Meant to Be

Diary of a Teenage Girl #11

by Melody Carlson

Kim’s World Turns Upside Down

When Kim’s mom is diagnosed with cancer, Natalie steps in, as true friends will do, to round up hundreds of people to pray for Mrs. Peterson’s healing. Her health begins to improve, and Kim’s love life begins to flourish…but with a non-Christian. Natalie warns Kim to break off the relationship, but is that just because she’s jealous? Or is God trying to speak to Kim through Natalie’s counsel? When her mom’s health suddenly declines again, Kim blames herself. Maybe she never should have become involved with Matthew, especially as she’s tempted to give in to his pressure to have sex. Kim’s faith is hanging in the balance. She wants to believe that prayer will prevail, but the obstacles seem so big…

Thursday, December 29

My dad and I are both feeling a little torn about Mom right now. On one hand, we all act like everything is just peachy, perfectly normal. But at the same time, it’s like we’re walking on eggshells too. Like we’re all thinking the same thing–is this our last Christmas all together?

Kim Peterson’s mom has stage four ovarian cancer, and Kim’s done enough research online to know the odds are dismal. But Kim and her best friend, Natalie McCabe, and a lot of other people are praying that God will heal her mom.

Kim’s mom makes her promise that she’ll continue with life as normal: Nat, youth group, violin, her Just Ask Jamie newspaper column, even hanging out with Matthew. But how can life be normal with cancer hanging over your head like a dark cloud?

And then she’s getting flak from Natalie because Matthew’s not a Christian, and Nat’s afraid he’ll drag Kim down. But Nat’s dating life isn’t exactly smooth sailing, either. Both girls are praying a lot–and waiting to find out what’s meant to be.

Reader’s guide included

Story Behind the Book

“My teenage years remain vivid in my mind. It was a turbulent time, full of sharp contrasts–love and hate, pain and pleasure, trust and doubt. Then, just as I reached my peak of questioning, rebelling, and seeking, I found God. And I found Him in a really big way! My life turned completely around and has, thankfully, never turned back. Hopefully this story will touch and change hearts–speaking to teen girls right where they live, reminding readers that God is alive and well and ready to be intimately involved in their lives right now!” –Melody Carlson


From the Trade Paperback edition.

Genres: Young Adult, Christian, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Teen, Realistic Fiction, Romance

272 pages, Paperback

First published September 29, 2005

About the author

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books, several of them Christmas novellas from Revell, including her much-loved and bestselling book, The Christmas Bus.

She also writes many teen books, including the Diary of a Teenage Girl series, the TrueColors series, and the Carter House Girls series.

Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books, including the Notes from a Spinning Planet series and Finding Alice, which is in production as a Lifetime Television movie. She and her husband serve on the Young Life adult committee in central Oregon.

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking...but still enjoyable.

[Halee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really good! Dealt with tons of mature issues, so I recommend to be read by age 15 and up.


But this was a very good follow up from the second book.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book, “Diary Of A Teenage Girl, Meant To Be”, confirmed that it is about a girl named Kim, a girl who had her first love, her parents divorced, and a tough spot in her life when her mom got stage four ovarian cancer.
Kim is a very wise and clever person. She will do anything for her mom, knowing that she only has a little time left with her mom, because the medicine seems like it isn’t helping to cure her cancer. So it makes this novel very interesting and a good book to read.
Melody Carlson, the author, writes about a character’s life, Kim. She writes about Kim and the messages Kim gets on her computer and/or phone. About how she struggles with her boyfriend and her parents, not knowing how to cope with her feelings, so people online write to her about things that go on in her life to cope with her. I guess you can say that people all around the world talk in this group chat, to help other people going through a heartbreak or a lifetime decision.
Overall, this book is really interesting and amusing to read. I recommend this book to young adults because there are scenes where it might not be appropriate for younger readers.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still can’t believe that the Kim diaries were my least favorite when I read this series over a decade ago!

Upon re-reading these books she has definitely become my favorite, and the ending of this one made me cry. I’m glad I don’t remember these very well, because everything seems new to me that way.

[Haven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it but very sad

[Kyla Roman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3. This book was average. Very boring until the end, but some parts were still enjoyable.

[Megan Mweemba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, since I've read so many of the Diary of a Teenage Girl series books, I usually don't take the time to review them. But on this one, I just had to put something.

This book helped me grieve. My best friend first pointed the Kim series out to me, saying how much she was like Kim. They're both adopted, feel the same way about some things. Both Christians. And her mom also died from cancer, almost a year ago today.

I'm a strange person. I don't really cry or grieve when people die. I didn't when my grandpa died. Or when Amy (best friend's mom) did. Even though those are two people that I was very close to. Sure, I was sad. But I never actually took the time to really grieve.

...Until I read this book. When I got to the part about Kim's mom dying, I cried. Yes, I really cried. But I wasn't crying for the book, at least not mostly. I was crying for Amy. And this book really helped me, to grieve, to take a step. I immensely recommend it for anybody, but especially for people going through loss.

[Books and Literature for Teens]

This Diary of a Teenage Girl was different from the Kim or the Chloe series (haven't read the Caitlin series yet).
It was still good, but pretty edgy.
Sure, lots of girls have Maya's problem (in fact I know one), but I hear about it so much that I don't like to keep reading stuff about it.
Anyways, Maya's mother is an drug addict,her father's away on tour, and Maya wants to live on her own. But in doing so, she gotta learn the art of being humble.


It was a bit slow at times, but finishable (can I make-up that word?). Hopefully the second one, It's a Green Thing will be better.
REVIEW BY MORGAN

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good, but hard to read. I have not lost my mom, but I understand the pain of losing a parent you really love. Also, the times of trustsing God for healing, but also accepting complete healing may only happen in heaven.

It was interesting to read about Maya since I've read the books in her diary series already.

I like reading about how the characters come and go throughout the books. It's like the real world - people you interact with come and go and have large and small things to do with your life.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great novel about the struggles and difficulties teens face everyday, even being a Christian! This book really inspires me to be a great example to the people around me and let them know what my beliefs are as a Christain. i dont need to force them to believe the same thing but give them time to figure out what i am saying or doing really makes sense.
(when kim's mom died i almost cried!)

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Kim is my favorite DOATG girl. Caitlin, though I like her, always seems so perfect, Chloe is cool but I'm not a free-spirited musician, and Maya i haven't read all her books. So Kim! SHe's a quiet serious girl just like me, and so I find I relate to her the best. And I like her parents a lot too.
But all these books are good!

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a fast, but emotional read. There was so much hope, faith, and trust that Kim (the main character) had in God and in her friends and family that I couldn't help but admire it. Melody Carlson is a great writer!!

[Mary Bronson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a very good book. I really enjoyed reading it. I loved the plot and characters of the story. Kim is starting to grow as a character and I'm loving it. Once I got started I could not put down the book. Can not wait to read more about her.

[Angie]

all of melody carlson books are great. they touch lives...this one I like...

[Ali]

i learned so much. i was crying. this is a very sad book.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really interesting, but a little bit sad. I still recommend it even though it made me want to cry.

[Jamie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite one.

[Jewels Faulkner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm already obsessed with the series.

[Alsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quite a sad book. I really loved it though.
Melody Carlson is one of the best teen Christian authors I have ever read.

[Ashli · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Re3_becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried! It was very good! Can't wait for the next one! =)

[Devin · Rating 5 out of 5]

No matter what, God is always there waiting for you.

[Antoinette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good!!!

[Julie. Brouwer. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this book. However I found this at a book fair so I don't know ig I can get the others.