Volume I of the Christy Miller Collection contains three novels about a teen named Christy Miller, written by Robin Jones Gunn.
The starting point of the whole series is fourteen year old Christy's dream summer at her aunt and uncle's beach-front home in California. Christy's wealthy and fashionable Aunt Marti, who seems to be trying to make Christy into someone she is not, encourages Christy to try to make some friends. However, Christy soon learns that things are not what they seem with the attractive and seemingly put-together teens she meets on the beach. That is not the case with Todd, who is a little bit different from the insecure and immature surfers at Newport Beach.
Todd begins to show Christy what it means to be a true Christian. Not the type that just goes to church once a week, but the kind that daily lives for Christ.
Tough there are difficult times throughout the summer, Christy grows emotionally and spiritually, and returns to her home in Wisconsin almost a completely different person.
Each of the next two books builds on the Summer Promise of Christy's first trip to Newport Beach.
Though I would not classify the Christy Miller series as very deep or difficult reading, they are good, solid teen girl novels. There is plenty of drama, and just a touch of romance, to keep a reader's attention very well. I would also say that many girls would identify well with Christy.
As it contains Christian themes, and a compelling message, Volume I is quite encouraging and certainly would be to other teenage girls who read the Christy Miller series.
I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
