Just Another Girl
Melody Carlson
Revell, 2009, 221 pp., $9.99
www.revellbooks.com
Seventeen-year-old Aster Flynn is lost in the middle between Rose, a self-absorbed older sister, and Lily, a younger sister with developmental delays. Aster takes on the role of caretaker to her younger sister as her mom becomes increasingly overwhelmed with work. Her dad is preoccupied with his new wife and child. Aster quite simply has more to cope with than a 17-year-old should and is feeling trapped and ignored.
When one of the cool guys shows interest in her, Aster thinks her life is about to change for the better. Will she be able to maintain her commitment to Christ while hanging out with the “in” crowd?
Melody Carlson’s novel about coping with stress and finding one’s place in life is a timeless story updated with modern situations. Teens may get bogged down in the details about Lily’s disability, but they’ll appreciate Aster’s triumph in the end.
