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BOOK REVIEW: Sold Out
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by: Laura V. Hilton Dancing Word Reviewer
Title: Sold Out: (Diary of a Teenage Girl Book #6) Author: Melody Carlson Publisher: Multnomah Publishers ISBN: 1-590-52141-2 Genre: Inspirational/Juvenile/Fiction
Chloe Miller and her friends, Allie and Laura, is starting to become noticed in their small town. Former social outcasts, they’ve started a garage band, and now they are stoked to be invited to play at some church events as well as in certain restaurants. As their band becomes recognized favorably, it comes under attack by certain church groups who feel the style of music they play doesn’t glorify God, nor does their apparel. Chloe favors the urban look: torn jeans, and ratty t-shirts. Chloe also likes to wear rings on her lips, her brows, her navel, etc. Laura is being forced to consider leaving the band because her pastor is the leading opponent. He has forbidden Laura to even associate with Chloe or the other members of the band. The band has been noticed by a talent scout at one of their gigs and has been invited to audition in Nashville for a leading recording company. It is not a good time to lose a key member. Will the band survive, despite the increasing odds? Will the pastor convince Laura to leave? Or will she stick with the band? Sold Out is the first teen book I’ve read by Melody Carlson. Written in first person but with an unusual font which at first I found difficult to read, being used to the normal book print. Sold Out is written in diary format, like a teenager would record day-to-day happenings. It includes poems, song lyrics, and other things like teenagers would include in their journal. Since Chloe projects a tough chick image, she is probably not the kind of girl I’d want my daughter to associate with. However, I did find it easy to identify with her. She is open about her feelings and confusion about certain issues, including the church problems she faces, and she truly tries to find and serve the God in the manner she feels comfortable with. Sold Out is a great book for teens that struggle with identity issues or are trying to realize a dream while facing impossible odds. I recommend it as a great back to school read. It may help teens to be themselves among a crowd that expects everyone to be carbon copies of their peers. There are discussion questions included in the back which makes it ideal for a small group study. This is the second book in the Chloe: Diary of a Teenage Girl series. It would be helpful to read the first book in the series My Name I Chloe before reading Sold Out. | |
