Just Like Ice Cream

by Lissa Halls Johnson

Kyle was the most gorgeous boy Julie had ever seen. It was so easy to fall in love and so natural to let themselves go. Then, before they knew it, the summer had melted away. Kyle went back to school, and Julie was left alone. And pregnant.

Julie couldn't believe this was happening! She was only sixteen-she wasn't ready to have a child. How would she tell her parents? How could she face her friends? What should she do with the child growing inside her?

Desperate, afraid, confused, Julie struggles to find the courage to make it though. Then a good friend comes to help her, and she finds strength and comfort from the most wonderful place of all.

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

176 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

LISSA HALLS JOHNSON is the author of novels for teens, tweens and young adults. Formerly a book producer at Focus on the Family, she was the creator, editor and writer for the Brio girls series and for the Kid Witness book series. She has contributed to Reader’s Digest, Brio, Breakaway, Focus on the Family Magazine, TQ, and other periodicals.
She has written radio drama scripts and was previously a member of the ADVENTURES IN ODYSSEY creative team. She has contributed to a number of fiction and nonfiction books, and is the co-author of a book for parents of teens.

Lissa also speaks throughout the country.

When she’s not writing, she’s hiking, skiing, or snowshoeing in the Colorado mountains she adores with her husband, Rich and dog, Kyna.

Reviews

[Majenta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I probably heard about this author from reading issues of BRIO, Focus on the Family's magazine for teen girls, where I also learned of Robin Jones Gunn's Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen series. I saw the author's name again here, found the book at Amazon, and got it for my Kindle. And while I was reading, Sarah McLachlan's "Ice Cream" kept running through my head.

Kindle readers are taken from the 2014 "Note to the Reader" to Chapter One which starts in 1985, when a song on the radio first makes her hurt heart rage "Kyle, you--liar!" then takes her back to 1983, when the song sounded sweeter because it was their "our song."

It's glorious summertime and she and her best friend Stephanie are talking about someone from school who is expecting a baby and planning to keep it. "The thought [of being pregnant] was so ludicrous it lasted about a nanosecond," Julie's first-person narration says right on page 2.

But on page 3 she meets Kyle. Well, he's biking toward her and stops to talk to her and ask her out. They don't even exchange names! But when he suggests "Meet you here Wednesday at six?" she agrees. And until then she lives in agony that it won't happen, like the heat of the day made her hallucinate a cute guy who called her "sweet girl" just when she was comparing her looks and (lack of) figure unfavorably to Stephanie's....

But he's real, and the date happens, and... Well, she describes Thursday morning as "Pure pittsville." Until the phone rings and it's HIM! He wants to see her again, right away! She suggests meeting at an ice-cream place, Kramer's. That soon becomes "their place". About four weeks later she's on her way to meet him there yet again when her mom calls, "If you aren't careful you'll get fat from too many ice cream cones." (11%)

Well. As soon as Julie sees Kyle, he springs the title phrase on her.

And the "new experience" he insists that she try.

She prefers ice cream.

He doesn't. He insists that they keep doing what he wants. "He swept every spare moment of my life into his pocket as if it were all his" (15%) and she misses Stephanie, and she misses visiting her Christian neighbor Jan and babysitting Jan's little Stevie. When she does get a chance to see Jan and Stevie, what should happen but Jan offering to treat Julie to ice cream at Kramer's. She accepts, but really, it has not tasted the same since...

A good heart-to-heart talk with someone older is just what Julie needs, and she breaks up with Kyle. Or tries to. "He held my heart gently, yet firmly." (21%) They keep seeing each other (can you BELIEVE how he lures her back?!) but "'I AM NOT HAPPY!' I would scream to no one and everyone. But no one heard my silent voice. And so the seesaw days of August continued..." (22%)

The seesaw lands with a thud when summer's end takes Kyle back to the city.

Then thuds even more painfully when Julie realizes what he has left behind.

How she begins to realize this is interestingly written, as when her new math teacher asks if anyone likes school, then when no hands fly into the air he gives a little pep talk...

"I squirmed in my seat. My hand fluttered in the air like a butterfly.
"'Yes, Miss Marshall. You like to meet the challenges of education head-on?'
"'Well, uh, Mr. Silva, I guess so...but I need to use the bathroom.'"

She's been running to the bathroom a lot more often these days, and napping a lot more. And feeling sick to her stomach a lot more, particularly at the smell of certain foods. The next time she goes to babysit Stevie, she and Jan have another good talk and when she spills how she's been feeling, the seesaw crashes. Jan assures her that she cares about her and so does Jesus. But, Julie wonders, does Kyle really care?

... "'I've had enough. I want my life to go on without any hassles. And it's obvious you are becoming a big one. ...I don't want to hear from you again. Understand?'"

Well! Where to go from that seesaw-splinterer at 58%? She hangs up, cries, rages "God, why don't You do something?" at the ceiling, calls Jan but gets a busy signal, then...

I was interested to see that this book was available, I enjoyed reading your reviews of it, and I am sort of glad that I read the book for myself. Julie and her friends sounded like real teens, Jan was a good older friend for Julie to talk to, and I cared about Julie. I appreciated the 2014 "Note to the Reader." And the cover photo....

But it's far from the sweet treat that ice cream is. (Or Sarah McLachlan's "Ice Cream," actually.)

Thanks for reading. Now treat yourself to something you enjoy.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this as a teenager and thinking "if my mom knows I'm reading this, I'm in BIG trouble". It was the first time I'd ever read anything about sex. I know that it was meant as a means to deter teenies from doing the deed, but it made me MORE curious. I remember this book fondly because... it was "naughty"! LOL

[Gray Cox · Rating 1 out of 5]

Julie is officially the dumbest sixteen-year-old girl ever. And I'm going to be laughing over this book forever.

[Clackamas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book while I was living in a homeless shelter for pregnant teens. It was one of the the few books on the house bookshelf than wasn't completely religious (though it is from a Christian perspective). My main impression at the time was, "It's a little late." After all, it was intended to help girls make better decisions and not BECOME pregnant, but those of us living there already were. =o)

[Trux · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the hottest books I read as a preteen. It was supposed to warn you away from sex and towards JESUS, but the seduction scenes were total masturbation material. Tres naughty!

[Shameka · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book about 10 years ago when I was a teenager and I still remember it to this day. Julie is a teenage girl who like many just wants love and acceptance. She foolishly falls into a summer relationship with Kyle who ultimately coaxes her into having sex by reassuring her that it will be "just like ice cream". Like many, Julie mistakes Kyle's actions for love but eventually Kyle reveals his true colors and Julie finds herself pregnant and alone. This book explores Julie's story as she struggles to adjust to a reality she never saw coming.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a love-hate relationship with this book. I think it is great in the sense that it teaches young girls about the real intentions of teenage boys. It also does a great job of showing the feelings that young women typically experiences after her first 'love'. However, I did not like how this book related to religious aspects in the end. It totally ruined the book for me.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

total propaganda and ridiculous, but my boyfriend is on the cover!!! It does have really good descriptions of pregnancy and giving birth. it's preachiness is beyond comical. only read because of the cover. :-)

[Brandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book when I was in 8th grade and I think about it now and wonder why my mother let me read it!

Depicting the summer romance of a young girl and the consequences that follow. It is very discriptive!

[Jeni · Rating 2 out of 5]

I remember reading this book and thinking it was "naughty." I gave it to my youth group leader after I read it...and never got it back. She must have thought it was naughty, too.

[Erica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this in the 6th grade with my friend and I don't really remember a lesson involved, but I know we giggled under the covers at how "naughty" it was.

[Jennifer Robb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very frank exploration of teenage sex and pregnancy. I thought the author did a good job of presenting the many decisions that face a teenage girl who is pregnant--from whether she should have an abortion or go through the pregnancy to who to tell to whether she should keep the baby after it's born or give it up for adoption. All hard decisions for anyone, let alone a teenage girl trying to make them on her own. Julie also explores the consequences of different decsions--how life will change if she keeps the child and how she will feel if she gives up the child.

[Jakki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A GREAT book for teens being pulled into the myth of "safe sex". What about the broken heart that often results when a young teen gives herself to a boy who doesn't care about her let alone love her as was the case in this story? This is a thought provoking book. My young adult daughter thought it was very good and felt all teenage girls should read it. A definite Christian book, abortion is considered but ultimately other plans are made for the well being of mama and baby.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book a friend lent to me in junior high that I never returned because I liked it so much. Having been in the same place as the main character not too long ago, I think this book offers a lot of good food for thought regarding teen pregnancy/ adoption. Although this book didn't help me avoid the pitfalls of sex / unplanned pregnancy before marriage, maybe it could provide an opportunity for someone else to think before they act.

[Michele Minor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book that shows one young woman's struggle with putting her baby up for adoption. You can tell that the book is set before the time of the Internet and cell phones. Overall the message is still relevant today as it was during this time.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a wonderful book tha is to be shared with your daughter, your grand-daughter, your niece or any ylung woman who is just realizing the pressures her sexuality puts on her and teaches her how to handle a situation. love this book

[Emily Maynard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember that I liked it---right before my mom took it away from me when she found out what it was about. I don't know that I ever finished it, as it was banished to that black hole that mysteriously ate any and all books that were not mom-approved.

[Sammie · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book really got me thinking. it helped me set the boundries i currently have. she did an excellent job at writing this and getting her point across.

[Kimber]

its a great moral struggling book

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this as a teenager and thinking how naughty it was.

[Jordyn B · Rating 2 out of 5]

April 1st 2012

This just wasn't for me.

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a really good book for girls in high school, and really helps you see the truth and reasonings for decisions young girls make about sex, birth, and adoption.

Really recommend this.

[Jennifer Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a teen and it had a lasting impression of reality on me. I saved it for my daughter.

[Zyra Sacal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it'll give me a lesson.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

good book to give to pre-teens. Strips away the allure of innapropriate sexual behavior.

[Deborah Odell · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book unfortunately normalizes inappropriate male behavior and victim blaming. The situation the author describes is sadly still common in society, but it's not acceptable, but she doesn't make it clear who's responsible and why the behavior is not ok. There's no alternative examples of good boundaries or healthy communication and no clear indication that the author is aware of the issues. This book should not be used for sex education. The boyfriend is manipulating the main character over time and it doesn't explain how that's wrong, how to defend against it.. doesn't address age differences and development. Her family doesn't teach her how to protect herself.
It can also make kids/teens terrified of pregnancy... Short term that may keep them from sex, long term keep them from having babies even after marriage.. is that really what the author wants for society?

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

10002)

[Tia Washington · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in the 90s when I was in Junior high it kept me from having sex early. Our teacher had us read it kept alot of me and classmates from teen pregnancy.