Decisions, decisions! How is a girl supposed to choose? Lessons of right and wrong are put to the test in the Scenarios series, where you can test your decision-making abilities in an eye-opening, but safe, way. Each book follows a character up to the point where she has to make an important, life-changing decision—then it’s your turn to choose. Will your choices lead to a happy ending?
— Tracy Farnsworth
— Lyndsey Gammage
BerniCampos
Posted August 22, 2011
Nicole O'Dell captures the angst of teenage girls beautifully. She creates very real, likable young girls, with true-to-life dilemmas to face. A great read for teenage girls everywhere. The alternate endings are a fresh approach. I love the fact that when the girls make the wrong choice, there are consequences, but the reader is assured that all is not lost. There is still forgiveness, and hope. I wish these books were around when my daughter was a teen! I plan to pass Swept Away down to my teenage nieces, and I look forward to reading more of the series!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.CaraPutman
Posted July 8, 2011
My almost 11 y.o. LOVES the Scenario books. Yes, I capitalized on purpose because that almost captures her enthusiasm for this series. When this book arrived, she literally peeled it from my hands and ran upstairs to start reading. Why does she love these books? Because she loves being the character and choosing the outcome. She'll select the wrong choice, and then go back and make the right choice. It leads to great conversations as we talk about what makes one choice better than the other.
For this 2-in-1, the girls face touch choices about sex and cheating for what looks like a good reason. I wasn't 100% sure my daughter was ready for the sex story, but I was wrong. This truly gave us good opportunities to have some needed girl talk. And Nicole handles the issue in a sensitive yet real way. The consequences are real and laid out for readers to weigh. How much better to consider what she would do now rather than in a few years when the pressure is on.
Please get these books for the tween girls in your life. They are wonderful stories with a purpose.
This book has two book in one. While both books were different, both books taught good morals. And that is something you don't see in books often. I like how you can read these book and not only get to choose what paths the characters take, but you get a life lesson out of it.
The first book was based on cheating, Should you come clean or let your best friend take the fall for it. As always, I take as many paths as I can take to see the different outcomes. I was pleasantly surprised how pleased it all turn out. It had a happy ending with things coming out right.
The second book was based on having faith in God. Not all things work out and sometimes you must pray and wait. Not every family perfect either. We all make mistakes and we all do things that we regret. Remember: a family that prays together, stays together.
Anonymous
Posted April 25, 2011
To be honest, I am not typically a huge Fiction reader, however, The Swept Away -- 2 books in 1 - definitely pulled me in! Nicole O'Dell is such gifted writer, making the book truly come to life, and inspiring emotion that makes you feel as if you were a part of the storyline. These books are full of energy and perfectly incorporate fun with the learning of some of life's toughest lessons, creating a reading experience that is not only enjoyable, but thought provoking as well! I was so encouraged to see Biblical principles taught in such a creative way that is relevant for this generation of tweens/teens. Thanks to Nicole O'Dell for being intentional about reaching this generation of teens, pointing them to Jesus Christ, and teaching them of God's great plans for their lives!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.In Swept Away by Nicole O'Dell, you not only get two great stories in one, you also get to choose the ending for each. How fun and educational is that? I loved the concept of picking your own scenario, but what I hadn't expected is the desire to read the other after you'd already made your decision.
O'Dell does a wonderful job in creating teenage characters with real life situations. Each story provides the reader with two choices and to discover the consequences of their decision. Both stories are perfect for pre and young teens.
In High Stakes, two best friends, Amber and Brittany are presented with a contest that puts their friendship to the ultimate test. When Amber is faced with the possibility for winning something she feels she deserves more than her friend, she puts their friendship and what's right on the line, and her lack of faith in God is evident in the decision she makes.
In Essence of Lily, running from her unhappy home life, Lily makes a decision that could ultimately change her life forever. She soon learns life's lesson that God is the only one that can fulfill the empty whole in one's heart, and that lying and our choices can lead us into situations we find difficult to get out of, and could ultimately change our lives forever.
Joyce65
Posted April 15, 2011
I loved [Swept Away] and can hardly wait to get it into my granddaughter's hands. It is so important for young girls to be able to read these books and see their options, BEFORE they are faced with the real issues in life. I believe reading the books will greatly influence their personal decisions and possibly divert them from a lot of hurt they might have experienced had they not read of consequences others had to deal with and the rewards received due to making good decisions. These books are a way of planting good seeds in their minds to prepare them for more joy and success in their futures and who of us do not want to do that for our loved ones? I have thoroughly enjoyed the six books I have read of Nicole's, even though I am older. I have learned things from them as well. I look forward to her next endeavors.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.shellie_c
Posted April 14, 2011
You can't beat two books for the price of one, unless those two books are amazing stories of realistic teen drama. In High Stakes, ride along with Amber as she decides whether or not to fess up to cheating on her finals. Only you get to decide if she chooses to save her friend or save herself. Nicole O'Dell spins an interactive tale with two endings to choose from. Each with their own unique consequences and blessings. In Essence of Lilly, you get to chose how far is too far for Lilly when she is faced with the decision to spend an overnighter with Jason, her boyfriend. Either choice will put you face to face with a real decision facing many teens today. Nicole weaves identifiable characters into moral dilemmas with skill and knack. Her stories are easy to read and creative in their delivery. Pure entertainment with a life lesson tucked inside.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Joyce65
Posted April 12, 2011
I loved [Swept Away] and can hardly wait to get it into my granddaughter's hands. It is so important for young girls to be able to read these books and see their options, BEFORE they are faced with the real issues in life. I believe reading the books will greatly influence their personal decisions and possibly divert them from a lot of hurt they might have experienced had they not read of consequences others had to deal with and the rewards received due to making good decisions. These books are a way of planting good seeds in their minds to prepare them for more joy and success in their futures and who of us do not want to do that for our loved ones?
I have thoroughly enjoyed the six books I have read of Nicole's, even though I am older. I have learned things from them as well. I look forward to her next endeavors.
HeidiMain
Posted April 9, 2011
Nicole pulled me into each of these stories and didn't let me go until the story ended. She is a gifted storyteller. And these stories need to be told so that teens and young adults can read real life situations and see how the choices impact the characters. These characters are true to life and are very relatable. This series fills a huge need in the Christian book industry. And Nicole is the person to fill that need because she weaves amazing stories.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.The_Bookworms
Posted April 5, 2011
I'm a teenager and I just recently read Swept Away and absolutely loved it. The characters were very real and I found myself pulled into their stories and not wanting to put the book down until I had finished it. Nicole O'Dell does an amazing job on her Scenarios for Girls book. I definitely recommend this one, especially for teenage girls. Book 5 - High Stakes Amber is a senior and in a good-natured, though fierce, competition with her best friend, Brittany, for a car that is being given away. When Amber cheats on her final exams and Brittany is blamed, she had to decide whether she will tell the truth and give up the car and possibly more, or stay silent and let Brittany take the blame. Book 6 - Essence of Lilly Trying to escape her mom and stepdad's fights, Lilly gets involved in youth group activities, using them as an excuse to hang out with her boyfriend, Jason, who makes her feel loved. When Jason convinces her to lie to her parents about an overnighter at the church, she has to decide how far she will let things go. This is a great book that teaches some very important lessons.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.grandmaparty
Posted April 4, 2011
Been waiting for the next books in the Scenarios Series. Was not disappointed in the stories or issues covered in Swept Away. Nicole swept me away as I followed the characters and their dilemma's. All six stories from the Scenarios Series, now three 2-in-1 books, have dealt with issues that tweens/teens face every day. Nicole has handled the subjects beautifully and allowed the reader to be interactively involved in the story. The books are ingenious in the way they ask the reader to make the tough moral decisions. It gives the reader the opportunity to feel the weight of the consequences. I've read all of these books and I believe that each book dealt with a necessary issue facing the tween/teens of today.......and tomorrow.
I've purchased multiple Scenarios books - donated some to my church youth library and many I gave as gifts to my friends daughters and grand daughters. All have asked repeatly when the next book/s would be released. They are so excited that books 5 & 6 are now available. To anyone out there, these books are great gifts for young girls that you love and want to see make the right decisions. They prepare them before they're faced with the difficult choices.
Swept Away was wonderful and dealt with a little more mature subject that a lot of Christian writers run from.
Way to go Nicole.
Overview
Decisions, decisions! How is a girl supposed to choose? Lessons of right and wrong are put to the test in the Scenarios series, where you can test your decision-making abilities in an eye-opening, but safe, way. Each book follows a character up to the point where she has to make an important, life-changing decision—then it’s your turn to choose. Will your choices lead to a happy ending?