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Degrees of Guilt #2
Miranda's Story
This new trilogy from three best-selling authors explores the differing perspectives of three high school seniors on the events and choices leading up to the death of a classmate, Sammy. All feel a measure of guilt for their role in the loss of their friend and must learn to understand their own life story through God's eyes instead of their own finite perspective. Nobody knows better than Miranda Sanchez that life isn't fair. She'd come to expect that life can kick you around, but Sammy was a different story. Miranda weaves her story threads into the drama of Sammy's last days. She's convinced he'd still be alive if not for her.
288 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2003
8 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Melody Carlson
421 books3,270 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 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 20, 2019
Miranda Sanchez knows that Sammy James' death was her fault. After all, she hosted the party where it happened. Miranda was so drunk that she didn't notice what was going on, and when she got a clue, she refused to call 911 immediately. Although the police think she is somewhat to blame, they are pursuing other angles. Miranda's Story is one of three books in the Degrees of Guilt series. There is no suggested reading order, but I recommend starting with Kyra's Story, followed by either one of the other two. The books' website gives further information about the trial surrounding Sammy's death and provides completion of the story.
Miranda, Sammy, and his twin sister, Kyra, grew up together and have been friends since they were very young. Miranda knew Sammy was in love with her, but she really only thought of him as a friend. She often teased him about his straight-laced attitude and tried to cajole him into breaking free and partying a little more. Miranda's mother doesn't seem to have much time for her, and Miranda's grandmother suffers from Alzheimer's disease. After Sammy's death, Miranda moves into her grandmother's apartment in an attempt to get a handle on where her life is headed. She soon gets mixed up in things that spiral out of control.
Miranda is a girl who has always achieved success. She is a star athlete, gets excellent grades, and has many friends. During her senior year she decides that she needs to loosen up and become more fun, and this is where her troubles begin. Readers will relate to her story because most will have at one time gone through similar struggles. Frustrations with parents, beloved grandparents becoming ill, and wanting to have some fun amidst the pressures of high school all contribute to incredible stress and, sometimes, poor choices.
The Degrees of Guilt series is an interesting concept, giving three different sides to the death of Sammy James. I recommend it for groups who can use the books as a jumping off point for many discussions. There are no clear cut answers provided, because each character has a legitimate claim to some portion of the blame. As Miranda says, 'We must take our various consequences and accept our own responsibility for all our individual degrees of guilt.'
Miranda, Sammy, and his twin sister, Kyra, grew up together and have been friends since they were very young. Miranda knew Sammy was in love with her, but she really only thought of him as a friend. She often teased him about his straight-laced attitude and tried to cajole him into breaking free and partying a little more. Miranda's mother doesn't seem to have much time for her, and Miranda's grandmother suffers from Alzheimer's disease. After Sammy's death, Miranda moves into her grandmother's apartment in an attempt to get a handle on where her life is headed. She soon gets mixed up in things that spiral out of control.
Miranda is a girl who has always achieved success. She is a star athlete, gets excellent grades, and has many friends. During her senior year she decides that she needs to loosen up and become more fun, and this is where her troubles begin. Readers will relate to her story because most will have at one time gone through similar struggles. Frustrations with parents, beloved grandparents becoming ill, and wanting to have some fun amidst the pressures of high school all contribute to incredible stress and, sometimes, poor choices.
The Degrees of Guilt series is an interesting concept, giving three different sides to the death of Sammy James. I recommend it for groups who can use the books as a jumping off point for many discussions. There are no clear cut answers provided, because each character has a legitimate claim to some portion of the blame. As Miranda says, 'We must take our various consequences and accept our own responsibility for all our individual degrees of guilt.'
December 26, 2008
Review by Gigi Hoffman
Miranda Sanchez is (what she thinks) a boring high school senior—honor student, editor of the school paper, athlete. She decides to stop being so stuffy and loosen up a little. Her mom, who prefers to be called Shelby, is always telling Miranda to lighten up and have some fun, so Miranda sets out to do that. She begins drinking, starts going to parties, and has fun with her good friend, Kyra. However, Sammy, Miranda’s friend and kind-of crush, objects to Miranda’s new partying phase.
Miranda is confident she has everything under control. She’s practically a grown-up, after all. But her partying leads to a big disaster with Sammy, leaving her distraught and heart-broken.
In Carlson’s book, the story is told from Miranda’s side. The writing seems straight from a teen’s perspective and tragically realistic. I really felt Miranda’s pain and wished that the ending could have been different, but like Miranda discovers, sometimes life doesn’t work that way.
Miranda Sanchez is (what she thinks) a boring high school senior—honor student, editor of the school paper, athlete. She decides to stop being so stuffy and loosen up a little. Her mom, who prefers to be called Shelby, is always telling Miranda to lighten up and have some fun, so Miranda sets out to do that. She begins drinking, starts going to parties, and has fun with her good friend, Kyra. However, Sammy, Miranda’s friend and kind-of crush, objects to Miranda’s new partying phase.
Miranda is confident she has everything under control. She’s practically a grown-up, after all. But her partying leads to a big disaster with Sammy, leaving her distraught and heart-broken.
In Carlson’s book, the story is told from Miranda’s side. The writing seems straight from a teen’s perspective and tragically realistic. I really felt Miranda’s pain and wished that the ending could have been different, but like Miranda discovers, sometimes life doesn’t work that way.
July 31, 2010
It was weird to see the same story but from a different person's viewpoint. I started this series because I saw Melody Carlson had written one of the books. One thing that I didn't enjoy about this series was how much pain was caused by the events in these books. Just from reading the back cover I knew going into this series that it wouldn't be a happy story, but I was still amazed at how much damage could come about because of one person. It really shows how smalls things eventually lead up to bigger things that can quickly become out of control. The books are very realistic and sometimes heart-breaking. I can't say that I really enjoyed this book and so I wouldn't recommend.
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2010...
*Taken from my book reviews blog: http://reviewsatmse.blogspot.com/2010...
October 8, 2015
Oh, wait...this is a completely different Miranda Sanchez!
(Am I the only one who realized that the title character of the book has the same first and last name as Lizzie McGuire's BFF? Seems like it!)
Okay, enough joking. In all seriousness, this book was emotionally gripping and rather moving. I can't wait to read Kyra's side of the story, which will hopefully be arriving at my local library soon.
Readers of this series, take note: The Web address at the back does not work, and the required codes make it inaccessible on the Internet Archive. If someone can figure out a way to access Miranda's interview, I'd love to see it.
June 5, 2008
it is awesome. I can actually understand how the charactor feels. But it is... Miranda's Story. The charactor would do what i would do, if a really close friend died... in my apartment. Miranda goes throw a tough time trying to figure out what to do, by either joining herself with Sammy, or by everyone elses advise, God. Miranda tries to find her way to God. She does, and she prays every night, and then she finds out who killed Sammy, and saves the day, dun...dun...dunna!
February 7, 2018
This series is pretty good. Like the first book, Kyra's Story, this is another quick read even though it deals with a few heavier issues facing teens. I like getting the perspective of different characters involved in the story. Now on to the final book in the series, Tyrone's Story, to get the rest of the story...
May 12, 2016
Miranda thinks her life is normal until her closest friend dies. As I followed her story I truely understood the guilt and hardache of losing someone special, but through it all how you can find hope.
Currently reading
February 6, 2009thsi book is very good it makes you think about things before you do them in real life
Read
March 25, 2010F DEG dog bk. 2
March 12, 2013
Fabulous series.
May 16, 2025
5/5
Format: paperback
I am 22 years late to this party. Speaking of parties, Sammy James died at Miranda’s party.
This was such a disturbing rollercoaster to follow! This is beautifully written, it got me hooked on the first page, and really made me understand grief through guilt more fully. Miranda feels truly, utterly alone. That life is not worthwhile. It’s a scary brain to be in.
I adored Miranda’s story. The bookstore I work at only had her’s, so you know I excitedly ordered the rest of this series and the Degrees of Betrayal. All of the characters in this story are written so realistically, it’s so easy to understand everyone’s emotions that Miranda comes across.
The most bittersweet things are the flashbacks. We know Sammy is dead, but we only get the opportunity to get to know him after he’s already gone.
The Wayback Machine has a bit of the DegreesofGuilt website, but none of their video interviews or court transcripts that require the codes from the back of the books. One day I’d love to see them, but either way this was such a cool idea! Having 3 authors come together to write 3 povs of the same death, then have irl actors come in to record the interviews, then make a website with articles about the town, and finally the awesome court transcript that is still up. Maybe this is a normal book thing, but this is my first time finding such a cool set of features within a series.
So so so well done! This series is rated for 10th-12th graders at the youngest. It deals with (content spoilers): grief, (Miranda specific ->) suicidal thoughts, drug use, child grooming, alzhiemers, and terrible parenting.
Format: paperback
I am 22 years late to this party. Speaking of parties, Sammy James died at Miranda’s party.
This was such a disturbing rollercoaster to follow! This is beautifully written, it got me hooked on the first page, and really made me understand grief through guilt more fully. Miranda feels truly, utterly alone. That life is not worthwhile. It’s a scary brain to be in.
I adored Miranda’s story. The bookstore I work at only had her’s, so you know I excitedly ordered the rest of this series and the Degrees of Betrayal. All of the characters in this story are written so realistically, it’s so easy to understand everyone’s emotions that Miranda comes across.
The most bittersweet things are the flashbacks. We know Sammy is dead, but we only get the opportunity to get to know him after he’s already gone.
The Wayback Machine has a bit of the DegreesofGuilt website, but none of their video interviews or court transcripts that require the codes from the back of the books. One day I’d love to see them, but either way this was such a cool idea! Having 3 authors come together to write 3 povs of the same death, then have irl actors come in to record the interviews, then make a website with articles about the town, and finally the awesome court transcript that is still up. Maybe this is a normal book thing, but this is my first time finding such a cool set of features within a series.
So so so well done! This series is rated for 10th-12th graders at the youngest. It deals with (content spoilers): grief, (Miranda specific ->) suicidal thoughts, drug use, child grooming, alzhiemers, and terrible parenting.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews