This book sent a great message. It's a work of YA Christian fiction which centers around a group of girls who live in a boarding home. These girls are completely different from each other which makes the dynamics of the friendships very interesting.

This book has a message about looking to God but also about looking to yourself for the right choices. Carlson did an excellent job of including real life situations that teens can get in too. I applaud that becasue it was an honest look at real issues.

I think the book would be great for girls about to start high school or a youth group. ( )

MY REVIEW:

Spring Breakdown is the 7th in Melody Carlson's Carter House Girls series. To be honest, had I realized it was that far along in the series, I probably would have started with the first and worked my way up. The book did not make me feel like I did not know what was going on, but I would have preferred getting a clearer picture of the characters.

I always enjoy revisiting teen life via a good book. Reading about DJ and the other Carter House Girls adventures brought me back in that way. I liked that the girls were trying to do the right things and following their convictions with what they might wear whether at the beach or a dance and convictions against underage drinking. I wasn't crazy about the cattiness of the characters on all sides. I expected the "mean girl" to be generally portrayed as jerky, but it seemed a little stereotypical (spoiled little rich girl). I did not expect to see so much snarky and catty behavior from the characters who were talking the talk spiritually one moment and doing the slash and jab verbally later. However, all of this resolved itself in my mind, because of course we aren't perfect, and in the long run the good hearts were definitely showing through by the end. ( )