Pitch Black……by Melody Carlson

Pitch Black……by Melody Carlson

 

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: NavPress (October 25, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576835324
• ISBN-13: 978-1576835326
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches

Book Blurb:

Description: If Morgan thought her life was tough before–what with a drug-addicted, klepto brother and a cradle-robbing mother–it just got worse: Her friend Jason took his own life.

Morgan copes–or tries to–by attempting to piece together vague clues that might explain Jason’s suicide. Making matters worse, she can’t help but feel responsible somehow. Sometimes she thinks maybe Jason had the right idea all along.

This fourth book in the teen fiction series TrueColors deals with the important topics of grief, suicide, self-worth, identity, and handling tragedy.

My Review

Teen Suicide is not a subject we like to read or talk about but it is real folks. And Melody Carlson has created a cast of characters telling a heartbreaking story that will stay with you for a long time. My heart ached for these teens as they tried to decide whether or not they would be better off copying what their friend Jason did. After all, if Jason didn’t want to live, being a Christian and living a seemingly good life, should they want to live when their lives, and their family lives were so dysfunctional?

This is a book every teen should have the opportunity to read. With the exceptional writing by the author making readers feel like we are living the story with these teens, maybe this book could save the life of someone thinking the same thoughts as Jason and these teens. I very highly recommend this book to teens and parents of teens to read and discuss with each other. Pitch Black should be in every library, everywhere!

I received this book free from NavPress to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55

About the Author

Melody Carlson

Over the years, Melody Carlson has worn many hats, from preschool teacher to youth counselor to political activist to senior editor. But most of all, she loves to write! Currently she freelances from her home. In the past eleven years, she has published more than 150 books for children, teens, and adults, with sales close to three million and many titles appearing on best sellers lists.

Several of her books have been finalists and winners of various writing awards, including The Gold Medallion and The Rita Award. And most recently, she is in the process of optioning some of her books for film rights.

Carlson’s passion for writing has been greatly focused on teens. Informed and aware of the challenges and struggles teens face today, she writes young adult novels that she hopes will change lives. Her popular series Diary of a Teenage Girl (Multnomah) has sold more than 300,000 copies. Her TrueColors series (Nav Press) focuses on hard-hitting issues such as suicide, addiction, and cutting. Her series The Secret Life of Samantha McGregor explores the paranormal from a godly perspective. And her latest series, The Carter House Girls, offers readers a cleaned-up alternative to the popular Gossip Girl books.

She has two grown sons and lives in Central Oregon with her husband and chocolate lab retriever. They enjoy skiing, hiking, gardening, camping and biking in the beautiful Cascade Mountains. http://www.melodycarlson.com

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Trusting God for Everything–Psalm 23 A Personal Retreat Guide by Jan Johnson

Trusting God for Everything–Psalm 23 A Personal Retreat Guide by Jan Johnson

ISBN-13: 9781600066610

Trim Size: 5 1/2 x 8 1/4

Cover: Paperback

112 Pages

 
Read first chapter HERE

My Review

This book is designed for a ladies retreat study with seven sessions taking you through Psalm 23. In this study, you don’t just read the verses and read a little bit about each verse, you read, and re-read over and over again. After you read the verses, you meditate on what you have read, you immerse yourself into Gods message to you. You read and understand the meaning of the words, the theme of the scriptures you read, and you picture the passage you have read. Then you respond to God’s message to you and you rest in the message God has given you. Throughout each lesson there are lots of questions to answer which I love, because I seem to understand so much more when there are questions about what I’ve read to answer.

I thoroughly enjoyed this study, though I didn’t do the study in a retreat setting, I studied through the book on my own. This is one great thing about this book. It can be used many ways, not just the retreat setting it was designed for. The author so wonderfully designed this book breaking down each chapter and each section in the chapters to make the study more profitable to those using it. She did the planning work for us, we just need the book, along with our Bibles and start studying. This book is a valuable resource for any library as well. I encourage ladies to seriously check out this book for themselves, and request it for your next Bible study.

I received this book free from NavPress to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55

About the Author

Jan Johnson

JAN JOHNSON enjoys speaking at retreats and conferences, hoping to ignite within listeners a burning desire to know God in an authentic way and to live out a kingdom life in the daily companionship of Jesus. Unwilling to minimize the mystery of God or the human struggle, Jan presents biblical principles and characters in down-to-earth ways so that people can connect with God and become more thirsty for God. Her observations about life’s dilemmas give listeners a lot to study, ponder, and laugh about.

As an author and spiritual director, Jan holds degrees in Christian education and spiritual direction (D.Min.), which along with many years of Bible teaching, have equipped her to write hundreds of published Bible study sessions. She is also the author of sixteen books and more than a thousand newspaper and magazine articles. Jan is the author of 13 books and more than 1000 Bible studies. You can find out more information at http://www.janjohnson.org.

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