New Girl in Town

'Nama Beach High #1

by Nancy N. Rue, Youth Specialties

Real life stories about real life issues teens are facing today. Book one in a new StudentWare fiction series for mid-teens that deals with the challenges, problems, and excitement of becoming young women of faith When Laura Duffy's family moves to Satellite Beach, Florida, she feels out of place as a junior at the high school where her good grades mark her as a nerd. Mrs. Isaacsen, a school counselor, invites Laura to join a weekly group for 'conflicted' girls. There she gets to know Michelle (a sophisticated sophomore), Joy Beth (a super athlete), KJ (a freshman with an attitude), and Celeste (a junior who's friends with every hunk in the school). The girls form a bond, and as various things happen in their busy lives, they learn to use Mrs. Isaacsen's 'secret keys' as a means for coping. This is the first of four books in Youth Specialties' 'Nama Beach High series by veteran girls' fiction author Nancy Rue.

Genres: Christian, Christian Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, High School, Realistic Fiction, Childrens

170 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2004

About the author

Nancy Rue is the author of over 100 books for adults and teens, including the Christy Award-winning The Reluctant Prophet, Unexpected Dismounts and Healing Waters (with Steve Arterburn), which was the 2009 Women of Faith Novel of the Year. She travels extensively—at times on the back of a Harley—speaking to and teaching groups of women of all ages. Nancy lives on a lake in Tennessee with her Harley-ridin’ husband, Jim, and their two yellow Labs (without whom writing would be difficult).

Reviews

[Medomfo · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful beginning to an amazing series for teen girls on living out the Christian faith-highly recommend it.

[Zizby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I personally loved this series; I read it many times when I was 14-17. It really challenged me about the ways in which God can communicate with us and about the personal leading of the Holy Spirit in our decision making. I believe it opened up a greater intimacy between me and God via the motif (if that's the correct term) of "ponytail boy". I was also challenged to be more aware of what is going on around me and to God wanting to use me in the lives of others. It encouraged me to take my relationship with God more seriously and allow Him to impact my everyday.

[Favour Okoh]

A very inspirational book

[Carrie Billig]

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[Abbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first YA I ever read and to tell you the truth this book shaped my early teen years. Without this book I think I would’ve thought I was alone in what I went through but it helped me realize I was one of many. It captures the desperation that young girls feel as their hormones rage and crisis sets in during the formative years. It doesn’t make any excuses and paints and accurate picture of the mind of a lonely teen.

[Sofia Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I, Laura Duffy, made a decision on October 20th of my junior year. It was a decision that rocked my world. After three days at Panama Beach High, it was obvious that I was essentially the biggest loser in Panama City, if not on the planet, and that nobody was ever going to speak to me. Period. My decision: I couldn’t spend another lunch period pretending I didn’t CARE that I was being ignored. I knew kids believed being a loser was contagious; I believed it too. I wouldn’t be friends with me either.”

New Girl in Town tells a story of a Laura Duffy, a teenager, whose family moves from Missouri, the place she has known as home all her life, to Panama City, Florida. She doesn't know anyone. No one knows her. Her 'home' life isn't too good either: Dad and Mom are always at work plus she has to take care for her six-year-old sister, Bonnie. When Laura somehow gets into trouble at school with two very mean girls, Mrs. Isaacsen takes her under her wing. She gets Laura to meet other girls who feel out of place and tells her about God. Laura's life is about to change.

Genre: realistic. Target audience: girls 15- 18 years old. Issues dealt with: family relationships, friendships, dating relationships, trust in God, self-esteem, and suicide.

This book deals with heavy issues. It talks about the difference between just going to church and really having Jesus in your heart. It shows that you can’t do everything yourself: you need God. God isn’t thrown in briefly; He is a Great Part of the book. This is the first book in the ‘Nama Beach High series. The second is "False Friends and True Strangers;" the third and fourth are "Fault Lines" and "So Unfair."

"I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry." Psalm 40:1 (NIV)

[Sophia F · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good and fairly creative. Laura's time trying to figure out who she really is, while fitting in Relationships and Friendships to remain social. Her time 'suffering' and finding her path to God makes you connect her life to your own, and realize what it really means to keep life. It was very slow in the beginning, and took its time with revealing any basic information you would want to know about Laura Duffey's life. The ending was unique and much more creative, making me want to read the next book in the series, but it left it so wide open your not really sure what to make of it.
This story was surprisingly religious, not what I expected from a simple book about a girl who is adjusting to a new move.
Shayla was just a character who just kept coming back again and again and it was getting pretty irritating by the end of the book.
Overall, it was pretty good, but not a book I would fantasize and talk about all day long, (okay, yes I do do that for some books...)

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"New Girl in Town" is a fast-paced Christian young adult novel. The characters were complex and realistic and dealt with realistic struggles. Laura, the main character, is very frightened and feels like she's a Nobody who has lost all control of her life. She defines being Somebody by her activities, her grades, and having a boyfriend, but all of that is taken away and she has to come to terms with who she is without them. The story even made me cry in sympathy for Laura.

There was some God talk, mainly about surrendering your circumstances to God and about listening to Him. I liked the overall message, but the story got a little supernatural at the end (like her 'hearing' a mysterious but real vine whisper God's words in her mind).

The were no sex scenes. There was a very minor amount of both explicit and fake bad language. Overall, I'd highly recommend this touching novel.

[Rong7 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura Duffy has just switched schools. She just wants to fit in with everyone else. She got into a fight at school one day and was sent to someone who changed her life, Mrs. Isaccsen. Mrs. Isacssen invited laura to a group for people who got in trouble too. She didn't know this then, but these people would be the best friends she ever had. When Laura encounters Shayla Cunningham, the bully, again, her friends did something unexpected. Together, they go out and learn about their faith with the help of Mrs. Issacsen. New Girl in Town is about love, faith, and hope.

[Sammi · Rating 5 out of 5]

in this book you follow a young girl and her struggles in fitting in to a new school. she meets friends and slowly becomes happy there, but when a bully shows herself, problems occur. be ready for suspense, friendship, and action in this book.

i personally loved this book, it was full of things that happen in real life, and sometimes that is nice.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this last year, and was bummed we didn't have the sequels. Yesterday someone donated some used books, and to my great joy, the whole 'Nana Beach High series were among them! Love these characters, happy I finally get to see how everything plays out.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book i could totally relate to being "the new girl". If your the new girl some place this book makes you feel that your not alone...

[Elleisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

We meet Laura Duffy in her search for a place in her new school 'Nama Beach High. An intriguing Christian series I recommend to everyone.

[Louisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Formulaic and boring.