Forgotten

Forgotten:
Seventeen and Homeless
Melody Carlson
(NavPress)
ISBN: 978-1600069482
August, 2010/208 pages/$14.99

With absent parents, overdue rent, and no one to turn to, Adele is forced into the hard, cold world of homelessness. While striving to maintain the pretense of a “normal” life, Adele attempts to finish high school, all the while concealing her secret. But is she strong enough to keep up the act?

Forgotten will propel teen readers into a world where promises are broken, life is not fair, and challenges seem unbearable, while still offering assurance that solid faith, loyal friends, and a persistent spirit will prevail.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
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, The Christy, 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.

Visit her website to learn more.


MY THOUGHTS:
This book is a heartbreaking story that is probably more realistic than any of us would like to admit. Teens will have much to think about as they read about Adele's efforts to cope with her mother's desertion while at the same time holding onto her new (so-called) friends. While there was much to like about this book, the ending was rushed; the faith element was not clearly explained and loose ends were not resolved. When Adele is at the end of her resources and seeks help from a pastor she met at the local shelter, I wasn't sure whether and when she turned her life over to God. While it gave me the sense that Melody Carlson reached her word count limit and abruptly ended it, the overall story was good. Melody Carlson has her finger on the pulse of today's teens and the challenges so many of them face. As with so many of her books, I'm passing this one on to my girl!



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress as part of their Blogger Review program. 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 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”