Review of Anything by Normal by Melody Carlson

I don't think teenage pregnancy is ever a comfortable subject. But when you talk about Christian teens becoming pregnant, it suddenly becomes even more uncomfortable.

And that's the topic of Melody Carlson's new book for teen girls, Anything but Normal. In this novel, Carlson tells an enjoyable story that will make every reader - young or old - stop and think about their own attitudes toward a very real problem - one that we would often prefer to ignore.

Sophie Ramsay is a Christian teenager who made a wrong decision. The outcome of her action forces her family, her friends, and even the members of her church, question their beliefs about teen pregnancy.

How does someone really show the love of Jesus to somebody who has sinned?

As Sophie comes to terms with her pregnancy and the choices she must make, the reader gets a close up look at the real issues facing pregnant teens - perhaps issues that are too uncomfortable for us to look at in any other way except a fiction novel - and our own response to them.

This is a captivating story with believable characters. Carlson takes you through every step of Sophie's journey, from discovering that she's pregnant, to examining her choices, to finally making the right decision for her.

I shared this book with my 13 year old daughter. She enjoyed the story, too, and it helped start a dialogue between us about teen pregnancy. It gave her an honest look at the pressures she could face as she matures, and helped her plan what her response would be when that day came.

If you have a teenage daughter, or know a teenage girl, I highly recommend giving her a copy of Anything but Normal. It's an enjoyable story that will stay with her long after she's turned the last page.



Available January 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.