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Sierra Jensen #9
Now Picture This
While spending all of her time corresponding with and daydreaming about her friend Paul who attends college in Scotland, Sierra Jensen finds the real world around her falling apart
167 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1998
1 person is currently reading
195 people want to read
About the author
Robin Jones Gunn
162 books2,634 followersROBIN JONES GUNN has written more than 100 books with over 6.5 million copies sold worldwide. Her Father Christmas books have been made into three Hallmark Christmas movies. The timeless Christy Miller series now continues in Christy & Todd: The College Years, Married Years, Baby Years, and the Haven Maker series. Robin's novels and non-fiction works include Before Your Tween Daughter Becomes a Woman, Victim of Grace, Praying for Your Future Husband, and Before You Meet Your Future Husband co-authored with Tricia Goyer. Her books have received multiple awards and are a favorite with book clubs and study groups. Many of Robin's books are in eBook, audiobook, large print, and foreign editions. Robin does a weekly Podcast called "Women Worth Knowing" with Cheryl Brodersen. Robin and her husband have a grown son and daughter and live in California.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 29, 2015
Sierra's love interest, Paul, is living in Scotland for a year. They parted on a weird note – he took her for coffee and condescendingly said, “You have a crush on me, don't you?” while smirking at her like a jerk. Sierra handled this like a boss, and was cool and classy to him, leaving him confused and knocking him off his high horse. Since then, they've been writing each other a lot of letters while he is in Scotland and she is in Portland.
This book is basically about Sierra's relationship with Paul. Is it even a relationship? She is starting to fall in love with him, and it takes her the whole book to figure out that he might not feel the same way. He doesn't write her as often as she writes him. She tells him every detail of her life, and he doesn't. This leads to her slow realization that she might be making the relationship into something it's not, and she should back off.
PROBLEM 1: Why would I have a problem with this? Well. The whole message of the book with this is half, “You are turning this into something it's not” - which I'm fine with – and half “Having a boyfriend is evil because it takes you away from the Lord. Worshiping the Lord is your only purpose in life.”
Now, I agree Sierra was jumping the gun with Paul. Especially when she starts telling all her friends that he's her boyfriend when a.) he has never said he even wants to DATE her, and 2.) He's in Scotland for a year and there's no way TO date if he even wanted to. This is a bad move, telling everyone you have a boyfriend when he has no idea you two are even dating (except in your mind).
BUT. I disagree with this “Boyfriends are evil because they take you away from the Lord” crap. Listen, people have a life. They fall in love. They have children. They have jobs. Jones Gunn thinks worshiping God should be a 24/7 activity. And it can be. I know Christian couples who live this way. They pray or thank the Lord approximately every 10 minutes. They never do ANYTHING without thinking about how God would feel about their choice. Going on vacation, drinking coffee in the morning, taking a job, deciding to see a movie or not – everything is up to God. I find this disturbing, and I'm upset that Jones Gunn is pushing this kind of lifestyle on Sierra. I find it exhausting and frankly, kind of creepy. It's like “You have free will, but never exercise it. God will tell you what to do in all things. And if you disobey him, He will punish you (perhaps by killing your infant daughter, see my review of: Open Your Heart by Robin Jones Gunn).” Also, I'd HATE to think about the sex life of couples who practice this. o.O
It's also brought up that Sierra's “purity” won't be tested at all because her non-boyfriend is thousands of miles away. * rolls eyes *
PROBLEM 2: Emotional virginity.
What the heck is emotional virginity, Carmen? I can hear you asking. Well, dear reader, let me tell you.
Wesley, Christy's older brother, comes home from college for Thanksgiving and announces to the family that he has written down his requirements for a girlfriend. You know. Like a shopping list.
“Well, she has to be a believer and have a growing relationship with the Lord.”
“What else?”
“I'd like someone who is emotionally healthy. Preferably an emotional virgin.”
“A what?”
“You know, a woman who has been saving her heart for the right guy. Someone who hasn't been falling in and out of love since she was twelve and now, at twenty-three, is a big tangle of broken pieces from her past relationships.”
Okay. So Jones Gunn's message to women is loud and clear. You must be a virgin. And, you must not have kissed anyone. She's already established that even kissing a boy can be slutty behavior that “tarnishes” you and makes you “impure.” BUT. But. On top of all that, you are not allowed to have any relationships, any crushes, any romantic feelings for a male ever – until you meet the “right guy” and he is the only one who gets to …. I don't know... touch your heart for the first time? Heart virginity? I am unclear how you are supposed to know who the “right guy” is if you are apparently never allowed to feel emotions or date any man ever. Arranged marriage?
I can't even. What is WRONG with these people?!!??! Just when I think Jones Gunn has done the impossible (like creating “kiss virginity”) she takes it one step farther. I don't have any idea what she thinks women do with their lives. Walk around in hermetically-sealed little bubbles until their husband, who I guess they can magically identify for some reason, shows up and pops the bubble? What if the “right guy” turns out to be abusive, or they date but it doesn't work out, or any number of scenarios where the “right guy” turns out to be not so right? You're telling me that the woman is then damaged goods who is not fit to date a “real, strong, Christian man?” BULLSHIT.
Wesley, the guy who has issued this …. requirement, has DEFINITELY dated women. So. A bit of a double-standard here? I think so.
This lesson is reinforced when at the end of the book Sierra says,
When I become emotionally involved, I'm giving away a part of my heart, just as physical involvement is giving away your body.
Jesus wept.
No, seriously, I don't think this is Jesus's message to women AT ALL. NOT AT ALL. How can Christianity get twisted into this sick, fucked-up message? HOW? I'm disgusted.
PROBLEM 3: After the huge, 31 person Thanksgiving meal, every female family member does the dishes and scrubs down the kitchen. Together. And I'm thinking, “Where are the men? What are they doing?” Sometimes I think it's this little, tiny, insidious stuff that Jones Gunn sneaks into her books (women always bake and cook for men; women clean and scrub; women look after the children and elderly) that is the most harmful. Because her obvious messages, like “kissing is sinful” are easier to ignore because they are stated outright. And when you read it, you're like: “That's silly! Kissing isn't sinful, it's wonderful.” But it's these scenes where as soon as a man walks in, women start cooking and offering to make him sandwiches; or a girl gets a date and immediately starts baking cookies for the boy; or the family has a meal and all the women clear the table and do the dishes; or the father's elderly senile mother comes to live with the family and his wife is the only one who is expected to look after her and keep her out of trouble that slip into people's minds without notice.
PROBLEM FOUR: The green dress. Sierra finds this gorgeous velvet dress that hugs her curves and looks great on her. Her parents will not stop criticizing her for wearing it. It's not low-cut or indecent, but it's not like the baggy, shapeless clothes she usually wears and is therefore bad. Do you enjoy looking pretty and attractive? That's sinful. (This whole thing kind of reminds me of Carrie White's mom from the book CARRIE by Stephen King.)
THE ONE THING I LIKED IN THIS BOOK: A male friend of Sierra's keeps putting his arm around her and she doesn't like it. She handles this like a boss.
Grabbing his wrist and removing his arm, Sierra said, “I don't like it when you lean on me like that.”
Warner looked surprised. Sierra didn't think he should be, since she had told him the same thing before. This time she wanted to make sure he got the message.
“Look, Warner, I mean it when I say I don't want you to put your arm around me anymore. Okay?”
“I'm just being friendly,” he said defensively.
The others climbed inside Vicki's car. But Sierra wasn't through making her point.
“It doesn't feel friendly to me. It feels uncomfortable, and I don't want you to do it. Okay? Just don't put your arm around me anymore. Got it?”
Warner shrugged his agreement.
Like a BOSS! Boo-yah! This is the Sierra I love. Remember when she knocked that man unconscious with a soda can when he grabbed her ass? Radical, man.
ALSO: It's mentioned briefly that a woman could be “impure” due to rape. No resolution is reached about how to deal with this problem of being no longer worth anything to men because you're now “damaged goods” and whether it's okay because “that wasn't really your choice.”
IN OTHER NEWS: Vicki likes Randy and wants to date him.
Tawni is going to meet her birth mother, who is... wait for it... a Christian!
Amy and Nate break up. Which is joyful, I guess, because Nathan was French-kissing her! And that's sinful.
This book is basically about Sierra's relationship with Paul. Is it even a relationship? She is starting to fall in love with him, and it takes her the whole book to figure out that he might not feel the same way. He doesn't write her as often as she writes him. She tells him every detail of her life, and he doesn't. This leads to her slow realization that she might be making the relationship into something it's not, and she should back off.
PROBLEM 1: Why would I have a problem with this? Well. The whole message of the book with this is half, “You are turning this into something it's not” - which I'm fine with – and half “Having a boyfriend is evil because it takes you away from the Lord. Worshiping the Lord is your only purpose in life.”
Now, I agree Sierra was jumping the gun with Paul. Especially when she starts telling all her friends that he's her boyfriend when a.) he has never said he even wants to DATE her, and 2.) He's in Scotland for a year and there's no way TO date if he even wanted to. This is a bad move, telling everyone you have a boyfriend when he has no idea you two are even dating (except in your mind).
BUT. I disagree with this “Boyfriends are evil because they take you away from the Lord” crap. Listen, people have a life. They fall in love. They have children. They have jobs. Jones Gunn thinks worshiping God should be a 24/7 activity. And it can be. I know Christian couples who live this way. They pray or thank the Lord approximately every 10 minutes. They never do ANYTHING without thinking about how God would feel about their choice. Going on vacation, drinking coffee in the morning, taking a job, deciding to see a movie or not – everything is up to God. I find this disturbing, and I'm upset that Jones Gunn is pushing this kind of lifestyle on Sierra. I find it exhausting and frankly, kind of creepy. It's like “You have free will, but never exercise it. God will tell you what to do in all things. And if you disobey him, He will punish you (perhaps by killing your infant daughter, see my review of: Open Your Heart by Robin Jones Gunn).” Also, I'd HATE to think about the sex life of couples who practice this. o.O
It's also brought up that Sierra's “purity” won't be tested at all because her non-boyfriend is thousands of miles away. * rolls eyes *
PROBLEM 2: Emotional virginity.
What the heck is emotional virginity, Carmen? I can hear you asking. Well, dear reader, let me tell you.
Wesley, Christy's older brother, comes home from college for Thanksgiving and announces to the family that he has written down his requirements for a girlfriend. You know. Like a shopping list.
“Well, she has to be a believer and have a growing relationship with the Lord.”
“What else?”
“I'd like someone who is emotionally healthy. Preferably an emotional virgin.”
“A what?”
“You know, a woman who has been saving her heart for the right guy. Someone who hasn't been falling in and out of love since she was twelve and now, at twenty-three, is a big tangle of broken pieces from her past relationships.”
Okay. So Jones Gunn's message to women is loud and clear. You must be a virgin. And, you must not have kissed anyone. She's already established that even kissing a boy can be slutty behavior that “tarnishes” you and makes you “impure.” BUT. But. On top of all that, you are not allowed to have any relationships, any crushes, any romantic feelings for a male ever – until you meet the “right guy” and he is the only one who gets to …. I don't know... touch your heart for the first time? Heart virginity? I am unclear how you are supposed to know who the “right guy” is if you are apparently never allowed to feel emotions or date any man ever. Arranged marriage?
I can't even. What is WRONG with these people?!!??! Just when I think Jones Gunn has done the impossible (like creating “kiss virginity”) she takes it one step farther. I don't have any idea what she thinks women do with their lives. Walk around in hermetically-sealed little bubbles until their husband, who I guess they can magically identify for some reason, shows up and pops the bubble? What if the “right guy” turns out to be abusive, or they date but it doesn't work out, or any number of scenarios where the “right guy” turns out to be not so right? You're telling me that the woman is then damaged goods who is not fit to date a “real, strong, Christian man?” BULLSHIT.
Wesley, the guy who has issued this …. requirement, has DEFINITELY dated women. So. A bit of a double-standard here? I think so.
This lesson is reinforced when at the end of the book Sierra says,
When I become emotionally involved, I'm giving away a part of my heart, just as physical involvement is giving away your body.
Jesus wept.
No, seriously, I don't think this is Jesus's message to women AT ALL. NOT AT ALL. How can Christianity get twisted into this sick, fucked-up message? HOW? I'm disgusted.
PROBLEM 3: After the huge, 31 person Thanksgiving meal, every female family member does the dishes and scrubs down the kitchen. Together. And I'm thinking, “Where are the men? What are they doing?” Sometimes I think it's this little, tiny, insidious stuff that Jones Gunn sneaks into her books (women always bake and cook for men; women clean and scrub; women look after the children and elderly) that is the most harmful. Because her obvious messages, like “kissing is sinful” are easier to ignore because they are stated outright. And when you read it, you're like: “That's silly! Kissing isn't sinful, it's wonderful.” But it's these scenes where as soon as a man walks in, women start cooking and offering to make him sandwiches; or a girl gets a date and immediately starts baking cookies for the boy; or the family has a meal and all the women clear the table and do the dishes; or the father's elderly senile mother comes to live with the family and his wife is the only one who is expected to look after her and keep her out of trouble that slip into people's minds without notice.
PROBLEM FOUR: The green dress. Sierra finds this gorgeous velvet dress that hugs her curves and looks great on her. Her parents will not stop criticizing her for wearing it. It's not low-cut or indecent, but it's not like the baggy, shapeless clothes she usually wears and is therefore bad. Do you enjoy looking pretty and attractive? That's sinful. (This whole thing kind of reminds me of Carrie White's mom from the book CARRIE by Stephen King.)
THE ONE THING I LIKED IN THIS BOOK: A male friend of Sierra's keeps putting his arm around her and she doesn't like it. She handles this like a boss.
Grabbing his wrist and removing his arm, Sierra said, “I don't like it when you lean on me like that.”
Warner looked surprised. Sierra didn't think he should be, since she had told him the same thing before. This time she wanted to make sure he got the message.
“Look, Warner, I mean it when I say I don't want you to put your arm around me anymore. Okay?”
“I'm just being friendly,” he said defensively.
The others climbed inside Vicki's car. But Sierra wasn't through making her point.
“It doesn't feel friendly to me. It feels uncomfortable, and I don't want you to do it. Okay? Just don't put your arm around me anymore. Got it?”
Warner shrugged his agreement.
Like a BOSS! Boo-yah! This is the Sierra I love. Remember when she knocked that man unconscious with a soda can when he grabbed her ass? Radical, man.
ALSO: It's mentioned briefly that a woman could be “impure” due to rape. No resolution is reached about how to deal with this problem of being no longer worth anything to men because you're now “damaged goods” and whether it's okay because “that wasn't really your choice.”
IN OTHER NEWS: Vicki likes Randy and wants to date him.
Tawni is going to meet her birth mother, who is... wait for it... a Christian!
Amy and Nate break up. Which is joyful, I guess, because Nathan was French-kissing her! And that's sinful.
September 17, 2017
What can I say about the Sierra Jensen series that I haven't already said? This is just as entertaining and fun as the others. I was glad to see Sierra take a step back and make a personal realization towards the end; if only everyone who needs to take a look at themselves would also do so. Other than that, all I can say is what I usually say about books in long series: If you liked the previous ones, you'll probably enjoy this...but, if you're not a fan of the Sierra Jensen books, nothing in them will change your mind.
March 25, 2023
Now Picture This was a fine read. The book started off with the Jensen's celebrating Thanksgiving and it was an eventful day - with needing to call the fire department.
Sierra and Amy have started to make progress with healing their friendship.
Sierra realizes that she has become obsessed with Paul and needs to take things more slowly...especially since it seems like she might just be his prayer warrior.
Sierra and Amy have started to make progress with healing their friendship.
Sierra realizes that she has become obsessed with Paul and needs to take things more slowly...especially since it seems like she might just be his prayer warrior.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2023
Starts off with the Jensen family hosting Thanksgiving for the whole extended family - 30+ people. Everyone in Sierra's immediate family is banking together so the guests can have somewhere to sleep. The dog is left to stay outside, which I didn't understand (since it didn't say anyone was allergic) or approve - cold and wet, let's make the dog stay outside.
Sierra doesn't spend much time with her relatives, instead choosing to read/reread her letters from Paul and write to him everyday.
During Thanksgiving dinner, at the start when Mr. Jensen is praying, a dish in the oven catches fire and ruins the oven and a cabinet.
Sierra doesn't spend much time with her relatives, instead choosing to read/reread her letters from Paul and write to him everyday.
During Thanksgiving dinner, at the start when Mr. Jensen is praying, a dish in the oven catches fire and ruins the oven and a cabinet.
January 8, 2025
this one hit close to home because it’s theme was a reminder/warning that i need daily! it was about being careful with your emotions and how you can get carried away and other people, hobbies, or interests can get slowly moved in your #1 priority spot in life without you noticing and then one day you wonder, “when was the last time i read my Bible? when did i last talk to God?” this was the perfect book to read at the beginning of the year as i was repeatedly learning that lesson last year and i’m really trying to consistently prioritize Him this year!! this series is YA (and i would say as young as 11 could read it and understand it) but it’s also so good for adults to read and learn something from it!! i highly recommend!!!
March 19, 2009
I thought this book had some applicable guidelines for modern day teens and relationships. I often see young people who are so caught up in their relationship that they can hardly stand to think about anything else. Sierra Jensen slowly sees how consuming her relationship is and I liked seeing how she solved the problem. I'd recommend to people who had read the Christy Miller series.
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2008...
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2008...
November 5, 2012
Sierra was a bit irritating in this one. She seemed inceredibly naiive and assuming. She seriously needs to stop thinking that she is going to have a romantic relationship with Paul, because I really don't think its going to happen. I mean, come on; its book nine and we are still waiting.
Other than that a nice read. ;)
Other than that a nice read. ;)
Read
March 26, 2010F GUN sj bk.9
September 5, 2018
Last read May 2011
November 20, 2017
This is the book where I always want to (gently, nicely) shake some sense into Sierra. Although most of us can probably relate to some obsessive feelings in our teen years.
July 30, 2013
July 2013 re-read.
December 16, 2025
Number of pages: 158
Genre: Contemporary YA
Series: Sierra Jensen Series #9
Age recommendation: High School (15/16)
Summary: It’s thanksgiving and Sierra’s house is overrun with relatives. All she wants is a quiet place to read her latest letter from Paul. With Christmas and his birthday fast approaching, she wants to get him a special present!
My thoughts: This was another good book in the Sierra Jensen series. It's kind of bad, but one of my favourite parts was when their house almost burnt down. It was funny especially with all the pumpkin pie.
A couple things in this book I found really annoying. First, I didn't think it was fair for Katrina to be so mad at Sierra. Sierra had a right to be upset with Katrina’s two-year-old son for destroying her stuff. Being way older, Sierra could have dealt with it a little more maturely, but she should not have been the only one to apologize. Katrina should have apologized to Sierra for her son accidentally wrecking her stuff. Instead, she just tells Sierra she’s so mean and insensitive for being rude to her two-year-old son. That’s really not fair. I was also annoyed with Sierra’s obsession over Paul. I was just glad that she learned her problem by the end of the book. She was reading a lot more into his letters than she should have and she needed to recognize and do something about that problem. Mrs. Gunn always has really good messages in her stories which I really appreciate, so if you don’t like morals in your stories, I wouldn’t recommend reading anything by Mrs. Gunn.
I love that Tawni gets to meet her birth mom soon. I’m so excited for that part of the story and hope we get to see more of it in coming books!
I was really glad that Vicki and Amy and Sierra get to be friends again in this book. Sierra still makes some mistakes with Amy, but it’s a little funny what she does with the air horn. She really thought she was helping…
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend.
My personal rating: 3/5 stars.
Link to blog: https://karinaschristianreads.wordpre...
Genre: Contemporary YA
Series: Sierra Jensen Series #9
Age recommendation: High School (15/16)
Summary: It’s thanksgiving and Sierra’s house is overrun with relatives. All she wants is a quiet place to read her latest letter from Paul. With Christmas and his birthday fast approaching, she wants to get him a special present!
My thoughts: This was another good book in the Sierra Jensen series. It's kind of bad, but one of my favourite parts was when their house almost burnt down. It was funny especially with all the pumpkin pie.
A couple things in this book I found really annoying. First, I didn't think it was fair for Katrina to be so mad at Sierra. Sierra had a right to be upset with Katrina’s two-year-old son for destroying her stuff. Being way older, Sierra could have dealt with it a little more maturely, but she should not have been the only one to apologize. Katrina should have apologized to Sierra for her son accidentally wrecking her stuff. Instead, she just tells Sierra she’s so mean and insensitive for being rude to her two-year-old son. That’s really not fair. I was also annoyed with Sierra’s obsession over Paul. I was just glad that she learned her problem by the end of the book. She was reading a lot more into his letters than she should have and she needed to recognize and do something about that problem. Mrs. Gunn always has really good messages in her stories which I really appreciate, so if you don’t like morals in your stories, I wouldn’t recommend reading anything by Mrs. Gunn.
I love that Tawni gets to meet her birth mom soon. I’m so excited for that part of the story and hope we get to see more of it in coming books!
I was really glad that Vicki and Amy and Sierra get to be friends again in this book. Sierra still makes some mistakes with Amy, but it’s a little funny what she does with the air horn. She really thought she was helping…
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend.
My personal rating: 3/5 stars.
Link to blog: https://karinaschristianreads.wordpre...
May 23, 2020
I really enjoyed how Robin addresses friendships in this book. She writes about them beautifully. Simply watching Sierra making choices about her friends, that was very interesting and I learned a lot.
The other thing that is addressed in detail in this book, is Sierra's relationship with Paul. Here is Sierra constantly daydreaming about this guy while he totally thinks of her as nothing more than a friend. I really liked the journey that she had to go through to come to the point where she is being honest with herself.
All in all it was a very good read on self-discovery especially as a teenager.
The other thing that is addressed in detail in this book, is Sierra's relationship with Paul. Here is Sierra constantly daydreaming about this guy while he totally thinks of her as nothing more than a friend. I really liked the journey that she had to go through to come to the point where she is being honest with herself.
All in all it was a very good read on self-discovery especially as a teenager.
November 16, 2023
Loved the clear message to rein in your emotions when it comes to a relationship with a guy who hasn't caught up to where you are. I know so many teens/young women who fell in the same trap as Sierra and wasted so much energy and experienced unnecessary heartbreak. Good stuff. And Sierra is pretty funny sometimes.
June 3, 2025
"I thought it was cool that even though Paul and Sierra started out as acquaintances. They still care for each other." -Cadee, age 12.
March 29, 2018
I pictured this book. AMAZING
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews