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Christy Miller #5
Island Dreamer
Christy Miller is spending her 16th birthday on Maui with her family, Todd, and Paula, her best friend from Wisconsin. What could be better? Christy soon discovers that she and Paula don’t have as much in common anymore. What's worse is that Paula is obsessed with getting a boyfriend and Todd is suddenly Paula's idea of the perfect guy. Will Todd choose Paula over her?
Christy's heart is tested even further when she receives an unexpected phone call on her birthday. What happens when it's up to Christy to drive the gang to safety on the famous winding road to Hana? Will her friendships endure? Or will the islands send Christy dreaming in new directions?
Christy's heart is tested even further when she receives an unexpected phone call on her birthday. What happens when it's up to Christy to drive the gang to safety on the famous winding road to Hana? Will her friendships endure? Or will the islands send Christy dreaming in new directions?
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
8 people are currently reading
356 people want to read
About the author
Robin Jones Gunn
162 books2,633 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 - 30 of 63 reviews
April 29, 2015
Ready for another serving of "Boys with a side of God?" ¡Vámonos!
Christy, her 9-year-old brother David, her non-boyfriend Todd, her friend from the old days - Paula, her mom, aunt and uncle all travel to beautiful Hawaii for a two-week vacation.
Todd is a flake, as usual. He does numerous annoying things: shows up late for (non-?) dates. Makes Christy think that they will be alone and then 'surprises' her with a bunch of friends coming along. He spends a lot of time with her family, being very careful never to be alone with her. He talks about God incessantly, quotes the Bible, and preaches to Christy.
As a result of this whole mess, Christy has no clue where she stands with Todd. She is afraid to even dare to hold his hand. She has no idea if they are just friends, or if he's interested in her, or what. I mean, he literally goes from giving her jewelry (a gold bracelet that says "Forever") to disappearing for weeks. She comes off as very insecure and unsure in this novel, which would usually annoy me - but truthfully I can't blame her. This guy is a putz. But Jones Gunn wants us to think he is the perfect Christian boyfriend.
On top of this mess, we've got Paula - Christy's old friend from Wisconsin whom she hasn't seen in a year. Paula is a complex character. On the one hand, she's annoyed with Christy being a strong, vocal, pushy Christian now. I can understand that. On the other hand she lies about pretty serious stuff, AND puts the moves on Todd. Wow. I cannot forgive that. Poor Christy. So in short, Paula is on my sh*t list. If I was Christy, I'd never speak to her again, but I guess Christy feels like it's a Christian's duty to forgive, so her and Paula miraculously stay friends.
Before I start ripping into this book, I would like to mention one part that I really enjoyed. It's when Katie says to Christy: "It's when something happens in your life, and you look at it and can't explain how or why it happened, but you know there's a reason for it. You know that God is doing something in your life, and it changes you. There's no other way to explain it except to see it as a God-thing." This is really sweet and has a lot of truth in it. I related to this and it was the only part of the book that made me have warm fuzzy Christian feelings. :)
This book had so many problems I don't even know where to begin. This book sends seriously damaging messages to the teens/tweens that are it's target audience.
1.) Christy can't make her own decisions. Now, Christy turns 16 in this novel, which means she's finally allowed to date. However, it's made crystal clear throughout the book that Christy needs to be "guided," "led," and "counseled" by people who are wiser than her. This includes her parents, obviously, but also Todd - because he has a penis. She's 16, but everyone treats her as if she's 9, and it would drive me up a wall. Message: women need others to make decisions for them, because their decision-making skills can't be trusted. They might be 'confused' if asked to make their own choices. The only time women can make choices and be wise is if they are mothers who are making decisions for children (not husbands!). Otherwise, forget it.
2.) Slut-shaming. Paula is hot. She is loud. Christy is embarrassed to be around her loud friend. This makes me very angry. Her friend is peppy and excited to be in Hawaii. Big deal. I feel like Christy is moping around a few paces behind Paula, looking around shamefaced because "Paula is drawing attention to herself." UGH.
Then there's the "problem" of Paula having a better body than Christy (curvier, Christy's supposed to be pretty thin, I guess). Christy throws a bit of a hissy fit when she realizes that Paula is buying and wearing a hot pink bikini. OH NO! A BIKINI! LOL She tries to mask this in Christian concern, but really I think she's just jealous that Paula's confident enough to wear a bikini. Leave Paula alone! Mind your own beeswax, Christy. Message: Women should be quiet and not draw attention to themselves. Women who wear bikinis are sluts and 'asking for it.' Men are animals with no self-control, and wearing a bikini around them might drive them to snap and commit sexual violence against these women who weren't modest enough. This is a total insult to men everywhere. Also, if men have such fragile grasps on their willpower, why do they get to be in charge of all the decision-making (see point #1)?
3.) Weird sexual messages. Oh, boy. There's a lot of them.
a.) Todd is the main problem. Because he's such a wishy-washy putz, Christy has NO IDEA where on earth she stands with him. Does he like her? As a friend? As a woman? Is he flirting with her, or just being friendly? He pays roughly the same amount of attention to Christy as he does to Paula. Does he like Paula? Is he just being friendly to Paula? Poor Christy doesn't know what to think.
She does a great and wonderful thing by honestly talking about this and sharing her feelings with Todd. I was so relieved. I was like, finally! We're going to get this sorted out. But Todd was NO HELP AT ALL.
Now, listen to me, it would have been SO EASY for Todd to clarify this. When Paula's flirting with him and Christy's there, he could be smiling and friendly with Paula, but hold Christy's hand or put his hand or her back, or something. This would be friendly to Paula but also make it clear that he was 'with' Christy. Also, why was he going off with Paula alone all the time? I mean, you don't have to be rude, but it's beyond rude to CRUSH AN INNOCENT GIRL'S HEART, an innocent girl who's obviously, glaringly, completely gaga over you by letting her best friend link arms with you, run her fingers through your hair, and go off alone with you for "surfing lessons." That's very disrespectful, Todd.
When Christy gets a chance to talk to Todd about all this, he predictably acts LIKE A COMPLETE PUTZ.
"Really?" Todd looked at her curiously. "What do girls think about? I mean why do they do that to a guy (flirt with him)?"
..."I guess we're looking for some attention, some way to find out what the guy is thinking or how he feels about us."
"That's all backward," Todd stated. "I think the guy should be the initiator and the girl should be the responder. Not the other way around."
"But you don't know what it's like to be the girl and to have to wait and wait and wait for the guy to initiate something. When he doesn't, you feel he's not interested in you."
"So girls think that the level of a guy's interest is based on how much he touches her?" Todd sounded surprised, and his voice rose a bit."
Yes, Todd! Yes, duh, of course if you touch girls they think that you're sexually attracted to them!!! Are you a complete moron!!!??? I am laughing hysterically writing this, but really it's not funny. If I was Christy I would assume this guy was brain-damaged and run the other way.
Then Christy says, I agree that the girl should let the guy be the leader, but I also think that sometimes the guy can be a little more, well, gentle and caring by, you know, holding her hand or other little expressions of how he feels without it being a big deal...Does that make sense? What I'm trying to say is that if a guy holds a girl's hand or something like that, it lets the girl know he likes her. That's all. It doesn't mean he's trying to, you know, make out with her or anything. It just means she's special to him."
BRAVO, CHRISTY! I was so proud of her for having the ovaries to talk about this calmly and eloquently with Todd. Unfortunately, this just makes him confused and nothing gets resolved. I'm very disappointed that he can't wrap his head around the fact that Christy might need a little encouragement to remain his loyal and devoted non-girlfriend.
b.) Virginity. I don't care. I don't care if Christy wants to stay a virgin. I don't care if she wants to save herself for her wedding night. I fully support a woman's decisions to have sex or not have sex with whomever. HOWEVER, I don't feel that Christy is making her own choices. Her family and friends are telling her firmly that there's two categories: virgin and slut. She can be the kind of woman who's afraid to hold Todd's hand because it might be considered "too forward" or she can be the kind of woman who wears a bikini. o.O
What kind of f*cked-up message is this for young women? And her ONLY friend who decided to become sexually active in this book ended up pregnant with no boyfriend, kicked out by her parents, and finally decided to give her child up for adoption. Because if you decide to have sex, (or, in this world, I guess your boyfriend decides for you when you dare to wear a mini-skirt, or something) your life will immediately turn to sh*t. Did I mention that she's also fat now? Yes, the author decides to top this slut-shaming off with a dose of "and of course now that she's had a baby she's overweight, too, and her swimsuit doesn't fit her right anymore. Aren't you glad you never did more than let a boy kiss you?" Fat-shaming and slut-shaming all in one convenient source. GRRR, I CAN'T EVEN...
I'm going to stop here, just because this review is getting long and I'm sure you're getting the picture by now.
I'll just leave you with this little gem of a letter that 16-year-old Christy writes to her future (unknown) husband, a letter which I find unspeakably creepy:
Dear Future Husband,
I turned 16 today, and I know it may seem weird writing this to you now, but this letter is sort of my way of making a promise to you in writing.
Maybe I already know you, or maybe we haven't met yet. Either way, I want to save myself for you. I want my whole self, my heart and body and everything, to be a present I'll give you on our wedding day.
I don't care how long it takes or how hard it gets, but I promise you I won't let anybody else "unwrap" me so that on our wedding night I'll be the kind of gift you'll be happy to receive.
I know I have a lot of years ahead of me before we get married, whoever you are. That's why I want to make this promise now, so that no matter who I go out with, I'll always think of myself as a present I want to give you alone one day.
I also promise to start praying for you, wherever you are, whoever you are, that God will be preparing you for me and that you'll save all of yourself for me too.
I already love you.
Your future wife,
Christina Juliet Miller
Because bodies are objects to be 'gifted' to other people. And nobody wants a present that someone else has already 'unwrapped.' If you let a man touch you then you are worthless, just so much discarded trash, okay? I mean, who would want you if you weren't 'pure?' *shudder This is such a disgusting thought process I can't even formulate words to tell you how I feel about it...
Christy, her 9-year-old brother David, her non-boyfriend Todd, her friend from the old days - Paula, her mom, aunt and uncle all travel to beautiful Hawaii for a two-week vacation.
Todd is a flake, as usual. He does numerous annoying things: shows up late for (non-?) dates. Makes Christy think that they will be alone and then 'surprises' her with a bunch of friends coming along. He spends a lot of time with her family, being very careful never to be alone with her. He talks about God incessantly, quotes the Bible, and preaches to Christy.
As a result of this whole mess, Christy has no clue where she stands with Todd. She is afraid to even dare to hold his hand. She has no idea if they are just friends, or if he's interested in her, or what. I mean, he literally goes from giving her jewelry (a gold bracelet that says "Forever") to disappearing for weeks. She comes off as very insecure and unsure in this novel, which would usually annoy me - but truthfully I can't blame her. This guy is a putz. But Jones Gunn wants us to think he is the perfect Christian boyfriend.
On top of this mess, we've got Paula - Christy's old friend from Wisconsin whom she hasn't seen in a year. Paula is a complex character. On the one hand, she's annoyed with Christy being a strong, vocal, pushy Christian now. I can understand that. On the other hand she lies about pretty serious stuff, AND puts the moves on Todd. Wow. I cannot forgive that. Poor Christy. So in short, Paula is on my sh*t list. If I was Christy, I'd never speak to her again, but I guess Christy feels like it's a Christian's duty to forgive, so her and Paula miraculously stay friends.
Before I start ripping into this book, I would like to mention one part that I really enjoyed. It's when Katie says to Christy: "It's when something happens in your life, and you look at it and can't explain how or why it happened, but you know there's a reason for it. You know that God is doing something in your life, and it changes you. There's no other way to explain it except to see it as a God-thing." This is really sweet and has a lot of truth in it. I related to this and it was the only part of the book that made me have warm fuzzy Christian feelings. :)
This book had so many problems I don't even know where to begin. This book sends seriously damaging messages to the teens/tweens that are it's target audience.
1.) Christy can't make her own decisions. Now, Christy turns 16 in this novel, which means she's finally allowed to date. However, it's made crystal clear throughout the book that Christy needs to be "guided," "led," and "counseled" by people who are wiser than her. This includes her parents, obviously, but also Todd - because he has a penis. She's 16, but everyone treats her as if she's 9, and it would drive me up a wall. Message: women need others to make decisions for them, because their decision-making skills can't be trusted. They might be 'confused' if asked to make their own choices. The only time women can make choices and be wise is if they are mothers who are making decisions for children (not husbands!). Otherwise, forget it.
2.) Slut-shaming. Paula is hot. She is loud. Christy is embarrassed to be around her loud friend. This makes me very angry. Her friend is peppy and excited to be in Hawaii. Big deal. I feel like Christy is moping around a few paces behind Paula, looking around shamefaced because "Paula is drawing attention to herself." UGH.
Then there's the "problem" of Paula having a better body than Christy (curvier, Christy's supposed to be pretty thin, I guess). Christy throws a bit of a hissy fit when she realizes that Paula is buying and wearing a hot pink bikini. OH NO! A BIKINI! LOL She tries to mask this in Christian concern, but really I think she's just jealous that Paula's confident enough to wear a bikini. Leave Paula alone! Mind your own beeswax, Christy. Message: Women should be quiet and not draw attention to themselves. Women who wear bikinis are sluts and 'asking for it.' Men are animals with no self-control, and wearing a bikini around them might drive them to snap and commit sexual violence against these women who weren't modest enough. This is a total insult to men everywhere. Also, if men have such fragile grasps on their willpower, why do they get to be in charge of all the decision-making (see point #1)?
3.) Weird sexual messages. Oh, boy. There's a lot of them.
a.) Todd is the main problem. Because he's such a wishy-washy putz, Christy has NO IDEA where on earth she stands with him. Does he like her? As a friend? As a woman? Is he flirting with her, or just being friendly? He pays roughly the same amount of attention to Christy as he does to Paula. Does he like Paula? Is he just being friendly to Paula? Poor Christy doesn't know what to think.
She does a great and wonderful thing by honestly talking about this and sharing her feelings with Todd. I was so relieved. I was like, finally! We're going to get this sorted out. But Todd was NO HELP AT ALL.
Now, listen to me, it would have been SO EASY for Todd to clarify this. When Paula's flirting with him and Christy's there, he could be smiling and friendly with Paula, but hold Christy's hand or put his hand or her back, or something. This would be friendly to Paula but also make it clear that he was 'with' Christy. Also, why was he going off with Paula alone all the time? I mean, you don't have to be rude, but it's beyond rude to CRUSH AN INNOCENT GIRL'S HEART, an innocent girl who's obviously, glaringly, completely gaga over you by letting her best friend link arms with you, run her fingers through your hair, and go off alone with you for "surfing lessons." That's very disrespectful, Todd.
When Christy gets a chance to talk to Todd about all this, he predictably acts LIKE A COMPLETE PUTZ.
"Really?" Todd looked at her curiously. "What do girls think about? I mean why do they do that to a guy (flirt with him)?"
..."I guess we're looking for some attention, some way to find out what the guy is thinking or how he feels about us."
"That's all backward," Todd stated. "I think the guy should be the initiator and the girl should be the responder. Not the other way around."
"But you don't know what it's like to be the girl and to have to wait and wait and wait for the guy to initiate something. When he doesn't, you feel he's not interested in you."
"So girls think that the level of a guy's interest is based on how much he touches her?" Todd sounded surprised, and his voice rose a bit."
Yes, Todd! Yes, duh, of course if you touch girls they think that you're sexually attracted to them!!! Are you a complete moron!!!??? I am laughing hysterically writing this, but really it's not funny. If I was Christy I would assume this guy was brain-damaged and run the other way.
Then Christy says, I agree that the girl should let the guy be the leader, but I also think that sometimes the guy can be a little more, well, gentle and caring by, you know, holding her hand or other little expressions of how he feels without it being a big deal...Does that make sense? What I'm trying to say is that if a guy holds a girl's hand or something like that, it lets the girl know he likes her. That's all. It doesn't mean he's trying to, you know, make out with her or anything. It just means she's special to him."
BRAVO, CHRISTY! I was so proud of her for having the ovaries to talk about this calmly and eloquently with Todd. Unfortunately, this just makes him confused and nothing gets resolved. I'm very disappointed that he can't wrap his head around the fact that Christy might need a little encouragement to remain his loyal and devoted non-girlfriend.
b.) Virginity. I don't care. I don't care if Christy wants to stay a virgin. I don't care if she wants to save herself for her wedding night. I fully support a woman's decisions to have sex or not have sex with whomever. HOWEVER, I don't feel that Christy is making her own choices. Her family and friends are telling her firmly that there's two categories: virgin and slut. She can be the kind of woman who's afraid to hold Todd's hand because it might be considered "too forward" or she can be the kind of woman who wears a bikini. o.O
What kind of f*cked-up message is this for young women? And her ONLY friend who decided to become sexually active in this book ended up pregnant with no boyfriend, kicked out by her parents, and finally decided to give her child up for adoption. Because if you decide to have sex, (or, in this world, I guess your boyfriend decides for you when you dare to wear a mini-skirt, or something) your life will immediately turn to sh*t. Did I mention that she's also fat now? Yes, the author decides to top this slut-shaming off with a dose of "and of course now that she's had a baby she's overweight, too, and her swimsuit doesn't fit her right anymore. Aren't you glad you never did more than let a boy kiss you?" Fat-shaming and slut-shaming all in one convenient source. GRRR, I CAN'T EVEN...
I'm going to stop here, just because this review is getting long and I'm sure you're getting the picture by now.
I'll just leave you with this little gem of a letter that 16-year-old Christy writes to her future (unknown) husband, a letter which I find unspeakably creepy:
Dear Future Husband,
I turned 16 today, and I know it may seem weird writing this to you now, but this letter is sort of my way of making a promise to you in writing.
Maybe I already know you, or maybe we haven't met yet. Either way, I want to save myself for you. I want my whole self, my heart and body and everything, to be a present I'll give you on our wedding day.
I don't care how long it takes or how hard it gets, but I promise you I won't let anybody else "unwrap" me so that on our wedding night I'll be the kind of gift you'll be happy to receive.
I know I have a lot of years ahead of me before we get married, whoever you are. That's why I want to make this promise now, so that no matter who I go out with, I'll always think of myself as a present I want to give you alone one day.
I also promise to start praying for you, wherever you are, whoever you are, that God will be preparing you for me and that you'll save all of yourself for me too.
I already love you.
Your future wife,
Christina Juliet Miller
Because bodies are objects to be 'gifted' to other people. And nobody wants a present that someone else has already 'unwrapped.' If you let a man touch you then you are worthless, just so much discarded trash, okay? I mean, who would want you if you weren't 'pure?' *shudder This is such a disgusting thought process I can't even formulate words to tell you how I feel about it...
August 4, 2015
Oh Rick and Paula.. You both drive me insane, and Christy.. PLEASE STOP CRYING ON EVERY PAGE. (Still love you though.)
July 12, 2025
Some re-read thoughts as an adult (2020):
Still one of my favorites! I read this book for the first time when I was 12 years old and have wanted to go to Maui and visit the Hana waterfalls for the 20+ years since then. I don't have any real criticisms here. Paula and Christy's sisterly jealousy is realistic. Todd is still a doofus in his back and forth with Christy's emotions. They have a touching moment at the end of the Hana trip. I like the analogy about the doors of the rebuilt church - it feels like Robin Gunn really hits her writing stride with this book. There is some humor, character growth, spiritual insight, and the story (essentially, Christy's adolescence) advances.
2025 update: I know Paula is not a Christian and her behavior is supposed to reflect that, but a good friend of any religious or non-religious viewpoint doesn’t show up on an invited vacation and attempt to snake the host’s boyfriend. What a jerk.
Still one of my favorites! I read this book for the first time when I was 12 years old and have wanted to go to Maui and visit the Hana waterfalls for the 20+ years since then. I don't have any real criticisms here. Paula and Christy's sisterly jealousy is realistic. Todd is still a doofus in his back and forth with Christy's emotions. They have a touching moment at the end of the Hana trip. I like the analogy about the doors of the rebuilt church - it feels like Robin Gunn really hits her writing stride with this book. There is some humor, character growth, spiritual insight, and the story (essentially, Christy's adolescence) advances.
2025 update: I know Paula is not a Christian and her behavior is supposed to reflect that, but a good friend of any religious or non-religious viewpoint doesn’t show up on an invited vacation and attempt to snake the host’s boyfriend. What a jerk.
March 26, 2012
I loved this book and I could read it over and over again! It helps to teach me about the word of God, but at the same time gives me a girly, romantic book about a teenager just like me. Christy learns how life may bring you mixed emotions and it may take you a while to learn the right thing to do, but by the end of her trips she always does what's right. That helped to teach me not to go with the first thing I feel like jealousy, mad, or to get revenge, but to let life sort itself out and everything will work out in the end. That's because everything happens for a reason.
July 18, 2025
this is one of my favorites... *happy sigh* 5 stars, no argument
November 6, 2008
probably my favorite Christy Miller book because it's set on the Island I live on, and describes all the adventures in places I know. After reading this when I was 13, my best friend and I sent Robin Jones Gunn (the author) fan mail. :)
February 6, 2016
Book five of The Christy Miller series, Christy and her friend, Paula, go on a surprise trip to Hawaii with Mrs. Miller and Aunt Marti. They meet Uncle Bob and Todd there. Since Christy is a Christian and Paula is not, the two don't have much in common anymore; the tension really goes up when Paula tries to get Todd. After all Todd and Christy have gone through together, now Christy thinks Todd, (who is friendly and kind to everyone), is starting to like Paula... and maybe more than herself! But one big and dangerous adventure, where both Christy and Todd "cross their bridges", seems to bring them back together.
Robin Jones Gunn seems to always teach lessons in these books, which is how books should be. This has probably been one of my favorites so far. Looking forward to reading the rest!
Robin Jones Gunn seems to always teach lessons in these books, which is how books should be. This has probably been one of my favorites so far. Looking forward to reading the rest!
August 12, 2023
(2nd reread)5th of 12 from the high school set. Rereading all the Christy books before the new one comes out in 2019. Everyone has a series that they could read over and over and this is mine. I feel like I am a part of the group of friends, aging as they age, experiencing life stages, college/marriage/motherhood as they do. I dream of the characters and "see" them in crowds. I like to believe I will greet these ficticious characters in Heaven someday. Sigh. Oh to be 16, again.
(3rd reread, 2023) The jealousy of friends when guys start to hang around is enough to ruin any friendship. Lots of overcoming and growing in this book for all the characters and snippets originating that tell the bigger picture of many of the books/series to come that follow these characters.
(3rd reread, 2023) The jealousy of friends when guys start to hang around is enough to ruin any friendship. Lots of overcoming and growing in this book for all the characters and snippets originating that tell the bigger picture of many of the books/series to come that follow these characters.
March 30, 2023
Christy gets surprised with a trip to Hawaii from her aunt and uncle.
March 8, 2023
Island Dreamer was another great teen read and fun to reread. Christy celebrates her 16th birthday, even though it doesn't go quite how she hoped. She and Paula (her friend visiting from Wisconsin) go with her mom, aunt, and brother to Hawaii to stay with her uncle and Todd as they are working on fixing up the house. Christy also is hoping to get her driver's license soon. The ending was great and I loved seeing Alyssa's transformation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2017
This book made me want to go to Hawaii and when I finally got to go 12ish years later seeing the "Christy" sites were some of the highlights (especially THE Bridge).
August 27, 2021
This book was okay. It definitely was not my favorite. I found Christy and Paula extremely annoying in this book. I did enjoy the chapter about Christy's struggle driving. That was very relatable. I also really enjoyed the last chapter. I am so glad that Alissa finally got saved, although I am very sad that she gave her baby up for adoption. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2023
This is probably my favourite one so far...
June 25, 2021
Todd’s improving, Christy is still the worst
September 29, 2015
Island Dreamer is by Robin Jones Gunn it is a Christian, Non-Fiction "love story."
This book is about a girl named Christy, this book is what her life is like and how she goes through troubles but God helps her out and she learns from her mistakes throughout the book. Christy just turned 16 and her best friend Paula is coming down from Wisconsin to come and visit her. Christy's friend Todd and her uncle Bob are going to Maui for a couple weeks to help renovate some beach condos and Christy is sad that she couldn't join them. When her friend Paula comes down they figure out that they are going to Maui with Todd, Uncle Bob, Aunt Marti, Christy's mom, brother, and Paula. When they get there Paula can't get her eyes off of Todd, Christy gets a hint of jealousy. Christy and Paula have troubles and get in fights with each other often and it's not helping their friendship at all. Todd and Christy don't get a lot of time together but when they do Christy takes as much as she can in. Later on Christy and Paula sort out their differences and get along much better and the rest of the trip is like a dream. Christy learned that she needs to respect the Lord and do what is right regarding being with Todd. She also learns that the Lord is in control and she should trust him and keep a positive heart towards others no matter what. One of the things i really loved about the book is that it taught me about jealousy and how to overcome it. Christy for example got jealous because Paula couldn't stay from Todd and Christy got very jealous because of that and she learned that Todd will NEVER break their friendship up just because someone comes between them. A second thing i enjoyed was just the story in general it taught a good message and really got you to think about what it means. One thing i disliked about the book was honestly i wish it could have gone forever because that book hooked onto me and i couldn't take my eyes off of it. The ending kind of left me hanging because something major happened at the end but other than that i really enjoyed the book. the readers that would like this book are Christian readers mostly because this book is bases of what you learn from your mistakes God throws at you and how she improved and how God helped her through it. Island dreamer really gives you a strong message and honestly helps you through your journey in life.
This book is about a girl named Christy, this book is what her life is like and how she goes through troubles but God helps her out and she learns from her mistakes throughout the book. Christy just turned 16 and her best friend Paula is coming down from Wisconsin to come and visit her. Christy's friend Todd and her uncle Bob are going to Maui for a couple weeks to help renovate some beach condos and Christy is sad that she couldn't join them. When her friend Paula comes down they figure out that they are going to Maui with Todd, Uncle Bob, Aunt Marti, Christy's mom, brother, and Paula. When they get there Paula can't get her eyes off of Todd, Christy gets a hint of jealousy. Christy and Paula have troubles and get in fights with each other often and it's not helping their friendship at all. Todd and Christy don't get a lot of time together but when they do Christy takes as much as she can in. Later on Christy and Paula sort out their differences and get along much better and the rest of the trip is like a dream. Christy learned that she needs to respect the Lord and do what is right regarding being with Todd. She also learns that the Lord is in control and she should trust him and keep a positive heart towards others no matter what. One of the things i really loved about the book is that it taught me about jealousy and how to overcome it. Christy for example got jealous because Paula couldn't stay from Todd and Christy got very jealous because of that and she learned that Todd will NEVER break their friendship up just because someone comes between them. A second thing i enjoyed was just the story in general it taught a good message and really got you to think about what it means. One thing i disliked about the book was honestly i wish it could have gone forever because that book hooked onto me and i couldn't take my eyes off of it. The ending kind of left me hanging because something major happened at the end but other than that i really enjoyed the book. the readers that would like this book are Christian readers mostly because this book is bases of what you learn from your mistakes God throws at you and how she improved and how God helped her through it. Island dreamer really gives you a strong message and honestly helps you through your journey in life.
January 15, 2009
What can I say? The characters are pretty interesting and I'm constantly wanting to know what will happen next in the Christy Miller series. I liked this book and would recommend to fans of teen christian fiction.
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2008...
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2008...
July 8, 2012
Loved this one! I think this really gave me a better understanding of Todd and who he was as a believe and follower of Christ, and also what his personality and motives were. After this book, I kept talking to Christy in my head, saying, "Why does it surprise you so much that he would do that?"
August 15, 2018
I really loved this Christy book and it's will be one of my faves for a long time.
There was so much Christy & Todd! Todd is an amazing guy and almost too perfect. I love how he and his friends encourage Christy in her first steps as a new Christian.
The setting in Hawaii was really cool and made me want to go there!
There was so much Christy & Todd! Todd is an amazing guy and almost too perfect. I love how he and his friends encourage Christy in her first steps as a new Christian.
The setting in Hawaii was really cool and made me want to go there!
September 22, 2008
All I can say is bravo Robin Jones Gunn. She is one of the greatest teen romance writer I have read. If you like romance and a good story line read one of Robin Jones Gunn's books. I have read a ton of her books and loved them all.
November 24, 2010
Christy Miller gets to spend her 16th birthday is Hawaii with some of her best friends... what more could a girl ask for? It's not all a smooth ride, though, and there is lots to be learned for this young heroine.
June 19, 2024
A fun read if you've been to Hawaii (even if not Maui) and a pretty good story about what it means to deal with changing friendships. A fairly romantic look at the historical Hawaii missionaries, though.
June 25, 2008
Reading this book gets me excited for a vacation in Hawaii. I'd love to see the waterfalls and survive the Hana road!
March 21, 2008
this one was my favorite one of the whole series
May 31, 2009
This is my least fave of the Christy Miller Series because it is pretty slow
Read
March 26, 2010F GUN cms bk. 5
Read
July 24, 2010Read this christian books series as a tween. High school drama with an emphasis on the characters' relationship with Christ.
August 7, 2010
probably my favorite one so far!
November 29, 2013
See my review of the entire series at:
http://rwlreviews.blogspot.com/2013/0...
http://rwlreviews.blogspot.com/2013/0...
April 2, 2013
This was a great book!!!!!!!!
October 27, 2016
This is my third time reading the series all the way through, and every time I love them even more :D
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