"Anything But Normal" by Melody Carlson

"Anything But Normal" by Melody Carlson is a controversial read. It follows the story of Sophie, a senior in high school. She is on the honor roll, has risen to prestigious ranks in her school newspaper, contributes to yearbook, is Christian, and--I almost forgot--pregnant. Confused and not sure what to do, Sophie tries to deny her situation. Readers follow her journey as her tummy continues to get bigger and bigger. They are taken into her soul, as she makes decisions and faces life as a pregnant teen. One would think this book would be tiredly predictable. After all, a Christian prima donna is pregnant; she'll probably just give the kid up for adoption, say some penance, and be done with it. However, Carlson takes us on a wild ride as Sophie makes decisions most unexpectedly, even facing some situations that leave readers befuddled. Additionally, the drama between Sophie, her friends, her parents, her pastor, and her child's father add to the drama. At one point in the book, Sophie does the unthinkable and learns what being a true Christian is all about--undeserved grace. This book does not go into sexually explicit detail, but abortion, date rape, unplanned parenthood, and high school pregnancy centers are touched upon. This book is mentally, spiritually, and emotionally gripping.

Available January 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group