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Diary of a Teenage Girl #6
My Name is Chloe
Chloe, Josh Miller's younger sister, is a free spirit with funky clothes and dramatic hair. She struggles with her own identity, classmates, parents, boys, and -- her biggest question -- whether or not God is for real. But this unconventional high school freshman definitely doesn't hold back when she meets Him in a big, personal way. Refusing to change her image to fit into the "stereotypical Christian preppy mold," Chloe expresses God's love and grace through the girl band she forms, Redemption. In her development as a musician and performer, tender-hearted Chloe will learn tough lessons about following God, her heart, and her dreams.
300 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
29 people are currently reading
1159 people want to read
About the author
Melody Carlson
418 books3,237 followersMelody 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 inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon.
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 inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
January 17, 2009
WOW! This author REALLY hit home. I think she stalked me and took my life as an example for this book. (At least the first part of it) Most certainly one of my all time favorites.
March 26, 2012
I hate to say this, but I actively disliked this book. If I wasn't reading it for a class, I would have put it down after the first page. I was really trying to keep an open mind since I don't read much Christian/Inspirational fiction, but I just couldn't ignore the poor quality of writing. The dialog felt soooo forced and stiff and…unnatural. And I really didn't buy Chloe's narrative voice. It felt too much like an author trying to fit certain themes into a character's mouth rather than the words/situations arising naturally from the character.
Like, as an example, Chloe is joking with her parents about how the look of her band is not mainstream enough to attract a certain kind of fan, i.e. older people. Her dad responds by joking, "Hey, who you calling old?" And then what does Chloe do? "I patted him on the back. 'No offense, Dad, but you guys are my parents. You're supposed to be a little out of the loop. That's how we play the game, right?'" (193). That's how you play what game? What are you talking about?! Argh! This book is just full of little phrases like this that come off as odd and totally unnatural. Ugh, it bugged me so much.
I actually didn't mind the religious theme that much. I mean, Carlson does make an attempt at a sort of acceptance of differences since Chloe's band consists of her in her grunge-rock look; Laura, an African American "preppy" girl; and Allie, a Wiccan from a poor family. But then, oh wait, they all become Christians. So never mind, I guess they're not all that different after all.
It just bothers me in the Christian fiction that I've read (which I'll admit is very little and possibly not the best example of the genre) that after a character "gives her heart to Jesus," as Chloe does, she immediately starts praying for everyone she knows so that they too will see the truth and become Christians. Conversion becomes a central theme, and as a non-Christian reader it comes across a bit preachy and pushy. And it was also a little unbelievable that Chloe's "rebirth" immediately flipped a switch and made her completely happy and totally different in her approach to life. Carlson goes out of her way to show that Chloe still has problems in her life even though she's Christian. But apparently she was seriously depressed, like suicidal, self-destructive depressed before her "rebirth," and the day afterwards she's immensely happy and back to normal. I just don't know how realistic that is.
Like, as an example, Chloe is joking with her parents about how the look of her band is not mainstream enough to attract a certain kind of fan, i.e. older people. Her dad responds by joking, "Hey, who you calling old?" And then what does Chloe do? "I patted him on the back. 'No offense, Dad, but you guys are my parents. You're supposed to be a little out of the loop. That's how we play the game, right?'" (193). That's how you play what game? What are you talking about?! Argh! This book is just full of little phrases like this that come off as odd and totally unnatural. Ugh, it bugged me so much.
I actually didn't mind the religious theme that much. I mean, Carlson does make an attempt at a sort of acceptance of differences since Chloe's band consists of her in her grunge-rock look; Laura, an African American "preppy" girl; and Allie, a Wiccan from a poor family. But then, oh wait, they all become Christians. So never mind, I guess they're not all that different after all.
It just bothers me in the Christian fiction that I've read (which I'll admit is very little and possibly not the best example of the genre) that after a character "gives her heart to Jesus," as Chloe does, she immediately starts praying for everyone she knows so that they too will see the truth and become Christians. Conversion becomes a central theme, and as a non-Christian reader it comes across a bit preachy and pushy. And it was also a little unbelievable that Chloe's "rebirth" immediately flipped a switch and made her completely happy and totally different in her approach to life. Carlson goes out of her way to show that Chloe still has problems in her life even though she's Christian. But apparently she was seriously depressed, like suicidal, self-destructive depressed before her "rebirth," and the day afterwards she's immensely happy and back to normal. I just don't know how realistic that is.
March 19, 2015
*Review also on AwesomeBookNuts.blogspot.com.*
Being a Christian who doesn't read many YA Christian-themed books, I thought I'd give this a try. I maybe shouldn't have.
For starters, this book is really, very poorly written. It was cheesy and forced. Characters in this book didn't speak like normal people and just about all dialogue felt unnatural. The whole thing kind of felt like an after school special put on by a local preacher; "Hey kids, it's cool to be Christian! Just ask this punk rocker girl who speaks like a 30-year-old!" And it's all written in diary form, right? So everything is from Chloe's perspective. And I just didn't buy into Chloe's personality. At all. She didn't read like a teenage girl. She read like a middle-aged woman trying to act hip.
There were a few different plotlines going on, which I appreciate, but a couple were just... stupid. The bullying storyline was ridiculous. I guess stuff like this can happen, but really? It didn't feel legitimate. It was cliche and corny and just dumb.
The music aspect of the book was nice. I liked all the scenes where Chloe played at the coffee shop and the battle of the bands thing. I'm a sucker for music, though.
Conversion was a main theme here. Chloe got converted to Christianity and was instantly happy with herself. I don't deny that feeling the presence of God in your life will help you feel better about the world in general but it's not a solve-all that will fix all your depression and whatever-other problems you have. Conversion is a process that takes time and does not just make everything perfect. And then, once Chloe is converted, she begins to pray for everyone around her to be converted, too. It's almost like saying, "Hey, I like my friends for who they are, even though they're all completely different but if they were all Christian like me I'd like them a whole lot more."
What kind of message is that to send? That we'd only like other people if they were the same as us? Not cool. And her friend Allie who does end up converting from Wicca to Christianity just--so flaky. And dumb. Allie, grow a pair and do what you believe in, not whatever your friends are doing at the time just so you can fit in.
Caitlin bugged just because she was so, so far to the right. I mean, she didn't date, didn't talk about anything unrelated to religion and pretty much only contacted Chloe to bully her into accepting God into her life. I. Just. Can't.
So I couldn't get over the after-school-special feel this whole book had. "Hey, kids, we Christians enjoy diversity but pray for everyone you know to become Christian and we can all be the same! And we'll all be happy, too!" It kind of felt petty, to be completely honest. As a religious person myself, I just can't get over the way the Christians in this book pushed and nagged those around them into thinking about becoming Christian. Yes, it's a lovely thing to accept in your life. But only if you want it in your life. And not everyone accepts Christianity and that should be fine. This book made it seem like everyone who was prayed for accepted Christianity pretty easily. Unrealistic. I felt like the kids in this book were kind of bullied into religion. That's never a good thing. Religion is something that needs to be discovered for yourself. Yes, learn about what's out there if you're interested in religion but someone else can't just pray for you to become Christian and BAM! you're Christian. Doesn't work that way.
To wrap up, this book was simplistic, unrealistic and kind of dumb. I was hoping for something uplifting but it kind of made me a little downhearted about religious people in general.
Sexual Content: None
Language: None
Drugs/Alcohol: None
Violence: None
Being a Christian who doesn't read many YA Christian-themed books, I thought I'd give this a try. I maybe shouldn't have.
For starters, this book is really, very poorly written. It was cheesy and forced. Characters in this book didn't speak like normal people and just about all dialogue felt unnatural. The whole thing kind of felt like an after school special put on by a local preacher; "Hey kids, it's cool to be Christian! Just ask this punk rocker girl who speaks like a 30-year-old!" And it's all written in diary form, right? So everything is from Chloe's perspective. And I just didn't buy into Chloe's personality. At all. She didn't read like a teenage girl. She read like a middle-aged woman trying to act hip.
There were a few different plotlines going on, which I appreciate, but a couple were just... stupid. The bullying storyline was ridiculous. I guess stuff like this can happen, but really? It didn't feel legitimate. It was cliche and corny and just dumb.
The music aspect of the book was nice. I liked all the scenes where Chloe played at the coffee shop and the battle of the bands thing. I'm a sucker for music, though.
Conversion was a main theme here. Chloe got converted to Christianity and was instantly happy with herself. I don't deny that feeling the presence of God in your life will help you feel better about the world in general but it's not a solve-all that will fix all your depression and whatever-other problems you have. Conversion is a process that takes time and does not just make everything perfect. And then, once Chloe is converted, she begins to pray for everyone around her to be converted, too. It's almost like saying, "Hey, I like my friends for who they are, even though they're all completely different but if they were all Christian like me I'd like them a whole lot more."
What kind of message is that to send? That we'd only like other people if they were the same as us? Not cool. And her friend Allie who does end up converting from Wicca to Christianity just--so flaky. And dumb. Allie, grow a pair and do what you believe in, not whatever your friends are doing at the time just so you can fit in.
Caitlin bugged just because she was so, so far to the right. I mean, she didn't date, didn't talk about anything unrelated to religion and pretty much only contacted Chloe to bully her into accepting God into her life. I. Just. Can't.
So I couldn't get over the after-school-special feel this whole book had. "Hey, kids, we Christians enjoy diversity but pray for everyone you know to become Christian and we can all be the same! And we'll all be happy, too!" It kind of felt petty, to be completely honest. As a religious person myself, I just can't get over the way the Christians in this book pushed and nagged those around them into thinking about becoming Christian. Yes, it's a lovely thing to accept in your life. But only if you want it in your life. And not everyone accepts Christianity and that should be fine. This book made it seem like everyone who was prayed for accepted Christianity pretty easily. Unrealistic. I felt like the kids in this book were kind of bullied into religion. That's never a good thing. Religion is something that needs to be discovered for yourself. Yes, learn about what's out there if you're interested in religion but someone else can't just pray for you to become Christian and BAM! you're Christian. Doesn't work that way.
To wrap up, this book was simplistic, unrealistic and kind of dumb. I was hoping for something uplifting but it kind of made me a little downhearted about religious people in general.
Sexual Content: None
Language: None
Drugs/Alcohol: None
Violence: None
October 15, 2010
Another really great book. This book is about a young girl who is sort of a rebel. She does what she want's and doesn't care for anything but herself. Chloe is a great guitar player, she plays and it's sort of her passion. Her friend does witchcraft, really scary, her friend believes that the witchcraft will make her life better, but so far she's snot doeing so good. One day when Chloe was walking in the cemetary she fell to her knees and asked God for forgivness and asked Christ to come into her heart. Every sence then she goes to church and tries to do the right thing all the time. But one day when these sgroup of girls come up to her and start hitting her , Chloe swings her backpack and hit one girl in the nose, which was now broke. Chloe now want's her friend to get out of witchcraft and ask God for forgivness, but it's not going so well, then one day her friend came up and said she is now a Christian. Chloe and her friend and another girl got a job at a resteruant to play music, they're band is called Redemptation. So far Chloe is a not quite so much a rebel and she has a strong relationship with God.
June 16, 2009
After reading the Kim series I decided to pick up a Chloe book.
Chloe looks like your average rebel: she's got piercings, dyed hair, and those black clothes. She freaks her mom out and makes others keep away. She likes being different, but now all she wants is a friend-and some answers.
But after a close encounter with God and meeting up with some "different" liking friends, wouldn't you know it? Chloe Miller is starting a rock band-but where is it going? All the way to stardom or just the neighborhood?
.........................................................................................
Though I didn't enjoy it as much as the Kim books, I could really relate to Chloe-about being different (not that I dress like a Goth) but to the point where no one (meaning teens-not parents) understands you. I thought it was great reading about someone who you can relate directly to.
REVIEW BY MORGAN
Chloe looks like your average rebel: she's got piercings, dyed hair, and those black clothes. She freaks her mom out and makes others keep away. She likes being different, but now all she wants is a friend-and some answers.
But after a close encounter with God and meeting up with some "different" liking friends, wouldn't you know it? Chloe Miller is starting a rock band-but where is it going? All the way to stardom or just the neighborhood?
.........................................................................................
Though I didn't enjoy it as much as the Kim books, I could really relate to Chloe-about being different (not that I dress like a Goth) but to the point where no one (meaning teens-not parents) understands you. I thought it was great reading about someone who you can relate directly to.
REVIEW BY MORGAN
November 7, 2011
this book is probably the best book I have read all year, I choice this book because I was browsing though the library and found this book, I was attracted to the front cover so I read the back and I could help myself, it is about a girl named Chloe who has gone though so much, lost everything and as soon as she is about to give up she is confronted by god, with her guitar in her hand she is determined to spread the word of god to other people who were in her shoes before god came alone and saved her life. This book has many twists and turns one minute everything is perfect the next it is complete chaos. That’s the thing I loved about this book its just so exciting, sometimes it was a bit slow at points in the story but it was overall amazing. I would recommend this book for any girl who is 14 and above it does contain some minor violence so maybe no one younger then this age.
May 1, 2007
This was a really good book. Seriously, just like Who I Am, this book is written in diary form. It's really, really good.The book sorta starts with Chloe.....this teenage girl who has gone through alot of hurt and she's seen as rebellious. Through the help of her teenage mentor (Caitlin O' Conner who is Chloe's brother's ex-girlfriend), Chloe eventually becomes a Christian and decides to start a sort of punk rock band with her friends. Well, I'll stop there, but this is a really good book.
March 4, 2008
This book contains humor and a very good motivating message. it goes through the journey of a girl before Christ and after. It uses her and her friends to decifer life and the hardships. its an awesome quick read that has very humorous pieces to it.
July 16, 2010
This book alone brought me closer to God it was something I desperately needed at the time and I am so thankful I found this book. Chloe's testimony and how she brought her friends to Christ was more of a lesson to me than I was willing to listen to at the time I was reading this book
May 15, 2011
This is one of my favorite books ever. When I first read it I was a teenager and related so closely to Chloe. Her frustrations and feeling lost, her conversion.... I latched on to this book. Now I'm enjoying following her journey with her band.
July 19, 2011
I thought this book was really good! it spoke alot about Chloes life as a christian and how it can change you and make you a beter person!! i read all of the Chloe series and fell in love with them!! :) :) :) all the books by melody carlson are really good :) :)
November 26, 2011
It is a very good book! I read two capters in school, then i started reading it when i got home, and i couldent get my eyes away from it! I finished it that night. I was very dissapointed when my school library did not have the second one!
May 10, 2012
I loved this book! I really enjoyed the Caitlyn series and I was eager to start the Chloe series, and this book was so good! Chloe remind me of how I was before I was saved and ever a little of how I am now. I really love this and I'm excited to read the rest!
November 28, 2012
I love this book, I mean there is only 1 thing different about the character and me other than appearance and that is she don,t like to have very close friends and i do, have anybody ever felt that way or whatever
September 24, 2007
Amazing series that I fell in love with from page one. :]
May 18, 2008
I like reading Christian books, for some reason...I don't even go to church.
May 3, 2008
This was shockingly good!! I loved watching the transformation of Chloe and how the world around her "changed" with her. Awesome book.
November 6, 2008
this book is awnsome it has a good message in but it also is true... well most of it
February 19, 2009
IT WILL TEACH you a lesson
May 1, 2009
Through reading these books, I was really inspired to write more poems.
July 6, 2009
I really liked this one! Seeing Chloe grow, make friends, deal with absent parents; it was good. It'll be fun to read and find out what happens in the next books.
March 24, 2010
Finding Jesus can solve your problems, not all since you have to be Christ-like to "make" it work.
April 25, 2010
this was a really good book. it shows the spirtual ride of ups and downs with being a Christian. i love how Chloe is so commited to doing her best to live like Jesus.
July 3, 2010
Awesome book! Loved it LOved it loved it! i cant find the second book though-i cant wait to read it!
April 10, 2011
Wow What a great book! Love it!
August 14, 2011
Boreing......zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
September 9, 2011
I loved it
September 14, 2011
Read it last year and over the summer.
August 21, 2012
easy read
October 25, 2012
Really helped me understand my faith.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews