Anything but Normal: A Novel

Not so good

I really dont like this author or her books. Be forewarned: all of her books are written from a conservative christian viewpoint. If you like that, go ahead. For all others, read no further.

2 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Good girl who fell for the wrong guy

Senior year should be the best in Sophie Ramsay's life, but Sophie has a secret that she can't hide forever. As she struggles with how to deal with it, she learns a lot about real love. Her only fear is that when the secret comes out, someone will still love her.

This book got out to a bit of a slow start, but once it got going, I couldn't put it down. Carlson wrote a wonderful character in Sophie, a typical good girl who fell for the wrong guy. Happens all the time, unfortunately. I ached watching Sophie deal with this, see which friends stuck by her and which ones didn't, to see how she would work it all out. Life is too short to be cruel to each other. I highly recommend every teenage girl read this book.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Anything But Normal

My Synopsis:

Anything But Normal by Melody Carlson

Sophie Ramsey spent the summer working at a Church Camp, but it's now it's time for school to start again. Sophie is an honor student, on the yearbook staff and up for editor of the school newspaper. She's a faithful member of the Youth Group and has a great group of friends.

But, while all the other girls are thinking about school dances and the cutest boys, Sophie is consumed by a secret. A secret that won't stay hidden for long. What will Sophie do? How can tell her parents? Will her friends ever forgive her? Can she forgive herself?

My Thoughts:

Sophie's story rings very true. Readers will easily identify with Sophie's dilemma. She is in denial about what is really going on, though deep down she knows it's only a matter of time before someone finds out. Haven't you ever had a secret that you just wanted to forget about? If you don't think about it, maybe it will go away. I think we've all felt that way.

The YA (Young Adult) novel is all about understanding what it's like to walk in someone else's shoes. Sophie finds out what it's like to be on the other side. One of the people that she might have looked down on in the past. She is able to learn that things aren't always what they seem.

Though she struggles with her situation and with her faith in God she eventually gets it straight in her head and her heart. I loved Sophie's character, she was so strong in the face of a life changing decision.
This book is definitely a good teen read and adults will love it as well.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

great!

this book is great for people who love drama and reading about real live teen situations...wile also tieing in the importance of knowing Christ....great book!

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Christ cares

I love melodys writing it is a great ministry project and it also helps girls who are falling in faith to 2 below m try reading the carter house girls series first one is mixed bags they might be more up your alley

Good book

I dont know why people say this book is bad? But thought itwas pretty good :)

This Book is Awful! Waste of Your Money!

I wish I read some of the reviews before purchasing this book. It is way too unrealistic. It is the ultra Christian fantasy as far as unwed pregnant teens go. If I had known this story was so conservative I would have never bought this book. It's fine for those who share the same thoughts and want to read a modern day Christian fairy tale. I just wish I was properly warned in the book description. I was looking to read something somewhat realistic and this is far from it. I wasn't looking for a book that glorified teen pregnancy and this book did not do that, it just was way too preachy and I hated the main characters by the end of the book.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great story with realistic scenarios!

This story tackles a tough subject. Anything But Normal is an excellent illustration of how one mistake can shred someone's future plans, or at least alter them in a major way. I really enjoyed this story. As a social worker I've come across similar situations and this story reflects scenarios that some of the teens I have worked with have experienced. Young people have a lapse in judgment one time and their world is jacked up for years to come. It's true with many young women that once they've fallen they don't see the point of trying to stay pure anymore. They feel ruined for life and nothing fixes that. Confessing brings forgiveness but the consequences remain. And often it wasn't something the girl wanted to begin with. It was the guy's idea.

I thought the author did a great job with the guilt she experienced, with her wanting to hide the evidence, her fear of people finding out, etc. And best of all, the author did a great job showing the issues surrounding people who are not showing Christ's love and forgiveness. That was well done. People don't realize how self-righteous they sound when they spout off about things they really don't understand. This story is about compassion and the need for more of it. It's also about not shooting the wounded when they are down. I really understood Sophie and her many issues. I adored Wes. He was such a great guy. And Dylan was pretty much what I expected. Unfortunately his response is all too common in scenarios that I've seen. I loved how the Pastor got involved in the end and how Sophie went to the church for help. That was a great example of how things should work when people are hurting and need support. While the story didn't make me cry like I expected, it definitely touched my heart and I'm sure it will do the same for many young women who need to hear the message.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Anything but Normal

Senior year! It is supposed to be the best year of your life as a teenager right? Well Sophie Ramsay's summer of church camp counseling has turned her senior year into a major not so good year. How can this be happening to her? She is the brainiac of her group of friends, on course for college with scholarships looming in the future. A staunch pro-life supporter, a purity pledge taker and here she is pregnant. Oh she knows how it happened, but she is so afraid to tell anyone. And with good reason it would appear after she writes several editorials about teen pregnancy and the pregnancy center at her school. The reactions of her friends and her friend's parents, clue Sophie in that her pregnancy will not be great news for anyone.

How will this all be dealt with? Sophie finds herself considering an abortion, but just cannot follow through with it, a nightmare that no teen ever dreams of dealing with.

Melody Carlson takes a matter that is a social enigma, and a Christian youth taboo, and deals with it in a manner that is Christ pleasing. Yes none of us want to think of our teens getting pregnant, or getting someone pregnant, but Melody has written this book in a manner that shows how to handle things like this. I think this book really shows the side of pregnancy that is truthful and doesnt glamorize it. I enjoyed this book, and cried along with Sophie as she struggled with all her choices. 251 pages $9.99 US 5 stars

This book was provided by Revell for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.