Boy Friend

Jennifer #5

by Jane Sorenson

Jennifer becomes involved in eighth-grade activities, develops friendships with two boys, and goes on her first date.

144 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1985

About the author

Mrs. Sorenson wrote her first "Jennifer" novel at age 54. "It's Me, Jennifer," was followed by 11 more and led to her writing eight "Katie Hooper" books. She also penned six devotional books. More than 500,000 copies of her work have been sold. Her books focus on relationships and family with an eye toward Christian readers.

Mrs. Sorenson graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

After having underwent a mastectomy in 1963. At 37 she wrote "Thank You Lord," a first-person account of surviving cancer that appeared in Christian Life magazine.

Mrs. Sorenson also was an associate editor and book editor at Christian Advocate and taught English and creative writing at the nursing school of West Suburban Hospital in Oak Park.

Reviews

[Katt Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jennifer is starting to seem a little bit more her age than in previous volumes as she gets caught between two boys (brothers!) and finally does go on her first date. Again, I love these books and the gentleness with which the stories are told. This series has a very authentic and 'real' feel to them despite their age that really makes me wish I'd discovered them when they'd first come out. Again, God plays a part in the story, but even that's authentic and never gets preachy.

[Sarah Hyatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this in a box of my childhood books in my parents' garage along with three other books from the series. I have no memory of these books at all which is strange.

I reread this one and was surprised to find it was surprisingly devoid of Christian culture. The premise is Jennifer's inner monologue to God but within that monologue she thinks normal teenage thoughts - I look pretty, I look ugly, I like this boy, I like that boy - without any shaming or guilt. It was surprisingly refreshing.

The books aren't great literature by any means and the plot is almost nonexistent but there is something oddly sweet and innocent about this book, or maybe that is just my nostalgia for late elementary school in the 90s.