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Just Another Girl
Aster Flynn is stuck. She has to spend all of her "free" time with her younger sister, Lily, who, though fifteen, is mentally handicapped. At age seventeen, Aster should be hanging out with friends, dating boys, and working at a fun job. But her dad's MIA, her mom is always at work, and her older sister Rose is too self-centered to give her any help. It's not that Aster doesn't love Lily--it's just that for once she'd like to be able to be a normal teenager.
So when a cute popular guy seems to take an interest in her, Aster hatches a plan. Somehow she has to get her workaholic mom and deadbeat dad to be the parents Lily needs so that Aster can have a life of her own. But can she ever get her parents to start acting like adults? Is this new guy worth the trouble? And, most importantly, will Lily get hurt in the process?
With its real-life characters and struggles, "Just Another Girl" will immediately draw teen girls in. Author Melody Carlson knows how to write to girls just where they are.
So when a cute popular guy seems to take an interest in her, Aster hatches a plan. Somehow she has to get her workaholic mom and deadbeat dad to be the parents Lily needs so that Aster can have a life of her own. But can she ever get her parents to start acting like adults? Is this new guy worth the trouble? And, most importantly, will Lily get hurt in the process?
With its real-life characters and struggles, "Just Another Girl" will immediately draw teen girls in. Author Melody Carlson knows how to write to girls just where they are.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
17 people are currently reading
657 people want to read
About the author
Melody Carlson
419 books3,264 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 67 reviews
June 30, 2011
4.5 Just Another Girl is a GREAT book. Now I don't absolutely postively love it, but it's pretty darn close. I found so many similarities between me and Aster.
1. She loves reading - just like me!
"...reading has always been a handy escape for me. I get to run away from my dreary little life for a few hours. Of course, Rose thinks I'm nuts. She can't believe that I read because I want to" (84).
I love to read. 'Nuf said.
2. She says 'humph'!
"Only someone like Crystal or me would say 'humph'. I guess we really are nerds" (79).
My friends should know; I say humph all the time when I'm angry!
3. She says 'Tar-shay'!
"As I mentioned, I'm more of a Target girl, or 'Tar-zhay,' as Rose likes to say" (53).
My family says 'Tar-shay' for Target, and JC Pen-ay for JCPenny.
4. Aster is a Christian!
I am a Catholic and this book didn't shy away from the fact that Aster had Christian morals and views. She even went to a youth group at church!
5. She has a little sister!
I have a little sister too! However, mine does not have any disabilities like Aster's little sis, Lily.
I loved to read about someone so similar to me. Aster cared for her sister, but she also found time to care for and respect herself. Just Another Girl was about being responsible in your family, but also being yourself. And the Christian values Aster displayed made my dad happy that I was actually reading a book of substance! He says : ) It was AWESOME!!
1. She loves reading - just like me!
"...reading has always been a handy escape for me. I get to run away from my dreary little life for a few hours. Of course, Rose thinks I'm nuts. She can't believe that I read because I want to" (84).
I love to read. 'Nuf said.
2. She says 'humph'!
"Only someone like Crystal or me would say 'humph'. I guess we really are nerds" (79).
My friends should know; I say humph all the time when I'm angry!
3. She says 'Tar-shay'!
"As I mentioned, I'm more of a Target girl, or 'Tar-zhay,' as Rose likes to say" (53).
My family says 'Tar-shay' for Target, and JC Pen-ay for JCPenny.
4. Aster is a Christian!
I am a Catholic and this book didn't shy away from the fact that Aster had Christian morals and views. She even went to a youth group at church!
5. She has a little sister!
I have a little sister too! However, mine does not have any disabilities like Aster's little sis, Lily.
I loved to read about someone so similar to me. Aster cared for her sister, but she also found time to care for and respect herself. Just Another Girl was about being responsible in your family, but also being yourself. And the Christian values Aster displayed made my dad happy that I was actually reading a book of substance! He says : ) It was AWESOME!!
April 3, 2009
Aster Flynn is pretty much a modern day Cinderella except without the evil step-mom and stepsisters. Instead she has Rose, the older sister who only cares about herself, her mom, who is mostly absent, and Lily, her mentally challenged younger sister.
Aster is basically Lily's caregiver. Every day she helps her get dressed, drops her off at the rec center, picks her up later, and then fixes dinner and helps her get ready for bed. With all this on her plate Aster has no time for a life of her own.
Aster never really minded this until she met Owen, the popular, handsome guy from school who seems to be showing an interest in her. The only problem is, with Lily around, there is no time for a date of any kind and nobody else is willing to take care of her.
Finally, Aster manages to persuade a friend to babysit while she goes out with Owen but Lily proves to be too much for anyone but Aster to handle. When Aster arrives home after her date she finds that things are chaos. The next morning when Aster wakes up her mom has already left, without a word about the night before.
As Aster tries to find her independence Lily gets worse. Aster finally decides to take control and make her mom take some of the responsibility for Lily so that Aster can have more time with Owen. But one thing is niggling at the back of Aster's mind. Is Owen really the person she wants to be spending her time with?
Just Another Girl was a good book. Not exceptional, not horrible. The story was actually great but most of the characters seemed a little underdeveloped. I would probably recommend this book as a quick, cute read. It was very insightful and shows a realistic life of someone dealing with a mentally challenged child but also with a happy ending. As a warning, this story is also a little bit religious so if that is something that doesn't appeal to you, this is not the book for you.
Aster is basically Lily's caregiver. Every day she helps her get dressed, drops her off at the rec center, picks her up later, and then fixes dinner and helps her get ready for bed. With all this on her plate Aster has no time for a life of her own.
Aster never really minded this until she met Owen, the popular, handsome guy from school who seems to be showing an interest in her. The only problem is, with Lily around, there is no time for a date of any kind and nobody else is willing to take care of her.
Finally, Aster manages to persuade a friend to babysit while she goes out with Owen but Lily proves to be too much for anyone but Aster to handle. When Aster arrives home after her date she finds that things are chaos. The next morning when Aster wakes up her mom has already left, without a word about the night before.
As Aster tries to find her independence Lily gets worse. Aster finally decides to take control and make her mom take some of the responsibility for Lily so that Aster can have more time with Owen. But one thing is niggling at the back of Aster's mind. Is Owen really the person she wants to be spending her time with?
Just Another Girl was a good book. Not exceptional, not horrible. The story was actually great but most of the characters seemed a little underdeveloped. I would probably recommend this book as a quick, cute read. It was very insightful and shows a realistic life of someone dealing with a mentally challenged child but also with a happy ending. As a warning, this story is also a little bit religious so if that is something that doesn't appeal to you, this is not the book for you.
March 9, 2015
A quick read that's a sort of Cinderella story. Aster just wants a normal life, but it seems like everyone is always dumping their burdens on her, namely her younger mentally challenged sister. Heartfelt and honest, I liked the story, I liked Aster, and kind of wished the story would continue on in another book so we could see where life goes from here.
I'm giving this 3 stars because I felt that ending was a bit rushed and maybe the answers were a little bit too pat. Still it was a book designed to make you think a little bit, and was entertaining. Just it could have been better.
I'm giving this 3 stars because I felt that ending was a bit rushed and maybe the answers were a little bit too pat. Still it was a book designed to make you think a little bit, and was entertaining. Just it could have been better.
May 4, 2017
Personal Response
I liked Just Another Girl by Melody Carlson from the get go. The book started out interesting. It was so well written that I wanted to keep reading throughout the whole book. While reading the book, I decided to look at my own life and analyze how I lived my everyday standards. I looked up to Aster. I admired how she concentrated on her demeanor and believed in herself. Unlike other teens her age, Aster did not focus on what others thought of her. She focused on what she thought of herself.
Plot Summary
Aster Flynn spent all of her spare time taking care of her sister, Lily. She had no help from her older sister, Rose, or her mother. Asters’ mom had to pay all of the bills and the expenses of the family, with no help from the father. Rose, on the other hand, only cared for herself. She did not help with Lily in the slightest bit. Throughout the book, Aster began to realize that she deserved to have a life like everyone else her age. Aster wanted to go out on dates and be able to live a life like a normal teenager. She made a schedule and found time to go out behind Lily's back. She found out it would have been better if she would have stayed home. With Asters great christian morals she learned it is better to be true to her family, than to live up to society's expectations.
Characterization
Aster was not only living with four other girls, but she was also the middle child. Aster was a very bold sixteen year old girl that possessed the important aspects of life. Unlike other teenage girls her age, Aster took care of her fifteen year old sister, Lily, who had a mental illness. Aster expressed everyday gratitude and worked very hard. Aster spent most of her time taking care of Lily. She did her homework and studied during her free time. During the summer of her Junior year, Aster found out her SAT score were the not only the highest in her class, but the highest ever scored. At the end of the book, Aster realized she did not have a life. She realized she needed a chance to live her life and go to college. She could not wait to get out into the real world and see what it was like to live without Lily following her around.
Setting
The setting of Just Another Girl was an entire summer. Throughout the book, Aster and Lily struggle in the summer heat. This book was written in modern times. The time period was important, because it related to the struggles of a modern teenage girl.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to any girl in her teens. I would also recommend it to someone who has to take care of her mentally handicapped relative. Other kids, like Aster, who have realized that there is so much to live for in life should read this book. There are too many kids living down in the dumps and this book could inspire them. Just Another Girl portrayed living life to the fullest and creating something out of nothing.
I liked Just Another Girl by Melody Carlson from the get go. The book started out interesting. It was so well written that I wanted to keep reading throughout the whole book. While reading the book, I decided to look at my own life and analyze how I lived my everyday standards. I looked up to Aster. I admired how she concentrated on her demeanor and believed in herself. Unlike other teens her age, Aster did not focus on what others thought of her. She focused on what she thought of herself.
Plot Summary
Aster Flynn spent all of her spare time taking care of her sister, Lily. She had no help from her older sister, Rose, or her mother. Asters’ mom had to pay all of the bills and the expenses of the family, with no help from the father. Rose, on the other hand, only cared for herself. She did not help with Lily in the slightest bit. Throughout the book, Aster began to realize that she deserved to have a life like everyone else her age. Aster wanted to go out on dates and be able to live a life like a normal teenager. She made a schedule and found time to go out behind Lily's back. She found out it would have been better if she would have stayed home. With Asters great christian morals she learned it is better to be true to her family, than to live up to society's expectations.
Characterization
Aster was not only living with four other girls, but she was also the middle child. Aster was a very bold sixteen year old girl that possessed the important aspects of life. Unlike other teenage girls her age, Aster took care of her fifteen year old sister, Lily, who had a mental illness. Aster expressed everyday gratitude and worked very hard. Aster spent most of her time taking care of Lily. She did her homework and studied during her free time. During the summer of her Junior year, Aster found out her SAT score were the not only the highest in her class, but the highest ever scored. At the end of the book, Aster realized she did not have a life. She realized she needed a chance to live her life and go to college. She could not wait to get out into the real world and see what it was like to live without Lily following her around.
Setting
The setting of Just Another Girl was an entire summer. Throughout the book, Aster and Lily struggle in the summer heat. This book was written in modern times. The time period was important, because it related to the struggles of a modern teenage girl.
Recommendation
I would recommend this book to any girl in her teens. I would also recommend it to someone who has to take care of her mentally handicapped relative. Other kids, like Aster, who have realized that there is so much to live for in life should read this book. There are too many kids living down in the dumps and this book could inspire them. Just Another Girl portrayed living life to the fullest and creating something out of nothing.
August 2, 2018
A good read. Not a lot of meat to it but good enough for a short read while waiting for my new books to arrive.
October 29, 2009
I absolutely loved this story! It's going down in history as my favorite Melody Carlson book ever. I'll tell you why. Because it is so realistic and believable. I have worked for the past eight years with people who have developmental disabilities and I have clients of various ages and levels of disability. I have never read a book before that so accurately demonstrated the challenges faced by family members who are dealing with a teenager who is mentally much younger than her actual age.
The author blew me away with the accuracy because the details that are so true-to-life. She described a number of female clients that I work with. I was very impressed with how the author didn't try to be politically correct, but showed exactly how real people feel at times when dealing with such challenging behavior and the often overwhelming responsibility for another person. The author also showed the family's dysfunction well. The spiritual thread in the story was tight and fit the setting, but did not overwhelm the plot.
I can't say enough good things about this story. Wait, I think I already said this. Well, it's so true I'm saying it again. I have read books before that slip in characters with disabilities but they are often so stereotyped that it annoys me. That is not the case with this novel. I'd recommend this book to not only teens but also adults and family members who simply need encouragement. There are no easy solutions here, but there are themes that will edify readers and help them to see that they aren't alone in their struggles.
I also loved how the author showed that there is often help for families that they may not be aware of. These services will help people better take care of their family member. Maybe one of the reasons I also adored this story was because like Aster, I was that teenager, only I was responsible for taking care of my mother who had MS and was bedridden. Like Aster, I felt like I had no life for a number of years. It's tough being responsible for so much at such a young age. It matures you quickly when you aren't able to be a typical teen. Anyway, this book is making my favorites of 2009 list. I'm so glad I had a chance to review it!
The author blew me away with the accuracy because the details that are so true-to-life. She described a number of female clients that I work with. I was very impressed with how the author didn't try to be politically correct, but showed exactly how real people feel at times when dealing with such challenging behavior and the often overwhelming responsibility for another person. The author also showed the family's dysfunction well. The spiritual thread in the story was tight and fit the setting, but did not overwhelm the plot.
I can't say enough good things about this story. Wait, I think I already said this. Well, it's so true I'm saying it again. I have read books before that slip in characters with disabilities but they are often so stereotyped that it annoys me. That is not the case with this novel. I'd recommend this book to not only teens but also adults and family members who simply need encouragement. There are no easy solutions here, but there are themes that will edify readers and help them to see that they aren't alone in their struggles.
I also loved how the author showed that there is often help for families that they may not be aware of. These services will help people better take care of their family member. Maybe one of the reasons I also adored this story was because like Aster, I was that teenager, only I was responsible for taking care of my mother who had MS and was bedridden. Like Aster, I felt like I had no life for a number of years. It's tough being responsible for so much at such a young age. It matures you quickly when you aren't able to be a typical teen. Anyway, this book is making my favorites of 2009 list. I'm so glad I had a chance to review it!
April 24, 2012
I am having a blast reading every published Melody Carlson book out there that I have not previously read. I've always said she is one of my favorite authors, and I don't even know why. Her teen books are my favorite by far, though.
This book tells the story of 17 year old Aster, who is treated as a live-in babysitter to her mentally challenged younger sister, Lily. Aster's mom was a piece of work - never wanting to be around Lily and getting mad at Aster for going out with friends instead of staying home with her sister. Aster's oldest sister, Rose, was also a selfish and narcissistic character that I didn't care for at all. But that made the story seem more real, and I had a lot of fun reading this.
This book tells the story of 17 year old Aster, who is treated as a live-in babysitter to her mentally challenged younger sister, Lily. Aster's mom was a piece of work - never wanting to be around Lily and getting mad at Aster for going out with friends instead of staying home with her sister. Aster's oldest sister, Rose, was also a selfish and narcissistic character that I didn't care for at all. But that made the story seem more real, and I had a lot of fun reading this.
March 29, 2016
The author did an amazing job of portraying a teenager with special needs which was the very redeeming element of this book. Lily, the MC's sister had a traumatic birth and brain damage because of that. Aster, the MC, has almost full charge of Lily and hated it, although she loved her sister.
Every single person in the book was incredibly selfish and focused totally on themselves. I'm not sure if the author approved of Aster's selfishness (I know that the rest of the characters weren't supposed to be likable), but it almost seemed that Aster was supposed to be justified because she was treated unfairly, which I totally disagree with.
There were also other elements I didn't agree with, but are obviously a realistic part of life and most of the "issues" did end up having consequences that I felt were fair and right.
Over all the book kept me interested, but not very pleased. Again, Lily was amazingly-well written in my estimate (and I've spend time with special-needs children and teenagers), and I appreciated that a lot.
I'm giving the book 3 out of 5 stars, 3 and 1/2 out of 10 stars.
Every single person in the book was incredibly selfish and focused totally on themselves. I'm not sure if the author approved of Aster's selfishness (I know that the rest of the characters weren't supposed to be likable), but it almost seemed that Aster was supposed to be justified because she was treated unfairly, which I totally disagree with.
There were also other elements I didn't agree with, but are obviously a realistic part of life and most of the "issues" did end up having consequences that I felt were fair and right.
Over all the book kept me interested, but not very pleased. Again, Lily was amazingly-well written in my estimate (and I've spend time with special-needs children and teenagers), and I appreciated that a lot.
I'm giving the book 3 out of 5 stars, 3 and 1/2 out of 10 stars.
July 10, 2012
I have to admit, I am shocked. Normally with Melody Carlson's books and think "PTL, that is not a series, now I won't have to feel obligated to read more!" or "Oh, it's a series...I should probably read them all...". You may ask "why? why does she read them if she doesn't like them?" I will tell you why...she wrote Finding Alice...and I know one day I will love another one of her books as much as I love that one. But this book was really good! I love aster, her struggles felt so real. It was easy to relate to, because all teenagers one way or another feel the way she does. But her life is so extreme, it also makes you appreciate what you have. I wish it was longer! It seriously could have been a series...Call the sequel Just Another Year...have it be about her in college....SHE COULD DO IT! Her younger sister, Lily, has mild brain damage from complications at birth, and I liked the way Melody Carlson wrote about the struggles of families in those situations. Good book...Very Good book!
February 21, 2010
My Mum was actually the first to read this book and after told me that it was really great and that I should read it. Boy was my Mum right! Aster seems like your typical teenager: goes to high school, gets good grades, has friends, and a crush on a cute boy. Seems average right? Aster really spends most of her time taking care of her little sister, Lily, who has autism and seems like a pain in the butt! The reason why Aster is the only one to take care of Lily is because her mum goes to work all day (literally) and her Dad lives on the other side of town. Lastly her older sister Rose works a girlie store at the mall... this leaves just Aster and Lily. Aster must do EVERYTHING Lily wants her to do or you get in a fight with Lily! The worst part is that Aster has a crush on Owen, an insanely cute boy, and has no time to hang out with him because of Lily`s begging. Will Aster ever be normal?
July 31, 2017
Sixteen-year-old Aster wishes she could have a life just any other girl. However, as the main caretaker for her mentally-disabled sister Lily, Aster's life is anything but normal. Aster is desperate to get some freedom, but her older sister is no help, her mother works long hours, and her father hasn't been part of the picture for years. When cool, good-looking Owen comes along--and actually doesn't seem too freaked out at Aster's situation--Aster thinks he may be her ticked to normality. However, Aster's Christian beliefs and Owen's reputation might be incompatible.
This book is a clean-read, and Aster's struggle to care for her sister but also have some independence will evoke sympathy from readers.
This book is a clean-read, and Aster's struggle to care for her sister but also have some independence will evoke sympathy from readers.
April 13, 2011
Genre: Fiction, older reader
I really enjoyed this story. It shows how a teenage girl is burdoned by responsibilty that she should't have to deal with at her age. She longs to have a regular life and finally gets her first taste of. She learns to be more independent and seek out the things she wants to do. This is a great book of teen girls. I thisnk they will be able to relate to Aster in many ways and feel a sense of togetherness with her. The story has themes of courage, responsibility, and doing the right thing. It is well written and I found myself unable to put it down until I finished it.
I really enjoyed this story. It shows how a teenage girl is burdoned by responsibilty that she should't have to deal with at her age. She longs to have a regular life and finally gets her first taste of. She learns to be more independent and seek out the things she wants to do. This is a great book of teen girls. I thisnk they will be able to relate to Aster in many ways and feel a sense of togetherness with her. The story has themes of courage, responsibility, and doing the right thing. It is well written and I found myself unable to put it down until I finished it.
February 23, 2012
This is an easy read and it's very real. The story isn't fluffy, it's real life, and it's refreshing in that way. However, it's also a little corny. The dialog doesn't sound fun, just perfunctory. It's kind of just a stiff story about summer time and teen family drama. Like an episode of 7th Heaven.
November 8, 2020
This was just a very wholesome book. I could see myself in the main character and share her “ignorance”. It made me think about praying more and how it could help me when I am feeling so lost. It was a quick read and it had a good ending.
April 1, 2014
The story line has a lot of potential, but the execution falls completely flat. Everything is explained away too easily and the characters lack complexity.
May 13, 2023
The book “Just Another Girl” was a very sweet but quick read. I love the way the author, Melody Carlson depicts the characters in the story. The main character Aster just wants to be a regular teenage girl but discovers it isn’t that easy. She has to take care of her mentally disabled sister because of her dysfunctional family. It is hard for her to experience a normal life when her family is so “different” as she describes. Now I will give you my reasoning for the rating of 4 stars:
Pros-
1. I love the way Lilly is portrayed, she struggles with being mentally handicapped but the author did a great job describing that and really making her a sweet girl with very good intentions.
2. The idea of the story is very interesting to me because I feel like it is original and it makes it enjoyable to read.
Cons-
1. I feel like the plot is weak in this novel because in the end, she is in the same situation that she was in the beginning. She spent the whole book trying to be “free” but then all the sudden learns to deal with it? That doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t like the idea of having “cliffhangers” in the story when it isn’t ever going to be resolved because there is no sequel. For example, what happens to Rose and Jared? Will the Dad still be apart of their lives? Is Aster in love with George? These are all situations that I felt could have been resolved if the book was given more effort.
2. Why bother even adding Owen to the story? They were in a relationship when all the sudden he sleeps with another girl (which we hadn’t met until this was brought up) and Aster is just fine with it and breaks up with him the next day. She shows no emotion that she just broke up with a guy she dreamed to be with. The story is told from a first person perspective so I feel like we should get a glimpse of her break up story.
Overall, I would recommend reading this story if you are a young adult or teenager. What I like about this book is that you can read it without having to pay attention to every second but it is still interesting and it does end well. I really did like the message that I received while reading the book, it helped me learn to be grateful for all that I do had. My Family, true friends, a dad, etc. Thank you if you read my review, I greatly appreciate it and hope it helps!
Pros-
1. I love the way Lilly is portrayed, she struggles with being mentally handicapped but the author did a great job describing that and really making her a sweet girl with very good intentions.
2. The idea of the story is very interesting to me because I feel like it is original and it makes it enjoyable to read.
Cons-
1. I feel like the plot is weak in this novel because in the end, she is in the same situation that she was in the beginning. She spent the whole book trying to be “free” but then all the sudden learns to deal with it? That doesn’t make sense to me. I don’t like the idea of having “cliffhangers” in the story when it isn’t ever going to be resolved because there is no sequel. For example, what happens to Rose and Jared? Will the Dad still be apart of their lives? Is Aster in love with George? These are all situations that I felt could have been resolved if the book was given more effort.
2. Why bother even adding Owen to the story? They were in a relationship when all the sudden he sleeps with another girl (which we hadn’t met until this was brought up) and Aster is just fine with it and breaks up with him the next day. She shows no emotion that she just broke up with a guy she dreamed to be with. The story is told from a first person perspective so I feel like we should get a glimpse of her break up story.
Overall, I would recommend reading this story if you are a young adult or teenager. What I like about this book is that you can read it without having to pay attention to every second but it is still interesting and it does end well. I really did like the message that I received while reading the book, it helped me learn to be grateful for all that I do had. My Family, true friends, a dad, etc. Thank you if you read my review, I greatly appreciate it and hope it helps!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2018
I'm older than the target audience for this book but I have enjoyed other Melody Carlson books. If you're a reader, it can be read fairly quickly.
I could identify a bit with the main character, Aster. She seems to possess a maturity beyond her years in some ways (taking care of her younger sister for one) and also in feeling the need to help others. At 17, she's been responsible for the care of her younger sister, Lily, for quite a few years, but now she's wanting to have a life of her own where she doesn't always have to have Lily tagging along with her.
Aster seems to blame this for the loss of her best friend Katie as well as for other things in her life. I do think Aster deserves to have a life of her own in addition to helping to take care of her sister, but I don't admire the way she goes about obtaining it. Apparently some of Aster's "help" has come in either the form of enabling or in the form of manipulation to get Lily to do what needs to be done. Once Aster and her mom start working together, the situation improves--I think because each can point out areas that need work with the other and they agree to rules with each other that allow them to not let Lily divide them.
Aster also is so infatuated with BMOC Owen that she ignores the warnings of her friend Crystal as well as other warning signs (though to be fair, I didn't pick up on whatever those were supposed to be until he went back on a promise he made to Aster).
God is mentioned in this book but not as much as I expected. It wasn't a central point as it was in a similar book I read years ago called "Sincerely, Kari". There are many opportunities where Carlson could have injected a bit more without it becoming preachy or spoiling the plot.
Still there are some good themes:
-Help, but don't let yourself be taken advantage of
-Sometimes you need to take care of yourself so that you can take care of others
-Don't be fooled by the outside. Make sure the other person's character is good as well as their looks.
-Don't settle for someone who doesn't respect you and who doesn't treat you well.
I could identify a bit with the main character, Aster. She seems to possess a maturity beyond her years in some ways (taking care of her younger sister for one) and also in feeling the need to help others. At 17, she's been responsible for the care of her younger sister, Lily, for quite a few years, but now she's wanting to have a life of her own where she doesn't always have to have Lily tagging along with her.
Aster seems to blame this for the loss of her best friend Katie as well as for other things in her life. I do think Aster deserves to have a life of her own in addition to helping to take care of her sister, but I don't admire the way she goes about obtaining it. Apparently some of Aster's "help" has come in either the form of enabling or in the form of manipulation to get Lily to do what needs to be done. Once Aster and her mom start working together, the situation improves--I think because each can point out areas that need work with the other and they agree to rules with each other that allow them to not let Lily divide them.
Aster also is so infatuated with BMOC Owen that she ignores the warnings of her friend Crystal as well as other warning signs (though to be fair, I didn't pick up on whatever those were supposed to be until he went back on a promise he made to Aster).
God is mentioned in this book but not as much as I expected. It wasn't a central point as it was in a similar book I read years ago called "Sincerely, Kari". There are many opportunities where Carlson could have injected a bit more without it becoming preachy or spoiling the plot.
Still there are some good themes:
-Help, but don't let yourself be taken advantage of
-Sometimes you need to take care of yourself so that you can take care of others
-Don't be fooled by the outside. Make sure the other person's character is good as well as their looks.
-Don't settle for someone who doesn't respect you and who doesn't treat you well.
March 4, 2022
Overall Amanda rating: A
So truth be told I was literally scanning the book sale shelves at the local library for something quick to read while I worked the sale. I recently read a book by Melody and thought it was quite nice, so I went for another and I was not disappointed. Melody has such a great way of bringing God into real-life stories that are truly happening all around us. I have read 2 books of hers so far and I do believe that I will be looking for another. The storyline was very nice. We followed Aster through a season in her life. Caring for her special needs sister, trying to hold the family together, the parents getting a divorce, not having true friends she could count on... I get that last one. I didn't have a true best friend for quite some time and I know those feelings. It was so nice seeing God help her through her struggles.
So truth be told I was literally scanning the book sale shelves at the local library for something quick to read while I worked the sale. I recently read a book by Melody and thought it was quite nice, so I went for another and I was not disappointed. Melody has such a great way of bringing God into real-life stories that are truly happening all around us. I have read 2 books of hers so far and I do believe that I will be looking for another. The storyline was very nice. We followed Aster through a season in her life. Caring for her special needs sister, trying to hold the family together, the parents getting a divorce, not having true friends she could count on... I get that last one. I didn't have a true best friend for quite some time and I know those feelings. It was so nice seeing God help her through her struggles.
June 8, 2024
Initially i found the story appealing. We closely follow the life of a hard-beset teen girl, sacrificing much of her life to the care of a high-needs younger sister, who the mother father and oldest sister fail to support. As the story goes on it feels ever more obvious that this story is being narrated by an adult rather than a teen. Heavy handed moral messages start to overwhelm the creative story telling.
October 20, 2020
I loved this!
It was so good! Melody Carlson is one of my top fav Christan authors!
It was so good! Melody Carlson is one of my top fav Christan authors!
November 25, 2024
My one complaint with this otherwise decent book is that I felt the conflicts were resolved too quickly and conveniently.
March 19, 2012
Just another Girl
By: Melody Carlson
Published 2009
Fiction
The main character Aster is a middle child that has to do everything for her younger sister Lily. Lily is 15 and was born with a brain problem so she is retarded as her older sister Rose would say. Rose is 19 and doesn’t want anything to do with her falling apart family. Aster is turning seventeen soon and she wants to date guys and hang out with her friends. Every day she has to take care of her sister and she’s tired of doing it. Her mom always works and their Dad left them because he couldn’t handle Lily. Their dad remarried and has the son he always wanted. Aster wants their Dad to watch Lily because she is so stressed out from watching Lily. Theirs Dads new wife is afraid Lily will hurt Nelson so when she saw Lily and Nelson playing together. She pushed Lily down the stairs! Lily broke her arm. Aster was dating the popular boy in school Owen. On their second date they went to a party and Aster left because there was drinking and she doesn’t drink. The next day someone told her that Owen was cheating on her with another girl. Her church friend George finds her crying in the street and takes her out for a float. Aster realizes what a nice guy he is and her and Lily start hanging out with them. He is really patient with Lily. They all hang out and celebrate Asters birthday.
The theme of this book it to be you and to put the people you love first. Hang out with your family and people who care about you. A good example is when Aster was on her first date with Owen; Lily called and said she was having a problem so Aster left in the middle of her date to help her sister. Another example is when Aster was on her third date with Owen and her Dad called and said Lily was in the hospital, so Aster left before the movie even started to go make sure her sister was okay. Every day of the summer when she doesn’t hang out with her friends, she just stays home and cleans and controls Lily.
Asters Dad married Jana, and they had Nelson who is almost 3 years old. Her Dad used to be a workaholic and now he’s the stay at home parent until Nelson turns 5 and can go to school. Asters older sister Rose always tries to look pretty with her perfect blonde hair and her blue eyes full of makeup. Aster is more of a natural girl who doesn’t care what she looks like and she doesn’t wear any makeup. People that would like this book are the people who have a mental or disabled family member or friend. To see how they manage dealing with the troubles and the tantrums. I don’t like this book as much as I’ve liked other books from the author. I think the book is slow and kind of boring in some spots.
My favorite quote from the book is: “I pretend to study the pink T-shirt, seeing Minnie’s face is partially rubbed off, which makes the rodent look slightly disgruntled- sort of how I’m feeling at the moment.” It is on page 7. That shows the authors sense of humor that continues throughout the story.
The book relates to me because my cousin has Autism and he is hard to deal with and I feel stressed out after babysitting because I babysit 4 young boys and one of them has *special needs*. I can relate to how Aster is feeling after dealing with Lily. I did not enjoy the book that much because it was kind of boring. The beginning of the book started off slow and was kind of boring. They gave to many facts about the characters. Honestly I don’t think I needed to know the girls bra-size and what they do in the morning to get dressed. The book was a little personal.
By: Melody Carlson
Published 2009
Fiction
The main character Aster is a middle child that has to do everything for her younger sister Lily. Lily is 15 and was born with a brain problem so she is retarded as her older sister Rose would say. Rose is 19 and doesn’t want anything to do with her falling apart family. Aster is turning seventeen soon and she wants to date guys and hang out with her friends. Every day she has to take care of her sister and she’s tired of doing it. Her mom always works and their Dad left them because he couldn’t handle Lily. Their dad remarried and has the son he always wanted. Aster wants their Dad to watch Lily because she is so stressed out from watching Lily. Theirs Dads new wife is afraid Lily will hurt Nelson so when she saw Lily and Nelson playing together. She pushed Lily down the stairs! Lily broke her arm. Aster was dating the popular boy in school Owen. On their second date they went to a party and Aster left because there was drinking and she doesn’t drink. The next day someone told her that Owen was cheating on her with another girl. Her church friend George finds her crying in the street and takes her out for a float. Aster realizes what a nice guy he is and her and Lily start hanging out with them. He is really patient with Lily. They all hang out and celebrate Asters birthday.
The theme of this book it to be you and to put the people you love first. Hang out with your family and people who care about you. A good example is when Aster was on her first date with Owen; Lily called and said she was having a problem so Aster left in the middle of her date to help her sister. Another example is when Aster was on her third date with Owen and her Dad called and said Lily was in the hospital, so Aster left before the movie even started to go make sure her sister was okay. Every day of the summer when she doesn’t hang out with her friends, she just stays home and cleans and controls Lily.
Asters Dad married Jana, and they had Nelson who is almost 3 years old. Her Dad used to be a workaholic and now he’s the stay at home parent until Nelson turns 5 and can go to school. Asters older sister Rose always tries to look pretty with her perfect blonde hair and her blue eyes full of makeup. Aster is more of a natural girl who doesn’t care what she looks like and she doesn’t wear any makeup. People that would like this book are the people who have a mental or disabled family member or friend. To see how they manage dealing with the troubles and the tantrums. I don’t like this book as much as I’ve liked other books from the author. I think the book is slow and kind of boring in some spots.
My favorite quote from the book is: “I pretend to study the pink T-shirt, seeing Minnie’s face is partially rubbed off, which makes the rodent look slightly disgruntled- sort of how I’m feeling at the moment.” It is on page 7. That shows the authors sense of humor that continues throughout the story.
The book relates to me because my cousin has Autism and he is hard to deal with and I feel stressed out after babysitting because I babysit 4 young boys and one of them has *special needs*. I can relate to how Aster is feeling after dealing with Lily. I did not enjoy the book that much because it was kind of boring. The beginning of the book started off slow and was kind of boring. They gave to many facts about the characters. Honestly I don’t think I needed to know the girls bra-size and what they do in the morning to get dressed. The book was a little personal.
May 13, 2015
(3.5 out of 5)
I was having my monthly book shopping in the mall when I came across this book. What enthralled me into buying this book was its title, Just Another Girl, because I thought it was a romance novel. Doesn’t it sound like a romance novel? What’s more was that the cover was pretty effortless and simple, yet captivating. And the synopsis seemed pretty decent (above, in italics), don’t you think? All of these factors seemed enough for me, so I bought it.
So like the title, Just Another Girl, is this book just another book, too?
The answer is no—at least, from every book I’ve ever read. While this book takes on teenage romance and family problems, it adds God into the scenario—something I do not always and freely read from teen fiction.
Aster Flynn is pretty much a modern day Cinderella—without the evil step-mom and stepsisters. Instead, she has Rose, the older sister who only cares about herself, her mom, who is mostly absent, and Lily, her mentally challenged younger sister.
And Melody Carlson definitely took the risk of adding a mentally handicapped character. I love Lily! Even though she’s mentally retarded and, let’s admit it, annoying, she can be a very loving sister to Aster. And while I love Lily, I hate Owen. He’s such a jerk. Forget him being hot and all. He’s an egotistic jerk who doesn’t care about anything but his pretty face and his rubbish reputation. I know those so-called jerks are supposed to be hot and scream-worthy, but Owen? Forget it, because while Conrad Fisher (Summer Series) was a jerk and didn’t talk to Belly (Summer Series) for a while, he never did sour-grape about their relationship and call Belly’s brother ‘retarded’. That’s just low. Oh. Right, Owen, you are that low.
Another thing that I liked about this book was the fact that in the end, Aster found the guts to break up with Owen. She ended up with George McBride, a scrawny teen who’s in the same youth group as Aster. He’s not exactly what I’d call as handsome, but he’s a decent guy, I guess. He definitely went along fine with Lily. He didn’t call her ‘retarded’! And Aster deserved a better guy than someone who sour-grapes.
In the end, I decided to give it 3.5 out of 5 stars, because while it was full of values, the conversations were somewhat lacking. It doesn’t have enough of that witty and bubbly vibe that I go looking for in teen fiction. And also, I found the characters a little underdeveloped. I also found Aster a bit dull and passive for a main character. And it doesn’t help that the book was written in her perspective.
Overall, it was a good book. Not exceptional, but it’s insightful and realistic. And don’t forget its religious side, too. I would definitely recommend it for a bit light reading. I wanted more character development but it was still a beautiful, short read.
EDIT: Despite the rating and the blandness of this book, it's oddly one of my favorites. I don't know why but it is.
I was having my monthly book shopping in the mall when I came across this book. What enthralled me into buying this book was its title, Just Another Girl, because I thought it was a romance novel. Doesn’t it sound like a romance novel? What’s more was that the cover was pretty effortless and simple, yet captivating. And the synopsis seemed pretty decent (above, in italics), don’t you think? All of these factors seemed enough for me, so I bought it.
So like the title, Just Another Girl, is this book just another book, too?
The answer is no—at least, from every book I’ve ever read. While this book takes on teenage romance and family problems, it adds God into the scenario—something I do not always and freely read from teen fiction.
Aster Flynn is pretty much a modern day Cinderella—without the evil step-mom and stepsisters. Instead, she has Rose, the older sister who only cares about herself, her mom, who is mostly absent, and Lily, her mentally challenged younger sister.
And Melody Carlson definitely took the risk of adding a mentally handicapped character. I love Lily! Even though she’s mentally retarded and, let’s admit it, annoying, she can be a very loving sister to Aster. And while I love Lily, I hate Owen. He’s such a jerk. Forget him being hot and all. He’s an egotistic jerk who doesn’t care about anything but his pretty face and his rubbish reputation. I know those so-called jerks are supposed to be hot and scream-worthy, but Owen? Forget it, because while Conrad Fisher (Summer Series) was a jerk and didn’t talk to Belly (Summer Series) for a while, he never did sour-grape about their relationship and call Belly’s brother ‘retarded’. That’s just low. Oh. Right, Owen, you are that low.
Another thing that I liked about this book was the fact that in the end, Aster found the guts to break up with Owen. She ended up with George McBride, a scrawny teen who’s in the same youth group as Aster. He’s not exactly what I’d call as handsome, but he’s a decent guy, I guess. He definitely went along fine with Lily. He didn’t call her ‘retarded’! And Aster deserved a better guy than someone who sour-grapes.
In the end, I decided to give it 3.5 out of 5 stars, because while it was full of values, the conversations were somewhat lacking. It doesn’t have enough of that witty and bubbly vibe that I go looking for in teen fiction. And also, I found the characters a little underdeveloped. I also found Aster a bit dull and passive for a main character. And it doesn’t help that the book was written in her perspective.
Overall, it was a good book. Not exceptional, but it’s insightful and realistic. And don’t forget its religious side, too. I would definitely recommend it for a bit light reading. I wanted more character development but it was still a beautiful, short read.
EDIT: Despite the rating and the blandness of this book, it's oddly one of my favorites. I don't know why but it is.
March 2, 2009
As far as teen fiction goes, even including other books and series from Melody Carlson herself, this is the absolute best book that I have ever had the experience to be exposed to. It is just fabulous and if I could afford it, I would buy every single teenage girl I know a copy for keeps.
Aster is "just another girl". She is 17 years old, middle child of two sisters, and about to start her senior year. Normal right? Then throw in that her older sister is beyond materialistic, her dad is a no-show, and her mom a work-a-holic. Still fairly normal, just slightly rough on the edges. Then if one also considers that her younger sister is hitting her teenage years will the body to prove it, but the mentality of a five year old left over from a birth complication and the fact that she is her full responsibility makes things even a little more difficult.
Being a teenager can be hard. I know that I would never want to go back to be seventeen. That is just an area in my life that I did not enjoy. Reading this book, I am inspired. I can see the scenes and easily visualize that situations. Aster is surrounded by the teenagers that seem to have never made a mistake and she is also surrounded by those that seem to make mistakes on purpose. Everything that occurs in her story is something that any girl could find herself involved in. A part of myself feels very influenced by Aster, knowing that if she can survive such a thing, then my issues really might be manageable as well.
I highly recommend that parents and teenage girls step into Aster's life and spend a couple days understanding what it is like to be "just another girl".
Aster is "just another girl". She is 17 years old, middle child of two sisters, and about to start her senior year. Normal right? Then throw in that her older sister is beyond materialistic, her dad is a no-show, and her mom a work-a-holic. Still fairly normal, just slightly rough on the edges. Then if one also considers that her younger sister is hitting her teenage years will the body to prove it, but the mentality of a five year old left over from a birth complication and the fact that she is her full responsibility makes things even a little more difficult.
Being a teenager can be hard. I know that I would never want to go back to be seventeen. That is just an area in my life that I did not enjoy. Reading this book, I am inspired. I can see the scenes and easily visualize that situations. Aster is surrounded by the teenagers that seem to have never made a mistake and she is also surrounded by those that seem to make mistakes on purpose. Everything that occurs in her story is something that any girl could find herself involved in. A part of myself feels very influenced by Aster, knowing that if she can survive such a thing, then my issues really might be manageable as well.
I highly recommend that parents and teenage girls step into Aster's life and spend a couple days understanding what it is like to be "just another girl".
July 14, 2009
This book I really enjoyed! It was very interesting and I loved how it had some romance, hate, and even dipair included in its pages. In this book the girl faces problems most teenagers dont face. Her parents are devorced, her dad has another family of his own, her mother works all the time, her older sister doent care, and she has a disabled younger sister. She feels she is stuck in the middle. She is constintly taking care of Lily (I think that is her name) and Lily is not easy to please. After hard struggles with Lily she finally makes a homerun. Then she hooks up with a guy she has liked since Elementary School. But she is worried that her sister Lily will scare him away. But she is surprised that he likes Lily and she starts to think he is the one. But soon after they start getting close he wants to go to his bestfriends B-Day party. She finds out that he is just like he used to act at school and that he has not changed like she thought he did. While there he gets drunk and makes a fool out of himself by throwing himself at her and doing stupid stuff. She decides that she wants to go home. But she realizes that it is way to far away. When she sits on the curb and thinks she made a note that her church was only a few miles away. So she decides to run to her church. When she arrives everyone is gone but the new kid and the pastor. She sits down to cry and before she could cry hard the new kid is there to comfort her. This book has a slight twist and you dont know what will happen next. In the end it turns out great and she gets what she wanted. Well pretty much what she wanted. Read this book and you will not be disappointed!
October 14, 2009
5.0 out of 5 stars An honest look at a girl with too much responsibility, July 16, 2009
By Novel Teen Book Reviews (USA) - See all my reviews
Aster Flynn's life is not her own. She is responsible for caring for her fifteen-year-old handicapped sister, Lily. From morning till night, Lily and Aster are together, and Aster is getting burned out. When a cute boy asks Aster out, she does all she can to make the date happen. But without Aster to take care of Lily, Aster's mom freaks. Will Aster ever get a life of her own?
This book really took an honest look at how kids can get stuck with more responsibility than they should have. Teenage Aster shouldn't have to take care of her sister in such a way, but because her parents are divorced, and because her mother sees an easy way out, Aster gets taken advantage of. Aster is creative and smart about how she fights for independence and to get her parents to do their share. She loves her sister Lily so much, but I thought it was really neat how Aster realized she was even enabling Lily to remain dependent on her help. Melody Carson has a knack for creating real life between the pages of a book. Just Another Girl is a gripping story of a young woman's search for a way to be herself. I highly recommend it.
By Novel Teen Book Reviews (USA) - See all my reviews
Aster Flynn's life is not her own. She is responsible for caring for her fifteen-year-old handicapped sister, Lily. From morning till night, Lily and Aster are together, and Aster is getting burned out. When a cute boy asks Aster out, she does all she can to make the date happen. But without Aster to take care of Lily, Aster's mom freaks. Will Aster ever get a life of her own?
This book really took an honest look at how kids can get stuck with more responsibility than they should have. Teenage Aster shouldn't have to take care of her sister in such a way, but because her parents are divorced, and because her mother sees an easy way out, Aster gets taken advantage of. Aster is creative and smart about how she fights for independence and to get her parents to do their share. She loves her sister Lily so much, but I thought it was really neat how Aster realized she was even enabling Lily to remain dependent on her help. Melody Carson has a knack for creating real life between the pages of a book. Just Another Girl is a gripping story of a young woman's search for a way to be herself. I highly recommend it.
May 28, 2010
I found this book surprisingly engaging. I stayed up past my normal bedtime to finish it, even! I enjoyed reading about how the main character learns to stand up for herself, how to become more independent and share her emotions with her distant mother. I am glad to read a book, especially a Christian book, where the mother and daughter don't have a perfect relationship. It's something I can relate to.
I think there were topics the book glossed over, such as co-dependancy, friendship and even being a believer. I think more could have been said about the topics to make the book feel more "finished" but overall enjoyed the book!
I think there were topics the book glossed over, such as co-dependancy, friendship and even being a believer. I think more could have been said about the topics to make the book feel more "finished" but overall enjoyed the book!
May 24, 2010
This book is a truly great book and, i really loved reading it. This book is about a girl named Aster and she has a sister named Lily who is disabeled. Aster has to take Lily every where with her because, her mom always is working late because she says she needs to catch up on her work but she really is just trying to stay away from Lily. Aster never gets to live her life when she has a pain in the butt of a sister. Aster meets a new guy but will he stay for long? I think the most funny charecter in this book is Lily. I hope you love this book as much as i do.
October 25, 2011
Just Another Girl by Melody Carlson is the story of Aster, the middle sister, trapped between selfish Rose and dependent Lily. Her parents are divorced, her father doesn't pay child support and doesn't visit, and their mom works all the time. So Aster is stuck caring for Lily. At age 17, she wishes she could have her own life, hang out with friends, go to college...Aster struggles with how society views Lily and struggles with the family God has put her in the middle of. I am a fan of most of Carlson's books, and I liked this one. It didn't wow me, but it was a good read.
June 6, 2016
This book made me grateful for my family. I like the little bit of romance in it, and I also liked how the moral of the story was kind of "be yourself and do what's right, even if it's not the popular thing to do." Aster was a kind of role model, she was really strong. She was able to deal with a mentally retarded sister, a father who didn't spend any time with his old family, and a mother who wishes she could just spend the rest of her life at her work and dump all of her responsibilities on Aster. Even through all of the hardships Aster had to endure, she never lost faith in God.
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