raped repeatedly by someone they know, though it's a past wound not on screen.
Christian content:
This story covers the conversion stories of several characters at the shelter, and God is definitely at work in what appear to be amazing coincidences. God's hand in action is clearly displayed, and characters see answers to prayer. The disappointment that people face when God doesn't answer a prayer with a Yes, is a major topic of this novel.Dealing with grief, loss, and disillusionment, are major topics as well.
Final analysis:
This was a well-written book that would find shelf space alongside good Christian teen books like the Lilly series. The characters are very real and the struggles they face are common to many teens. Issues like Anorexia and teen suicide are covered, and characters find hope in the midst of tragedy. The plot was well-constructed, the pace steady, the characters true to life. Five Stars!
*I received an electronic copy for an honest review.
June 17, 2016
I became interested in reading this book after reading "Where the Light May Lead" which featured a story written by this author which I'd enjoyed, and received a free copy of this book for agreeing to write an honest review. This book not only did not let me down, it was really amazing! Once I began reading this book, I didn't want to put it down. The book is fast paced, but not too fast. It's like real life. The author did a fantastic job developing the characters and making them very real. I felt like I knew them, and actually dreamed about the main characters the next two nights which rarely happens. Krystal, the main character, is going through a very rough time in her life when the book opens, and the author doesn't try and make things look nice and tidy. She shows just how messy and nasty life can get for us without being too graphic. She did a good job showing the conflicting emotions and thoughts that went on in Krystal's mind and in the minds of other characters in the book as well. The book showed just how our sin nature can trip us up and cause us to go from bad to worse. More though, it showed how much God loves us and how He does doesn't treat us as our sins deserve, but instead offers us His love, mercy and grace. I thought the author did a very good job showing how Krystal began to notice God in her life, and recognize His leading. That's not easy to do, but she got it across very well. It also shows how God works through people to be His hands and feet, and show His love to others. Finally, it shows how God takes us as we are, wounds, scars and all, and begins changing us to be more like Him; and how we can even come to appreciate all we went through. While the book has a happy ending, (for which I'm very grateful) the author also showed that the end result isn't always so good, so again you get the feel of "real life" and not some kind of fairy tale. I sincerely recommend this book to both teens and adults. Now I can't wait for her next book!
July 22, 2015
From the first page, I sensed honesty in the storytelling, a tale of a young woman, Krystal, seemingly born out of the author's own struggles and circumstances of life. There is a lot that I liked and related to in the story. I volunteer at a food pantry, been involved in prison ministry, and fed the homeless, so the scenes at the shelter and the volunteers who keep it running rang true to me. I learned something as well, glimpsing the dark world of self-mutilation and cutting. Krystal didn’t want to die, but rode the pain and streaming blood away from the demons that tormented her. With cutting, though, only bad things can follow.
Ultimately, this is a story of redemption and hope, of a family drawing closer. The Christian message is strong throughout the pages, reflected, not in heavy-handed preaching, but in the lives of many of the characters, their joy in serving others, their dedication to their calling in life. I hope many will open this story and glimpse true Christianity in action.
Ultimately, this is a story of redemption and hope, of a family drawing closer. The Christian message is strong throughout the pages, reflected, not in heavy-handed preaching, but in the lives of many of the characters, their joy in serving others, their dedication to their calling in life. I hope many will open this story and glimpse true Christianity in action.
July 30, 2015
“Memoirs of a Girl Who Loves God” is about a teenage girl who uses self-harm as a coping mechanism after her parents separate and about her struggle to stop. While this statement is true, the book is about so much more. “Memoirs of a Girl Who Loves God” is a heartwarming and at times heart-wrenching story about hardships, friendships, love, and hope. It is a powerful story, filled with realistic and endearing characters. I smiled plenty, laughed much, and got a little choked up a couple times. Although the story of Krystal involves some dark subject matter, it is the message of love that demands the spotlight. Like icing on a cake, this story is wrapped in a beautiful cover. It is a great addition to any library, especially mine.
July 28, 2015
Girl Who Loves God
Wow! We all have a little bit of Krystal in our personality. What must it be like to feel invisible? What must it be like to be so angry? What must it be like to want to escape? Krystal was struggling with so much and the people who should have been there to help her were wrapped up in their own world. But thank God for those around her who were willing to show her God's love. This was an amazing story and I wanted cry at how thoughtful and compassionate C.L. Wells was in writing this story. The way it is written you would think Krystal was actual person,but wait she is real; she maybe your sister, cousin, niece or best friend. AWESOME
Wow! We all have a little bit of Krystal in our personality. What must it be like to feel invisible? What must it be like to be so angry? What must it be like to want to escape? Krystal was struggling with so much and the people who should have been there to help her were wrapped up in their own world. But thank God for those around her who were willing to show her God's love. This was an amazing story and I wanted cry at how thoughtful and compassionate C.L. Wells was in writing this story. The way it is written you would think Krystal was actual person,but wait she is real; she maybe your sister, cousin, niece or best friend. AWESOME
September 19, 2015
C.L. Wells captures a conflict that spans the ages....from young adult to mature, the feelings of not belonging and unresolved issues are awakened in us all. This book is an easy read, and one you don't want to put down. From the beginning, you are drawn into not only 14 year old Krystal's feelings, but the stories of each character that she interacts with. Definitely Christian in appeal but not preachy. The title can be misleading in a way, but don't discount it based on the title alone----give this book a read and you won't regret it!
July 14, 2015
C.L. Wells did an outstanding job on this novel. The characters were very well developed, as well as likable. The topic is very relevant to today's reader,and is handled with the utmost care. This book is worth reading and I would recommend it to anyone. It is marketed as a YA book, but I think anyone would enjoy it. I am in my 50's and found it to be very good. Good job!
September 12, 2016
So Touching
This author has such incredible talent. They captured the emotions and characters beautifully. I was honestly balling at parts, must have tissues when reading. I couldn't put it down, looking forward to more from this amazing author. :):):)
This author has such incredible talent. They captured the emotions and characters beautifully. I was honestly balling at parts, must have tissues when reading. I couldn't put it down, looking forward to more from this amazing author. :):):)
July 29, 2015
This book grabbed me from the first and didn't let me go! Enjoyed every page of it. Laughed, cried, and cheered. Great book for any age to read!
August 28, 2015
FTC Disclosure: I received this book free from Goodreads hoping I would review it
November 6, 2015
Thankful
When I started reading I thought I had made a mistake. I had gotten a book for teens. Yes it will be good for teens but the message is good for everyone.
When I started reading I thought I had made a mistake. I had gotten a book for teens. Yes it will be good for teens but the message is good for everyone.
March 15, 2018
Wow, this book was incredible. I absolutely loved it.
Just a couple notes. First off, I loved all the diversity of characters. It's not something you see a lot of in Christian fiction. Secondly, I felt I needed to mention this. Self harm and depression are very very real, and they are often misrepresented, and made into an offensive caricature. I have known a lot of people in my life who've dealt with depression, at least three of which self harmed, several more (only one of the self harmers overlaps into this category) who've been suicidal, one of whom lost the battle (RIP, C. - I only gave their first initial for the family's privacy). This book took those subjects though, and portrayed them in a realistic, respectful way. It is never okay to make jokes about depression, self harm, or suicide. Sadly, these things are a reality for more people than you realize. Most people who deal with such issues keep them hidden. Pray for those who are hurting in private, and if you know someone's hurting, help them in a way they're comfortable. Don't just fly in and try to fix everything, because you could, and likely would, make things worse. Try just talking to them, and make sure they know you care, are listening, and you'll keep their conversation private. The only time you should tell someone is if you think they need professional help, if they ask you to, or if you truly think that telling someone else would help. But, above everything else, if you can do nothing else, pray. Anyway, I know that was a lot, but I felt it needed to be said. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone, especially those who want to see a realistic portrayal of depression.
PS: If you need someone to talk to, I'm more than willing to talk. If you need help, feel free to message me on here.
Just a couple notes. First off, I loved all the diversity of characters. It's not something you see a lot of in Christian fiction. Secondly, I felt I needed to mention this. Self harm and depression are very very real, and they are often misrepresented, and made into an offensive caricature. I have known a lot of people in my life who've dealt with depression, at least three of which self harmed, several more (only one of the self harmers overlaps into this category) who've been suicidal, one of whom lost the battle (RIP, C. - I only gave their first initial for the family's privacy). This book took those subjects though, and portrayed them in a realistic, respectful way. It is never okay to make jokes about depression, self harm, or suicide. Sadly, these things are a reality for more people than you realize. Most people who deal with such issues keep them hidden. Pray for those who are hurting in private, and if you know someone's hurting, help them in a way they're comfortable. Don't just fly in and try to fix everything, because you could, and likely would, make things worse. Try just talking to them, and make sure they know you care, are listening, and you'll keep their conversation private. The only time you should tell someone is if you think they need professional help, if they ask you to, or if you truly think that telling someone else would help. But, above everything else, if you can do nothing else, pray. Anyway, I know that was a lot, but I felt it needed to be said. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone, especially those who want to see a realistic portrayal of depression.
PS: If you need someone to talk to, I'm more than willing to talk. If you need help, feel free to message me on here.
February 18, 2019
It's not always plain sailing
The story was well conceived and put together, a family of spilt in two when the Mum gets pregnant but not by her husband and the family has to leave their family home and move in with the Man (he gets a band at the end but the raw pain is too much for now. So Krystal the eldest daughter takes it badly and can't even look at the baby which her siblings seems to score which just baffled her.
But things begin to change when her best friend and to be honest only friend Em invites her to go with her and her Mum and Dad to help serve food up at a homeless shelter where she begins to see that there are people a lot worse off than herself. Her anger with GOD is challenged but she also feels justifiable when she sees the suffering of others even more so. But as Nick a leader at the shelter takes her on board and gives her a special task well you need to read that for yourself but things become different for Krystal. One of her coping mechanism for surviving has been to cutting herself this isn't a soft girl finds GOD sort of Christian novel but a bit of grit although personally thought the end was rushed i loved this book and hope you do a well. It is a good book to share as well as a great one to read.
The story was well conceived and put together, a family of spilt in two when the Mum gets pregnant but not by her husband and the family has to leave their family home and move in with the Man (he gets a band at the end but the raw pain is too much for now. So Krystal the eldest daughter takes it badly and can't even look at the baby which her siblings seems to score which just baffled her.
But things begin to change when her best friend and to be honest only friend Em invites her to go with her and her Mum and Dad to help serve food up at a homeless shelter where she begins to see that there are people a lot worse off than herself. Her anger with GOD is challenged but she also feels justifiable when she sees the suffering of others even more so. But as Nick a leader at the shelter takes her on board and gives her a special task well you need to read that for yourself but things become different for Krystal. One of her coping mechanism for surviving has been to cutting herself this isn't a soft girl finds GOD sort of Christian novel but a bit of grit although personally thought the end was rushed i loved this book and hope you do a well. It is a good book to share as well as a great one to read.
January 3, 2020
I would give this book 3.5 stars. I was torn between giving it a 3 or 4 because of a couple of issues I had with it. First off, I felt it ended rather abruptly. And while it did have an epilogue I still felt the story was incomplete but of course you can purchase book two to continue the story. The second item that makes me feel that this story is incomplete revolves around the dissolution of Krystal's parents marriage. This had a profound effect on Krystal and her behavior. She blamed her mother for everything but towards the end of the book mention is made of the father's culpability; this portion of the story, however, was dismissed as unimportant by this point. I completely disagree with this sentiment because of the amount of time Krystal had focused on this. It just didn't make sense to me that this would no longer be important to her story. It made the ending seem rushed.
February 19, 2021
Excellent read
5 stats for the raw, eeal and touching story. The characters were amazing and Krystal gave me a peak into the world of cutting that I could never understood before. Her journey Jesus was touching and real.
5 stats for the raw, eeal and touching story. The characters were amazing and Krystal gave me a peak into the world of cutting that I could never understood before. Her journey Jesus was touching and real.
October 14, 2019
So good
I loved this book! So many times I would have a question and the author answered it on the next page. Wonderfully uplifting without being preachy.
I loved this book! So many times I would have a question and the author answered it on the next page. Wonderfully uplifting without being preachy.
October 10, 2015
This was a well-written book. Wells did a great job crafting Krystal's journey through hardships on her path to self-discovery and relationship with Christ. It was refreshing to read a YA Christian book and Wells is definitely making a statement in this genre. I can't wait to read more from her in the future.
January 13, 2016
Loved it. Some of the beliefs do rub against my own and there are very slight moments where those beliefs are pushed a little too much into the readers face...but, the story is solid and the harsh reality of self harm is dealt with extremely well. Every character is spot on...I adored Krystal, Walt and Taylor (please let Taylor be in the 2nd book!) and it is well written with a very mature flow.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews