True Colors Series — Beyond Black and White
Book 1 Dark Blue: Color Me Lonely (2004, 205 pp., $14.99)
Book 3 Torch Red: Color Me Torn (2004, 207 pp., $14.99)
Book 7 Blade Silver: Color Me Scarred (2005, 197 pp., $14.99)
Melody Carlson
THINK Books/NavPress
Carlson’s books capture the voices of teenage girls from various ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. No issue seems to be off limits in her novels. Obnoxious and hypocritical Christians aren’t let off the hook; mature believers are not portrayed as perfect. The lack of stereotypes is refreshing. The 12-book series (with Harsh Pink the most recently released title) provides non-stop reading about important teen issues.
In Dark Blue, Kara feels abandoned by her best friend. In her betrayed state, I found her self-absorbed and unlikable; although, self-centeredness comes with depression. Ultimately, friends and God meet her where she is and she finds redemption and healing.
Many girls will relate to the realistic push-pull sexual tension Zoe feels in Torch Red. Some will be uncomfortable with oral sex in a Christian novel—a bit graphic for junior high girls, IMHO. To Carlson’s credit, sexual purity is defined clearly in a non-cheesy way. Realistic or not, know the girls to whom you’re recommending this one.
Blade Silver is a moving and eye-opening story about Ruth, who copes with an abusive father and emotionally unstable mother by cutting. Written from Ruth’s point of view, the reader experiences the depression that drives her to self-mutilation and what it does to her.
