Title: Becoming Me
Author: Melody Carlson
Genre: Modern-day fiction
Age Level: Teenager
Characters: Caitlin, Beanie, Josh, Zach, Clay, Andrea, Caitlin's dad, Caitlin's aunt, Caitlin's mom
Plot: Caitlin O'Connor has a lot of ups and downs in her life. However, her life isn't going too shabbily when one of the popular girls at school befriends her. Soon she's dating a popular guy . . . but she's also being tempted to compromise. Then her life basically crashes when she begins to strongly suspect that her father's having an affair. Around this time, Caitlin's aunt invites her to church. Caitlin has grown up in church but never actually accepted Christ as Savior. It's at her aunt's church's youth group that Caitlin becomes a Christian. Under the wise spiritual leadership of Clay, the 18-year-old youth group leader, she continues to take baby steps in her new faith. Just at this point Caitlin's life takes a major downturn into doubt: Clay dies in a school shooting. Caitlin feels that she will never again trust God and doesn't understand how He could let such a terrible thing happen. As time goes forward and life goes on, though, she realizes that Clay's life was like the seed in the parable- when it dies, it produces much fruit. Through Clay's death, the youth group is drawn closer together, the faith of many is strengthened, and many are brought to Christ. (As Clay's older brother Tony points out, though, Clay wasn't perfect and had once been a rebel. However, God turned his life around, and then he became completely sold out for God.) Caitlin's faith becomes stronger. She makes a commitment to purity. She talks with her dad, who never actually does have an affair. Then Caitlin finds out her best friend, Beanie, is pregnant, and Beanie's boyfriend wants her to get an abortion. Caitlin finds help for Beanie in Caitlin's aunt, and Beanie refuses to abort the baby. However, she's not sure whether her boyfriend will marry her or not. There the book ends.
Precautions: This book has a strong Christian message. My main precaution would be its relatively intense focus on the physical elements of romance, which might be more of a problem than a help for some readers. However, if you're already exposed to such things, this book might be a great help and encouragement to you. It definitely takes a frank look at some of life's more tough issues which confront teenagers, such as death, abortion, fidelity, purity, authenticity, and choosing the right thing even when it's hard. Clay offers a good example of a (relatively) mature Christian who is a Godly influence on those around him. The book is strongly pro-purity and pro-life; one poignant example of the pro-life message is when Tony explains that before Clay was born, his mom was considering having an abortion; but Tony's love for his (yet unborn) brother convinced her not to go ahead with it. Considering the great impact Clay's short life had drives home the impact of one life and makes one think- every time someone considers having an abortion, what is hanging in the balance?
Ratings: As said above, if you're already exposed to some of the more intense elements and topics presented in this book, it could be helpful and encouraging. Otherwise, it might be more of a harm than a help.
Author: Melody Carlson
Genre: Modern-day fiction
Age Level: Teenager
Characters: Caitlin, Beanie, Josh, Zach, Clay, Andrea, Caitlin's dad, Caitlin's aunt, Caitlin's mom
Plot: Caitlin O'Connor has a lot of ups and downs in her life. However, her life isn't going too shabbily when one of the popular girls at school befriends her. Soon she's dating a popular guy . . . but she's also being tempted to compromise. Then her life basically crashes when she begins to strongly suspect that her father's having an affair. Around this time, Caitlin's aunt invites her to church. Caitlin has grown up in church but never actually accepted Christ as Savior. It's at her aunt's church's youth group that Caitlin becomes a Christian. Under the wise spiritual leadership of Clay, the 18-year-old youth group leader, she continues to take baby steps in her new faith. Just at this point Caitlin's life takes a major downturn into doubt: Clay dies in a school shooting. Caitlin feels that she will never again trust God and doesn't understand how He could let such a terrible thing happen. As time goes forward and life goes on, though, she realizes that Clay's life was like the seed in the parable- when it dies, it produces much fruit. Through Clay's death, the youth group is drawn closer together, the faith of many is strengthened, and many are brought to Christ. (As Clay's older brother Tony points out, though, Clay wasn't perfect and had once been a rebel. However, God turned his life around, and then he became completely sold out for God.) Caitlin's faith becomes stronger. She makes a commitment to purity. She talks with her dad, who never actually does have an affair. Then Caitlin finds out her best friend, Beanie, is pregnant, and Beanie's boyfriend wants her to get an abortion. Caitlin finds help for Beanie in Caitlin's aunt, and Beanie refuses to abort the baby. However, she's not sure whether her boyfriend will marry her or not. There the book ends.
Precautions: This book has a strong Christian message. My main precaution would be its relatively intense focus on the physical elements of romance, which might be more of a problem than a help for some readers. However, if you're already exposed to such things, this book might be a great help and encouragement to you. It definitely takes a frank look at some of life's more tough issues which confront teenagers, such as death, abortion, fidelity, purity, authenticity, and choosing the right thing even when it's hard. Clay offers a good example of a (relatively) mature Christian who is a Godly influence on those around him. The book is strongly pro-purity and pro-life; one poignant example of the pro-life message is when Tony explains that before Clay was born, his mom was considering having an abortion; but Tony's love for his (yet unborn) brother convinced her not to go ahead with it. Considering the great impact Clay's short life had drives home the impact of one life and makes one think- every time someone considers having an abortion, what is hanging in the balance?
Ratings: As said above, if you're already exposed to some of the more intense elements and topics presented in this book, it could be helpful and encouraging. Otherwise, it might be more of a harm than a help.
