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Diary of a Teenage Girl #1
Becoming Me
In the fictional Diary of a Teenage Girl, sixteen-year-old Caitlin O'Conner reveals the inner workings of a girl caught between childhood and womanhood ... an empty life without Christ and a meaningful one with Him. Through Caitlin's candid journal entries we see her grapple with such universal teen issues as peer pressure, loyalty, conflict with parents, the longing for a boyfriend, and her own spirituality. Readers will laugh and cry with Caitlin as she struggles toward self-discovery and understanding God's plan for her life. And they'll be deeply moved by her surprising commitment regarding dating.
Follow Caitlin O'Conner, a girl much like yourself, as she makes her way from New Year's to the first day of summer -- surviving a challenging home life, changing friends, school pressures, an identity crisis, and the uncertainties of "true love."
You'll cry with Caitlin as she experiences heartache, and cheer for her as she encounters a new reality in her life: God. See how rejection by one group can -- incredibly -- sometimes lead you to discover who you really are...
Follow Caitlin O'Conner, a girl much like yourself, as she makes her way from New Year's to the first day of summer -- surviving a challenging home life, changing friends, school pressures, an identity crisis, and the uncertainties of "true love."
You'll cry with Caitlin as she experiences heartache, and cheer for her as she encounters a new reality in her life: God. See how rejection by one group can -- incredibly -- sometimes lead you to discover who you really are...
256 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2000
126 people are currently reading
2967 people want to read
About the author
Melody Carlson
418 books3,245 followersMelody 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 284 reviews
April 25, 2010
ATTENTION!!! I'm adding this paragraph to the beginning of my review because I just read some other reviews. Everyone seems to think the book was "preachy." This, my friends, is called a-feeling-of-guilt-or-uneasiness-when-one-is-shown-how-similar-they-are-to-a-character-who-isn't-Christian. You read about Caitlin pointing out her own faults, realize you are the same way, and decide you don't want to hear about it. This book makes you THINK, and seeing your faults is good. If you take one look at it and say it's preachy, well, then you probably need to hear what Caitlin has to say.
I think this is my favorite series. One Sunday in December, it snowed so much that my church was cancelled. So, I needed to do something with my time. My sister said I could borrow Becoming Me from her, and it looked interesting, so I figured I'd start it. ...And finish it on the same day.
Happiness is hot chocolate and a good book. Happierness is hot chocolate with cinnamon and a Melody Carlson novel. But happiestness is hot chocolate with cinnamon and vanilla, AND a book from the Diary of a Teenage Girl Series. There you have it, lesson #1 in Sandy Crow's Book of Wisdom.
This proved to be a very worthwhile Christian book. At first it seems like it's just going to be another book in which Christianity plays a small part, but only in the beginning, before Caitlyn becomes a Christian. Her life up until that point is just as important as the rest - it helps the reader see the changes that go on in Caitlyn, and the "new man" she is in Christ can be seen more clearly when compared to her old self.
I would recommend it for any Christian teen. However, I had one problem with it. One of the themes in this book is personal convictions. And in one of Caitlin's entries, she decides that God wants her to abstain from sex until marriage. She calls it a personal conviction.
Okay, now I have no problem with the virginity vow itself. But she shares her "personal conviction" with the youth group, and the message in the book is that this is pretty much something between you and God. Basically, that God calls some people to obey it, and others are off the hook.
But besides that one issue, it is a really good book. The second one, It's My Life, is even better, and I haven't currently read Who I Am yet.
I think this is my favorite series. One Sunday in December, it snowed so much that my church was cancelled. So, I needed to do something with my time. My sister said I could borrow Becoming Me from her, and it looked interesting, so I figured I'd start it. ...And finish it on the same day.
Happiness is hot chocolate and a good book. Happierness is hot chocolate with cinnamon and a Melody Carlson novel. But happiestness is hot chocolate with cinnamon and vanilla, AND a book from the Diary of a Teenage Girl Series. There you have it, lesson #1 in Sandy Crow's Book of Wisdom.
This proved to be a very worthwhile Christian book. At first it seems like it's just going to be another book in which Christianity plays a small part, but only in the beginning, before Caitlyn becomes a Christian. Her life up until that point is just as important as the rest - it helps the reader see the changes that go on in Caitlyn, and the "new man" she is in Christ can be seen more clearly when compared to her old self.
I would recommend it for any Christian teen. However, I had one problem with it. One of the themes in this book is personal convictions. And in one of Caitlin's entries, she decides that God wants her to abstain from sex until marriage. She calls it a personal conviction.
Okay, now I have no problem with the virginity vow itself. But she shares her "personal conviction" with the youth group, and the message in the book is that this is pretty much something between you and God. Basically, that God calls some people to obey it, and others are off the hook.
But besides that one issue, it is a really good book. The second one, It's My Life, is even better, and I haven't currently read Who I Am yet.
September 11, 2015
I am a Christian, and I liked the book upon the first reading, but in all seriousness, it is rather mediocre. Caitlin didn't have much of a personality. There was longing for popularity, dealing with parents going through marriage problems, dating problems, and teen pregnancy. It was a little predictable and cliched. It was also quite preachy at times. I'm all for not having premarital sex, but this is a subject that has been covered in sermons everywhere, and I didn't feel like the book approached the subject in a new or deep manner. I felt like the author was really trying to hammer in the message rather than just TELLING A GOOD STORY. Which is pretty much my problem with a huge percentage of christian fiction, especially YA fiction. Hasn't anyone thought that maybe Christian teens are tired of the same messages being thrown at them, as if they haven't gotten it already? Believe it or not, we aren't stupid, and there are a lot of Christian girls who are far more in-control of their emotions that Caitlin.
I was also disappointed because the title suggests that Caitlyn was actually going to go through some self-discovery stuff, something that has been important to me in my life as a Christian. But alas, I didn't really feel it there.
Was it an a bad book? No. Was it a good book? Not really. It did have some parts in it that were good, I suppose, but not enough to compel me to read the next one.
I did read this book a couple years ago now, but I doubt it's improved itself.
[EDIT]
I'm actually curious as to whether the book would have been better if it had been told from Beanie's [The best friend] perspective...
I was also disappointed because the title suggests that Caitlyn was actually going to go through some self-discovery stuff, something that has been important to me in my life as a Christian. But alas, I didn't really feel it there.
Was it an a bad book? No. Was it a good book? Not really. It did have some parts in it that were good, I suppose, but not enough to compel me to read the next one.
I did read this book a couple years ago now, but I doubt it's improved itself.
[EDIT]
I'm actually curious as to whether the book would have been better if it had been told from Beanie's [The best friend] perspective...
May 31, 2020
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars
{Add a star for those in Public or Private School.}
When I first read this book as a pre-teen, I really enjoyed it—probably because of all of the teen drama, but now—nearly ten years later, it’s really not my cup of tea. According to a recent poll I did on Instagram, not many readers mind out-dated contemporary books, but I think I fall in the minority of those results. I struggled with the diary-style writing in this book (including the font that can be hard on the eyes), but there are good lessons in this first book. You just have to get through Caitlin’s desire for being popular, a guy that isn’t good for her who she keeps kissing, going to parties with underage drinking and smoking, and more trouble. While I liked Caitlin better by the end of the story, I don’t believe I’ll be continuing rereading the rest of her series.
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars
{Add a star for those in Public or Private School.}
When I first read this book as a pre-teen, I really enjoyed it—probably because of all of the teen drama, but now—nearly ten years later, it’s really not my cup of tea. According to a recent poll I did on Instagram, not many readers mind out-dated contemporary books, but I think I fall in the minority of those results. I struggled with the diary-style writing in this book (including the font that can be hard on the eyes), but there are good lessons in this first book. You just have to get through Caitlin’s desire for being popular, a guy that isn’t good for her who she keeps kissing, going to parties with underage drinking and smoking, and more trouble. While I liked Caitlin better by the end of the story, I don’t believe I’ll be continuing rereading the rest of her series.
October 13, 2010
Probably my favorite book ever! Caitlyn isn't the popular girl in school, but she has a good friend named Beanie. One day Jenny (popular girl) comes and soon they are best friends, Caitlyn just ingores Beanie so she doesn't look stupid in front of Jenny. Caitlyn is soon falling for Josh Jenny's on and off boyfriend, and he has feelings for her. They get together behind Jenny's back and soon enough Jenny finds out and dumps Josh and Caitylin is all alone now. The Beanie comes to the rescue and is Caitlyn's best friend, but theres something different about Beani, she is totally and completly Christian.
Caitlyn's dad leaves the family for a younger women and soon is back with the family, but Caitlyn absolutly hates him, but then forgives him. Beanie and Caitlyn go to youth group and Caitlyn is now a full believer of God and Jesus. Together they go through problems like Josh wanting her back, peer preasure, and all the stuff teens go through. Caitlyn now has a close relationsip with God. :)
Caitlyn's dad leaves the family for a younger women and soon is back with the family, but Caitlyn absolutly hates him, but then forgives him. Beanie and Caitlyn go to youth group and Caitlyn is now a full believer of God and Jesus. Together they go through problems like Josh wanting her back, peer preasure, and all the stuff teens go through. Caitlyn now has a close relationsip with God. :)
May 24, 2011
I loved this book. I picked it up at the library and almost put it back until I saw it had christian stuff in it. Then I was like "heck yes I'll read it!" Because I'm a christian and a believer in Jesus.
So... it's written to be like a diary of a sixteen year old girl named Catlin. She is struggling to fit in with the popular kids in school. So she starts to put on an act, and pretends she's something she's not just so everyone will like her. Then when her parents start to get into marriage problems she stars getting into trouble at parties and other things. Then a friend invites her to a church youth group. She learns about Jesus and she finally accepts the Lord into her heart. Suddenly drastic changes start happening in her life. Her parents get back together. And she is filled with peace and joy. She decides she doesn't need to act for the kids at school any more. And she is more happy that way. But not everything is fixed... her best friend is having a major problem with her boyfriend and sex. Also Catlin is having trouble with deciding if it's a good idea to date or not.
I think this was an awesome book for teen girls and I think every one should read it.(Of course OLDER teenage girls. I'm 14 and I think even I was a bit too young for this.)
*GOOD*
It shows Catlin in the situation a lot of teens are in these days. It shows how Catlin was able to fix problems and over come sadness and trial. It also tells about how much she was changed by Jesus and how happy it made her. It has good morals and I learned A LOT from this book. It totally changed my POV about dating and sex. I think every teenage girl should read this. But I would not recommend any one 15 or under should read it.
*BAD*
There was a lot of descriptions of kissing. There were parts were Catlin was at parties with teens drinking alcohol and doing drugs. There was a lot of parts that talk about sex out of marriage.(Although it has this stuff in it, it does show it as sin. And it also shows the consequences for it all later. And how Catlin was able to get through it all with Jesus.)
It was written in a special type to make it look as if it was hand written. And the type made it difficult to read.
So... it's written to be like a diary of a sixteen year old girl named Catlin. She is struggling to fit in with the popular kids in school. So she starts to put on an act, and pretends she's something she's not just so everyone will like her. Then when her parents start to get into marriage problems she stars getting into trouble at parties and other things. Then a friend invites her to a church youth group. She learns about Jesus and she finally accepts the Lord into her heart. Suddenly drastic changes start happening in her life. Her parents get back together. And she is filled with peace and joy. She decides she doesn't need to act for the kids at school any more. And she is more happy that way. But not everything is fixed... her best friend is having a major problem with her boyfriend and sex. Also Catlin is having trouble with deciding if it's a good idea to date or not.
I think this was an awesome book for teen girls and I think every one should read it.(Of course OLDER teenage girls. I'm 14 and I think even I was a bit too young for this.)
*GOOD*
It shows Catlin in the situation a lot of teens are in these days. It shows how Catlin was able to fix problems and over come sadness and trial. It also tells about how much she was changed by Jesus and how happy it made her. It has good morals and I learned A LOT from this book. It totally changed my POV about dating and sex. I think every teenage girl should read this. But I would not recommend any one 15 or under should read it.
*BAD*
There was a lot of descriptions of kissing. There were parts were Catlin was at parties with teens drinking alcohol and doing drugs. There was a lot of parts that talk about sex out of marriage.(Although it has this stuff in it, it does show it as sin. And it also shows the consequences for it all later. And how Catlin was able to get through it all with Jesus.)
It was written in a special type to make it look as if it was hand written. And the type made it difficult to read.
June 18, 2016
What a challenging book!
I don't mean challenging in the sense that it was hard to read, it was very easy and quick. However I really felt like this book challenged me spiritually, which I love! Any girl can enjoy this book, especially Christians who are new to the faith. I felt like I was journeying with Caitlin the whole time!
I don't mean challenging in the sense that it was hard to read, it was very easy and quick. However I really felt like this book challenged me spiritually, which I love! Any girl can enjoy this book, especially Christians who are new to the faith. I felt like I was journeying with Caitlin the whole time!
June 25, 2021
This is genuinely one of the worst books I’ve ever read. Cheesy, unrealistic, and shallow. The author seems obsessed with the idea of saving sex for marriage, but doesn’t give any of the important context about why God wants that for us, which leaves the story falling flat and sounding like a performance.
March 21, 2008
You may be asking yourself, "Why did he read a teenage girl's diary?" THe simple answer is that I was looking for some good Christian testimonial type of books for the kids in my youth group I worked with at the time... plus I have a daughter who is now a teenager.
March 24, 2021
Heterosexist, religious indoctrination garbage masquerading as teenage girl enlightenment and empowerment. Definitely will not read any more of this series (by the end of which it sounds like she marries her almost-rapist boyfriend from this book!). Thankfully this book was a very quick read.
March 4, 2018
Not quite as good as the other Melody Carson books, but a good read.
(I tell you, I read a bunch of books on vacation and can't remember what day I read Wich book,plus the vacation was over the last week in February first in March, so I don't even know what month!)
(I tell you, I read a bunch of books on vacation and can't remember what day I read Wich book,plus the vacation was over the last week in February first in March, so I don't even know what month!)
April 1, 2024
I liked this book but some parts seemed sorta useless to the plot.
Its a Christian book written in the early 2000s with kinda means is gonna be cheesy but other than that it was a pretty good book.
Its a Christian book written in the early 2000s with kinda means is gonna be cheesy but other than that it was a pretty good book.
September 30, 2011
Title: DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL: Becoming Me
Author: Melody Carlson
Publisher: Multnomah Books
August 2000
ISBN: 978-1-57673-733-4
Genre: Inspirational/young adult
Caitlin O’Conner is a sixteen year old Junior in highschool. Her best friend is Beanie, and other than her dad being really strict, and hanging out at work a lot more than usual, everything is fine. But then she becomes friends with a cheerleader, Jenny, and starts being included in the in-crowd. That totally destroys her friendship with Beanie, but things in the in-crowd aren’t all that great either.
Caitlin finds that she has to behave a certain way or she’d be kicked out, and since now that she’s in she wants to stay in, she tries to toe the line. But then some of the popular boys start noticing her, life at home starts falling apart, and well, for that matter, so does everything else…
All I can say is – oh the drama! My word, it makes me glad I’m not a teenager anymore! And that my sixteen daughter is homeschooled. I really don’t think I could handle this in person even second hand. Caitlyn is a very self-centered young lady, but she does grow and mature a whole lot in this book, which is good. And there are a LOT of valuable lessons included in it, such as teenage sex, drinking, etc.
I recommend this book to teenagers (and their parents and suggest they talk about it afterwards, such as why… and why not… topics. Ms. Carlson is really a very talented author and she can really write the ups and downs of being a teenager super well. $12.99. 250 pages.
Author: Melody Carlson
Publisher: Multnomah Books
August 2000
ISBN: 978-1-57673-733-4
Genre: Inspirational/young adult
Caitlin O’Conner is a sixteen year old Junior in highschool. Her best friend is Beanie, and other than her dad being really strict, and hanging out at work a lot more than usual, everything is fine. But then she becomes friends with a cheerleader, Jenny, and starts being included in the in-crowd. That totally destroys her friendship with Beanie, but things in the in-crowd aren’t all that great either.
Caitlin finds that she has to behave a certain way or she’d be kicked out, and since now that she’s in she wants to stay in, she tries to toe the line. But then some of the popular boys start noticing her, life at home starts falling apart, and well, for that matter, so does everything else…
All I can say is – oh the drama! My word, it makes me glad I’m not a teenager anymore! And that my sixteen daughter is homeschooled. I really don’t think I could handle this in person even second hand. Caitlyn is a very self-centered young lady, but she does grow and mature a whole lot in this book, which is good. And there are a LOT of valuable lessons included in it, such as teenage sex, drinking, etc.
I recommend this book to teenagers (and their parents and suggest they talk about it afterwards, such as why… and why not… topics. Ms. Carlson is really a very talented author and she can really write the ups and downs of being a teenager super well. $12.99. 250 pages.
June 28, 2019
These books have a very specific target audience. Outside of that target audience, I am sure they are met with a lot of eye rolling and skepticism. But since I once was a part of Melody Carlson's key demographic, and hope that eventually my daughter will be part of that group as well, I can appreciate her books for what they are.
Carlson has an excellent grasp on the teenage girl narrative voice. Her characters are believable & I sometimes get irritated with them, only because I have the adult perspective to know that teenage ' end of the world' level social drama fades. I mean, I get irritated at Caitlin in the book in the same manner I look back with annoyance at my own teenaged self. So to me that says Carlson does a good job at coming across like a real teen girl.
People who were not active in church youth groups in high school probably view these books very cynically as unrealistic & preachy. But honestly, I had struggles between my spirituality and sexuality just like Caitlin does in this book, and ultimately made similar choices. I wish books like this had been around during my teens, it really would have been beneficial to read about girls like myself instead of the unrealistic paper dolls of SVH and Sunfire romance.
3.5 stars
Carlson has an excellent grasp on the teenage girl narrative voice. Her characters are believable & I sometimes get irritated with them, only because I have the adult perspective to know that teenage ' end of the world' level social drama fades. I mean, I get irritated at Caitlin in the book in the same manner I look back with annoyance at my own teenaged self. So to me that says Carlson does a good job at coming across like a real teen girl.
People who were not active in church youth groups in high school probably view these books very cynically as unrealistic & preachy. But honestly, I had struggles between my spirituality and sexuality just like Caitlin does in this book, and ultimately made similar choices. I wish books like this had been around during my teens, it really would have been beneficial to read about girls like myself instead of the unrealistic paper dolls of SVH and Sunfire romance.
3.5 stars
July 18, 2021
This is point blank the worst book I've ever read. it is religius indoctrination masquerading as young adult coming of age empowerment and enlightenment.
I did not enjoy the way it was written and there was really no conflict or anything interesting, it just dragged out. it is obvious the author is incredibly disconnected from how teenagers are in real life, the attempts at realtibility fall flat and are very cringey. Even the diary entry template makes it blatantly obvious that the author does not have any clue how teenage girls are, each entry comes across as preachy, annoying and it is incredibly clear throughout the entire book that it is written by an adult.
Caitlins character was also horribly written, from the start we can see she is a bratty, ungreatful and just straight up cruel person, she abandons her friend for "cooler" people, is mean to her parents.
The contract at the back of the book pressuring the reader into abstaining from sex until marriage is absolutely foul, incredibly invasive and borderline perverted. The author seems obsessed with the idea of teenagers saving sex for marriage. This made me genuinely so uncomfortable. I would not recommend this book to my greatest enemy. If I could give this book 0 stars I would.
I did not enjoy the way it was written and there was really no conflict or anything interesting, it just dragged out. it is obvious the author is incredibly disconnected from how teenagers are in real life, the attempts at realtibility fall flat and are very cringey. Even the diary entry template makes it blatantly obvious that the author does not have any clue how teenage girls are, each entry comes across as preachy, annoying and it is incredibly clear throughout the entire book that it is written by an adult.
Caitlins character was also horribly written, from the start we can see she is a bratty, ungreatful and just straight up cruel person, she abandons her friend for "cooler" people, is mean to her parents.
The contract at the back of the book pressuring the reader into abstaining from sex until marriage is absolutely foul, incredibly invasive and borderline perverted. The author seems obsessed with the idea of teenagers saving sex for marriage. This made me genuinely so uncomfortable. I would not recommend this book to my greatest enemy. If I could give this book 0 stars I would.
May 5, 2024
EDIT - 05.05.2024: Patrząc na drogę, jaką przebyłam od grudnia i jak bardzo ta książka siedzi mi w głowie, muszę jednak podnieść ocenę do pełnych trzech gwiazdek. I nawet to podejście do wiary zaczynam w niektórych aspektach lepiej rozumieć, chociaż dalej żałuję, że nie mam już nastu lat.
14.12.2023: 2.5⭐ | Pierwszy raz przeczytałam tę książkę w wieku 13 lat i byłam wtedy jej naczelną hejterką. Kolejnych naście lat później nie wydaje mi się taka zła, chociaż chyba jestem na nią trochę za stara. Żałuję, że nie zrobiłam rereadu mając 16 lat jak główna bohaterka, wtedy pewnie wyniosłabym z lektury najwięcej, chociaż jej specyficzne podejście do wiary nawet wtedy obniżyłoby moją ocenę.
14.12.2023: 2.5⭐ | Pierwszy raz przeczytałam tę książkę w wieku 13 lat i byłam wtedy jej naczelną hejterką. Kolejnych naście lat później nie wydaje mi się taka zła, chociaż chyba jestem na nią trochę za stara. Żałuję, że nie zrobiłam rereadu mając 16 lat jak główna bohaterka, wtedy pewnie wyniosłabym z lektury najwięcej, chociaż jej specyficzne podejście do wiary nawet wtedy obniżyłoby moją ocenę.
January 27, 2016
"Becoming Me" by Melody Carlson was an enjoyable read. The characters I felt, had good development. The only reason I'm giving this 4 out of 5 stars, was because I had trouble remembering the story line after a while of reading. This wasn't a book I could just pick up and read for hours and hours. Although, finally getting into the reading, it was well wrote and great for Christian girls.
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November 9, 2007
Wow, this book is freakin AMAZINGG!! great book..
January 3, 2008
It held my interest, it's an avarage book. Melody Carlson writes decently, but the book reminded me of the over-zelious into-God and serious about Christianity little girl I used to be.
January 19, 2016
This book is beautiful and teenagers (females) must read this!!!
June 15, 2016
I thought that this book and the entire series was a fantastic read, definitely going to reread once I finish more of Melody Carlson's books.
July 11, 2019
I remember buying this book when it came out 19 years ago thanks to an ad in Brio magazine (if Susie Shellenberger endorsed it, it was for me). As I regularly re-read Robin Jones Gunn's young adult books, I wanted to give this a try to see how it held up.
Wow. I forgot how extreme Caitlin's highs and lows were and how she swung back and forth between them. As an adult reader, I wanted to tell her to just calm down, but those extreme emotions are authentic to being a teen and Carlson captured them well. Some of the narration felt a little hokey-using cliches like 'the writing on the wall' didn't read like teen speak in 2000 and it still doesn't-but the narrative flowed quickly. One of my pet peeves with some diary/journal novels is when the author uses excessive dialogue, as most people don't record long verbatim conversations in their diaries, and this novel did not do that. The passages read like a diary - a recap of events and conversations, but the focus was on how she felt about said events.
One complaint I remembered from reading this years ago still irked me on the re-read: several times throughout her diary, Caitlin refers to her light blonde, almost wispy hair and how she resembles Gwyneth Paltrow. Why is the front cover a picture of hands twirling brunette hair??
(Oh, and yes, hello 2000 - you're never given a chance to forget that Caitlin resembles Gwyneth Paltrow and her love interest looks exactly like Matt Damon.)
Wow. I forgot how extreme Caitlin's highs and lows were and how she swung back and forth between them. As an adult reader, I wanted to tell her to just calm down, but those extreme emotions are authentic to being a teen and Carlson captured them well. Some of the narration felt a little hokey-using cliches like 'the writing on the wall' didn't read like teen speak in 2000 and it still doesn't-but the narrative flowed quickly. One of my pet peeves with some diary/journal novels is when the author uses excessive dialogue, as most people don't record long verbatim conversations in their diaries, and this novel did not do that. The passages read like a diary - a recap of events and conversations, but the focus was on how she felt about said events.
One complaint I remembered from reading this years ago still irked me on the re-read: several times throughout her diary, Caitlin refers to her light blonde, almost wispy hair and how she resembles Gwyneth Paltrow. Why is the front cover a picture of hands twirling brunette hair??
(Oh, and yes, hello 2000 - you're never given a chance to forget that Caitlin resembles Gwyneth Paltrow and her love interest looks exactly like Matt Damon.)
May 14, 2018
This was a very good teenage, becoming of age book. The only thing i didn't like about it is it was so much based around god, i don't mind it, but so much of it was just that.
I wish there was more story and less god to be honest.
In this book we follow Caitlin and her journey of high school and love, heartache and freindships.
I loved the idea of the book and i would read the others but as i said too much god for my liking.
I loved the writing style as its set our just like a personal diary, it made it very unique and interesting.
I could relate to alot of the things in this book as teenage years are tough to say the least.
It was a well written book and i would recommend this to anyone that likes diary formed books, god, and teenage years and all the complications that come with it.
I wish there was more story and less god to be honest.
In this book we follow Caitlin and her journey of high school and love, heartache and freindships.
I loved the idea of the book and i would read the others but as i said too much god for my liking.
I loved the writing style as its set our just like a personal diary, it made it very unique and interesting.
I could relate to alot of the things in this book as teenage years are tough to say the least.
It was a well written book and i would recommend this to anyone that likes diary formed books, god, and teenage years and all the complications that come with it.
July 12, 2024
This book is almost 25 years old so probably not really helpful to teen girls anymore with a lot of issues they face with social media and cell phones. And it tackles all kinds of BIG issues abortion, drinking, sex, parents divorcing… I wondered if it would be an appropriate book for teen girls today but… probably not super helpful.
May 5, 2024
boring and anticlimactic 😞🤙🏼. waste of my library checkout.
August 10, 2025
Apparently I’m now going down a rabbit hole of all the Melody Carlson books I read as a teen. My gosh I wanted to be Caitlin O’Conner so badly. (And yes, I did fill out the purity pledge on the back and stick it to my mirror).
December 20, 2022
~Book 3 Of Winter Vacation~
*audibly sighs at the amount of times parenthesis are used in this book*
*audibly sighs at the amount of times parenthesis are used in this book*
December 2, 2025
A powerful, beautiful novel written as a journal. This story is for all the girls out there who struggle with growing up, their faith, and staying true to themselves. There is some mature topics discussed, so proceed with caution, but this story is truly phenomenal!
January 28, 2018
There is no better feeling then sitting down with a blank page of a diary, just begging you to write on its empty space. Soon that emptiness is full of memories, emotion, and life experiences. A diary can remind us who we are and who we want to be.
I feel that way and most likely so does Melody Carlson, the author of Dairy of a Teenage Girl; Becoming Me. Her writing is brought to life in the main character of timid and lost Caitlin O’Conner. This character is one that readers are able to relate with. Writing about her life, Caitlin discovers herself in a gradual way—each entry she reveals a slight bit more about herself than the one prior to it. This steady process lets the reader identify with the changes that are taking place in Caitlin’s life. As she goes through both triumphs and trials I find myself feeling the emotions while reading Melody Larsson’s well-thought words. There is a tender sincerity in the writing and it makes me feel a connection to the character’s life.
On page ninety-three I feel the most invested in Caitlin’s life. It is an introduction to a diary entry of one of Caitlin’s lowest times:
"March 16th, Friday (I survived): I know, it’s been a long, long while since I’ve written anything in my diary. I guess that’s because I’ve been living in the black abyss these past two weeks. Somehow I made it to school for the rest of that hopelessly awful week (after I made such a fool of myself). I wore black and kept my head down low and spoke to no one."
This minute glimpse of Caitlin’s emotional life is very powerful. In this entry, Caitlin is describing her trying time because she just found out that her first love Josh fell in love with her best friend Jenny. This plot may sound immature or just petty drama, but Caitlin’s poignant language forces the reader to emotionally connect themselves to her dark anger towards her life situations. Her raw life is distressing and lurid when she comes across evidence of her father having an affair with a woman of his workplace. From this part of the story, Caitlin loses herself as she struggles with the reality that everything shes ever speculated about love turns out to be untrue. Josh is a loss in her life, as is her father. She loses all hope in God and her utmost core values are shaken. On page 93 she gives up all hope: “…Or perhaps it is actually possible to die from a broken heart. Surely the pain is enough to kill you. God, are you still there? Can you even hear me? Did you make all this happen to me? Do you even care?”
These questions that the main character asked are deep and personal. I believe that people reading this book can read her questions and identify with them. They are questions that all people ask at some point of their lives. During the darkness we, broken people, ask questions. Carlson brought a sense of searching to Becoming Me, her background of faith pushed through into her writing in such a graceful and inspirational way. This book is one that inspirits those who give it a chance. The cover may seem soft and calm but the content is polar opposite. The darkness of Caitlin's struggles can remind anyone who reads this book that there are questioning Christians in the world who toil with who they are and who God is. Maybe even more importantly, where God is. When all seems lost, though, there is a strength that is greater than all hopelessness.
Caitlin o'Conner exemplifies this transformation from darkness to light. Through questions of herself and of God, she is able to pick up the broken pieces of her life and spirituality. I took this character metamorphosis to be very refining to my own faith journey. This novel is inspiring to me because it reminds me that I can ask questions. God does not turn away anyone in the dark. There is hope of light to all people who need the Lord's strengthening love. This book shows earthly love and how through the act of sin we can all lose that love very quickly, but it also shows a contradictory love. One that is greater than all despair. When the character changed it was evident that those changes were because of God's involvement in her life. If we, as Christians, also let God into our lives we too can change.
I feel that way and most likely so does Melody Carlson, the author of Dairy of a Teenage Girl; Becoming Me. Her writing is brought to life in the main character of timid and lost Caitlin O’Conner. This character is one that readers are able to relate with. Writing about her life, Caitlin discovers herself in a gradual way—each entry she reveals a slight bit more about herself than the one prior to it. This steady process lets the reader identify with the changes that are taking place in Caitlin’s life. As she goes through both triumphs and trials I find myself feeling the emotions while reading Melody Larsson’s well-thought words. There is a tender sincerity in the writing and it makes me feel a connection to the character’s life.
On page ninety-three I feel the most invested in Caitlin’s life. It is an introduction to a diary entry of one of Caitlin’s lowest times:
"March 16th, Friday (I survived): I know, it’s been a long, long while since I’ve written anything in my diary. I guess that’s because I’ve been living in the black abyss these past two weeks. Somehow I made it to school for the rest of that hopelessly awful week (after I made such a fool of myself). I wore black and kept my head down low and spoke to no one."
This minute glimpse of Caitlin’s emotional life is very powerful. In this entry, Caitlin is describing her trying time because she just found out that her first love Josh fell in love with her best friend Jenny. This plot may sound immature or just petty drama, but Caitlin’s poignant language forces the reader to emotionally connect themselves to her dark anger towards her life situations. Her raw life is distressing and lurid when she comes across evidence of her father having an affair with a woman of his workplace. From this part of the story, Caitlin loses herself as she struggles with the reality that everything shes ever speculated about love turns out to be untrue. Josh is a loss in her life, as is her father. She loses all hope in God and her utmost core values are shaken. On page 93 she gives up all hope: “…Or perhaps it is actually possible to die from a broken heart. Surely the pain is enough to kill you. God, are you still there? Can you even hear me? Did you make all this happen to me? Do you even care?”
These questions that the main character asked are deep and personal. I believe that people reading this book can read her questions and identify with them. They are questions that all people ask at some point of their lives. During the darkness we, broken people, ask questions. Carlson brought a sense of searching to Becoming Me, her background of faith pushed through into her writing in such a graceful and inspirational way. This book is one that inspirits those who give it a chance. The cover may seem soft and calm but the content is polar opposite. The darkness of Caitlin's struggles can remind anyone who reads this book that there are questioning Christians in the world who toil with who they are and who God is. Maybe even more importantly, where God is. When all seems lost, though, there is a strength that is greater than all hopelessness.
Caitlin o'Conner exemplifies this transformation from darkness to light. Through questions of herself and of God, she is able to pick up the broken pieces of her life and spirituality. I took this character metamorphosis to be very refining to my own faith journey. This novel is inspiring to me because it reminds me that I can ask questions. God does not turn away anyone in the dark. There is hope of light to all people who need the Lord's strengthening love. This book shows earthly love and how through the act of sin we can all lose that love very quickly, but it also shows a contradictory love. One that is greater than all despair. When the character changed it was evident that those changes were because of God's involvement in her life. If we, as Christians, also let God into our lives we too can change.
February 18, 2010
The Diary of a Teenage Girl: Becoming Me narrates the story of Caitlin just your average girl searching for answers in her life. The book’s appeal is its honesty because it is a diary that feels...well, REAL. In her writing, the author chose a font that gives it that handwritten appearance and like any girl who just needs to download Caitlin writes with parentheses, underlined words, and all caps to get her point across. It is a book of soul searching, which may relate to this generation’s unanswered questions. What I appreciate about this book most of all is its Christian message.
Key issues: the rejections and temptations of peer pressure and popularity, rocky relationships with boys and family, and then spirituality, loyalties, trust, and forgiveness
Caitlin: a sixteen year old high school student who struggles with issues of faith, friends, and family; writing a diary in order to be completely honest with herself and to question the meaning of it all
Josh Miller: most popular boy in school with “a smile like Matt Damon”, on again off again boyfriend of Caitlin, athlete and star who is used to having everything he desires
Jenny Lambert: most popular girl in school, cheerleader and on again off again girlfriend of Josh, the "sometimes" friend of Caitlin
Beanie: longtime best friend of Caitlin, girlfriend of Zach, difficult home life with an alcoholic, drug addict mother
Zach: boyfriend of Beanie, high school track star
Clay: instrumental youth pastor, eighteen year old victim of tragedy
Mom: struggling mother of two, works as a schoolteacher, suffering from her loss of self worth, broken trust, and abandonment
Dad: struggling father of two, working hard at his office job in order to take care of his family, a personal crisis makes him seem hypocritical, jeopardizing his marriage, family, and faith
Attention-getting Quotation(s):
“…but I suppose if was being really honest (which was my original goal in this diary, so I better stick to it)…well, I suppose I might act just a little superior sometimes. I mean, it’s not like I really think I’m better than better than anyone else or anything—but I suppose I might act a little bit snooty, especially when I’m afraid that someone is going to put me down” (10-11).
“Now I’m sitting here thinking, maybe that’s just the way it is. We all have a certain number of days to live, and we don’t know the number” (176).
Other interesting info: The back of the book lists Melody Carlson’s website for her series – www.DOATG.com. Besides Caitlin, there are other girls’ stories to follow like Chloe, Kim, and Maya!
Key issues: the rejections and temptations of peer pressure and popularity, rocky relationships with boys and family, and then spirituality, loyalties, trust, and forgiveness
Caitlin: a sixteen year old high school student who struggles with issues of faith, friends, and family; writing a diary in order to be completely honest with herself and to question the meaning of it all
Josh Miller: most popular boy in school with “a smile like Matt Damon”, on again off again boyfriend of Caitlin, athlete and star who is used to having everything he desires
Jenny Lambert: most popular girl in school, cheerleader and on again off again girlfriend of Josh, the "sometimes" friend of Caitlin
Beanie: longtime best friend of Caitlin, girlfriend of Zach, difficult home life with an alcoholic, drug addict mother
Zach: boyfriend of Beanie, high school track star
Clay: instrumental youth pastor, eighteen year old victim of tragedy
Mom: struggling mother of two, works as a schoolteacher, suffering from her loss of self worth, broken trust, and abandonment
Dad: struggling father of two, working hard at his office job in order to take care of his family, a personal crisis makes him seem hypocritical, jeopardizing his marriage, family, and faith
Attention-getting Quotation(s):
“…but I suppose if was being really honest (which was my original goal in this diary, so I better stick to it)…well, I suppose I might act just a little superior sometimes. I mean, it’s not like I really think I’m better than better than anyone else or anything—but I suppose I might act a little bit snooty, especially when I’m afraid that someone is going to put me down” (10-11).
“Now I’m sitting here thinking, maybe that’s just the way it is. We all have a certain number of days to live, and we don’t know the number” (176).
Other interesting info: The back of the book lists Melody Carlson’s website for her series – www.DOATG.com. Besides Caitlin, there are other girls’ stories to follow like Chloe, Kim, and Maya!
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