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Mixed Bags
(Carter House Girls #1)
by
When her mom died, DJ had to move in with her grandmother, internationally famous ’60s fashion model Katherine Carter. Now Mrs. Carter’s opened a boarding home for young ladies, and DJ—who would rather wear her basketball team uniform than haute couture—is just sure they’ll all be unbearable fashion snobs. One by one, the girls arrive and begin to figure out how to fit int
...more
Paperback, 219 pages
Published
May 11th 2008
by Zondervan Publishing Company
(first published April 22nd 2008)
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Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
About this book:
“With six teenage girls living under one roof, things are bound to get interesting. Mix six teenaged girls and one 60s fashion icon (retired, of course) in an old Victorian-era boarding home. Add guys and dating, a little high-school angst, and huge personalities and you’ve got the Carter House Girls.
When her mom died, DJ was forced to move in with her grandmother, internationally famous 60s fashion model Katherine Carter. Now Mrs. Carter s opened a boarding home for young ladie ...more
“With six teenage girls living under one roof, things are bound to get interesting. Mix six teenaged girls and one 60s fashion icon (retired, of course) in an old Victorian-era boarding home. Add guys and dating, a little high-school angst, and huge personalities and you’ve got the Carter House Girls.
When her mom died, DJ was forced to move in with her grandmother, internationally famous 60s fashion model Katherine Carter. Now Mrs. Carter s opened a boarding home for young ladie ...more
Eh, this book was ok but certainly not my favourite. The ending was rather generic, the characters were flaky and annoying. The whole situation is interesting, and it could've been a cool story if DJ hadn't conformed to the fashion girls' ways and started dating and everything, I think that ruined it for me.
Mixed Bags is a great book for teenage girls. There are characters with every personality to relate to every reader. These high school girls deal with all kinds of drama and things girls really do go through. This book can relate to any and every girl while giving them helpful advice as well.
I really liked how this book relates to different people, but still tells a great story. Not all Christian books can do this. I really appreciate the fact that you don't open the book and it immediately pr ...more
I really liked how this book relates to different people, but still tells a great story. Not all Christian books can do this. I really appreciate the fact that you don't open the book and it immediately pr ...more
I have to say, this book is so utterly boring I’m surprised I could even get through it! I had high hopes for a well-written, interesting, juicy novel, and I got a predictable, slow-paced, cookie-cutter story. I rounded the stars up because it has potential, but the real rating is more like 2.5. Honestly, I found the writing bland at best and the characters meh. They were all over the place, under-developed, and unrealistic.
I wouldn’t recommend this book if you want a page-turner, but go ahead ...more
I wouldn’t recommend this book if you want a page-turner, but go ahead ...more
I’ve been wanting to read this series for a while now. This is the first book in a series of 8. Since this is the first book, not a lot happens. Characters and conflicts are introduced but nothing is really resolved.
The book does a good job of setting up the conflict well.
I don’t know how I feel about Conner, but I liked DJ well enough. I’m interested to continue learning her story.
The book does a good job of setting up the conflict well.
I don’t know how I feel about Conner, but I liked DJ well enough. I’m interested to continue learning her story.
About the book:
After DJ's mom died, she had to move in with her grandmother, Katherine Carter, a retired internationally famous '60s fashion model. Now Mrs. Carter has decided to open a boarding home for girls, and DJ who would rather wear her team jersey than Gucci and Prada thinks that these girls will all be intolerable fashion snobs. One by one, the girls arrive and begin to figure out how to fit into this new lifestyle, and forming friendships. Sure, there's an aspiring prima donna or two, ...more
At A Glance
Genre: Young Adult; Christian
Love Triangle/Insta Love/Obsesion?: no
Cliff Hanger: Nope.
Rating: 2 Stars
Score Sheet
All out of ten
Cover: 7
Plot: 6
Characters: 7
World Building: 7
Flow: 8
Series Congruity: n/a
Writing: 7
Ending: 5
Total: 5
In Dept
Best Part: Good intentions
Worst Part: Southern Accents.
Thoughts Had: Ugh.; Oh no; Very clean there!
Conclusion
Continuing the Series: yes
Recommending: To other Christians
Short Review: Well, i didn't know this was Christian. So i was a bit taken back by t ...more
Genre: Young Adult; Christian
Love Triangle/Insta Love/Obsesion?: no
Cliff Hanger: Nope.
Rating: 2 Stars
Score Sheet
All out of ten
Cover: 7
Plot: 6
Characters: 7
World Building: 7
Flow: 8
Series Congruity: n/a
Writing: 7
Ending: 5
Total: 5
In Dept
Best Part: Good intentions
Worst Part: Southern Accents.
Thoughts Had: Ugh.; Oh no; Very clean there!
Conclusion
Continuing the Series: yes
Recommending: To other Christians
Short Review: Well, i didn't know this was Christian. So i was a bit taken back by t ...more
Great characters and story. But. Same old resolution from Carlson. I keep telling myself to not read her books anymore. Because I already know how it'll end... finding Jesus. But the interactions, conflicts and general storytelling is worth it. I just pray (lol) for a better ending. I think an author should be more creative and try something different with each book. Grow a little. All my favorite authors do this. This pattern is constant and repeated from the 4 or so books I've read by Carlson.
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Mar 18, 2008
Margaret Chind
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
teen girls and moms
Recommended to Margaret by:
FIRST
When I first started this book, I was not too sure of how I would like it. But then as I left it and went to do some other things, I realized that I kept thinking about the story, and could not get it out of my head! This is the first, I think, of Melody Carlson that I've been able to read.. meaning get my hands on. It is a great little story that should be read by all mid-high school girls. It is so real to life and it does meet up with every type of girl. You can see yourself and remember your
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This book was very... interesting at first because I'm so very used to reading in first person point of view but this was third person. I adjusted to it and it was quite an excellent book. I still haven't read the sequel: Stealing Bradford, but I am very much looking forward to it. If you hesitating on reading this book or if you think the beginning sucks and wanna put it down.. DO NOT DO THAT. I t gets very good and I, honestly, am a twilight fan and can't put the twilight series books down(I k
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It was boring.
I think it was written pretty well, the female characters did have the two-faced personality which you would find in many. They each had nice stories to them
Now the bad, almost started on it. The whole book lasts about three to four days. The main character far to easily became a person she swore not to without hesitation, and I find that hard to believe. Really it was more stupid drama then anything else.
I recommended it to people who like girl drama, but if you were like me and h ...more
I think it was written pretty well, the female characters did have the two-faced personality which you would find in many. They each had nice stories to them
Now the bad, almost started on it. The whole book lasts about three to four days. The main character far to easily became a person she swore not to without hesitation, and I find that hard to believe. Really it was more stupid drama then anything else.
I recommended it to people who like girl drama, but if you were like me and h ...more
This is a story of 6 teenage girls living with a retired 60's fashion model, Katherine Carter, in a boarding home. DJ is the main character. She moved in with her grandmother, Mrs. Carter, when her mom died. Soon, other girls start arriving at the boarding home, and DJ, a total tomboy, thinks the others are stuck-up brats. You should read this to find out what happens to DJ as the girls start to become 'sisters'; dating, sharing clothes and secrets.
I would recommend this book to teenage girls wh ...more
I would recommend this book to teenage girls wh ...more
Melody Carlson's books are so easy to dive into. On page two I already feel like I'm in the story. The characters in Mixed Bags are authentic teen personas, each trying to find their way, despite initial appearances of rich, fashion queen type divas with a few outsiders trying to figure out how they'll choose to fit in or choose not to fit in hanging on the fringes. The characters are faced with real, daily issues. It's refreshing to see them make both good and bad choices. My only quip is that
...more
This is a Christian YA fiction book, which I did not know until I looked the book up. Although, I often do not read Christian books, I found this was a good book. Also, for a first book this sets up the series well. This book is about a girl named DJ who lives with her grandmother at Carter House, large house in a small town. Soon five new girls move into the house, where they will live while attending high school. The girls are all from different backgrounds and creeds. This causes some interes
...more
This novel sets the stage for the next books in the series. I found most of the characters intriguing and I was vastly interested in how this whole thing was going to work out. I could definitely see things from DJ's point of view and I'm not sure I would have been able to handle the different personalities of the new girls. I enjoyed this book and I wanted to know what would happen next. I'd recommend if you liked ya christian fiction that doesn't sugarcoat tough issues.
*Taken from my book revi ...more
*Taken from my book revi ...more
I don't even know what to say about this book. I've got mixed feelings about it. I'm debating on wether or not to continue with the series. Now that DJ's a Christian maybe it'll be better? Not sure.
I enjoyed this book quite a bit! The characters were very believable and seemed like real high school girls and boys! Reannon seemed a bit too perfect a Christian to be true, but at the same time this is written from DJ’s perspective so maybe to her she looks like she is perfect. I hope she brings the characters to life even more in the next books! I will also say this book is a quick read, with a cliff hanger at the end so it doesn’t end in a pleasing way. There is much better teen Christian fi
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This was such a fun beginning to an entertaining series of Christian YA novels called the Carter House Girls. It was well written and introduced readers to several interesting characters. I am so glad I started this cute series.
For a Melody Carlson, this book had a lot more negative talk and teenage girl angst than I'm used to. I don't necessarily think I'll finish the whole series, but maybe just one more because the ending was more of a beginning and I really want to know what happened to Connor.
This was a very nice, clean coming of age book. It talks about first love, peer pressure, and six girls getting along. I enjoyed it very much.
It was a really good book. It shows how girls can go from making bad decisions to following christ.
AUDIOBOOK:
liked the whole book but last 5 mins takes a super religious turn. I'll give book 2 a try but not sure??
liked the whole book but last 5 mins takes a super religious turn. I'll give book 2 a try but not sure??
I think this book is very relevant even with the various cliché moments through out the book. I enjoyed it and plan to continue the series.
3.5
DJ became Desiree too fast. It's good book to remind you why you never want to be a teenager again. I didn't like the ending.
DJ became Desiree too fast. It's good book to remind you why you never want to be a teenager again. I didn't like the ending.
Cute, simple little story about a group of girls who live with an elderly ex-model. I guess I didn't pay attention to the clues that this is Christian fiction, so was surprised by all the Jesus talk in the end, and a sudden born-again moment for the main character. Overall a short and sweet YA audiobook, that really serves as an introduction to the series.
I highly recommend this age appropriate Young Adult book. DJ, an athletic tomboy, has gone to live with grandmother who is opening her house to become a finishing school for young ladies. I thought it would be another silly high series, sometimes I need fluffy brain candy, but I was actually impressed that there is much more depth than I expected.
Yes, it is a coming of age story set in high school with the typical high school temptations and problems, but there is also an accompanying Christian ...more
Yes, it is a coming of age story set in high school with the typical high school temptations and problems, but there is also an accompanying Christian ...more
DJ is in high school and jsut trying to fit in. Her recent loss of her mother has made her father move her into her grandmothers house. Here her grandmother has started a house to hold girls that she wishes to transform in to debutantes. With already having trouble fitting in being forced to live with already beautiful and popular girls is just going to make DJ's life that much harder. You watch as she adjusts to living with these 5 new girls who're just as different from her as they are from ea
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5 Stars! I read this book in eighth grade. I never had finished the series. There is eight books in the series. This book caught my eyes a couple of weeks ago when I was at college. I picked up this book right when I got home and loved it! So glad I re-read it! I am definitely going to finish the rest of the series. This book is about a girl, DJ, who goes and lives with her grandmother after her mother had died. Her father did not want to take care of her. Her grandmother decided to have other g
...more
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| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Sinopsis en Español // Synopsis in Spanish | 1 | 1 | Apr 10, 2015 07:52AM |
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus.
She also writes many teen books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series.
Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspi ...more
She also writes many teen books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series.
Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspi ...more
Other books in the series
Carter House Girls
(8 books)
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