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Notes from a Spinning Planet #2
Papua New Guinea
I have to wonder–if the AIDS crisis in Papua New Guinea is so hopeless, what difference will it make whether Aunt Sid writes a good story about it or not? What difference will it make that I’m here with her? I ask God to do something miraculous for both of us in this third world country. I ask God to use me…
After her life-changing journey to Ireland, twenty-year-old Maddie Chase feels ready for whatever she and her Aunt Sid will find on their trip to Papua New Guinea. But when she sets foot on the beautiful South Pacific island, she can’t help but notice the sense of hopelessness around her.
Through their investigative reporting, Maddie and Aunt Sid learn that this developing country is literally dying of AIDS. As Maddie delves deeper into the culture and history of the land–and develops relationships with nationals who are eager to share their lives–she finds a tangled past that could help to explain the current health crisis.
Will Maddie be able to see past the darkness to offer light to these gracious island people? Join Maddie on her latest international adventure as she learns that maybe it is possible for one person to change history.
After her life-changing journey to Ireland, twenty-year-old Maddie Chase feels ready for whatever she and her Aunt Sid will find on their trip to Papua New Guinea. But when she sets foot on the beautiful South Pacific island, she can’t help but notice the sense of hopelessness around her.
Through their investigative reporting, Maddie and Aunt Sid learn that this developing country is literally dying of AIDS. As Maddie delves deeper into the culture and history of the land–and develops relationships with nationals who are eager to share their lives–she finds a tangled past that could help to explain the current health crisis.
Will Maddie be able to see past the darkness to offer light to these gracious island people? Join Maddie on her latest international adventure as she learns that maybe it is possible for one person to change history.
231 pages, Paperback
First published February 20, 2007
9 people are currently reading
336 people want to read
About the author
Melody Carlson
427 books3,322 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 - 30 of 36 reviews
November 11, 2018
This is a mini ‘Books For Christian Girls’ review. It is not a full content review and will not receive one. These mini-reviews are years old and just for clarity on the rating the book received on Goodreads.
4/1/2014-
“There is a decent amount of topics talked about such as women being sexual abused, rape, and sexually transmitted diseases.”
*Main Content-
Maddie witnesses girls being taken away by men; Mentions of different women saying that they have AIDs because their husband was unfaithful; One young woman tells Maddie that she was attacked, raped, and now has HIV.
4/1/2014-
“There is a decent amount of topics talked about such as women being sexual abused, rape, and sexually transmitted diseases.”
*Main Content-
Maddie witnesses girls being taken away by men; Mentions of different women saying that they have AIDs because their husband was unfaithful; One young woman tells Maddie that she was attacked, raped, and now has HIV.
September 12, 2014
I found this one really depressing. About a 20 year old woman and her aunt who go to Papua New Guinea. Good travelogue, but plot doesn't make the country very appealing.
May 8, 2020
I liked this book a lot more than the first one! It introduced me to a country and a culture that I don’t know much about, and I loved the character of Lydia.
I’m really looking forward to seeing how it all ends in the next and final book.
I’m really looking forward to seeing how it all ends in the next and final book.
May 22, 2019
I loved this book! I've been looking into journalism lately, and I absolutely LOVE traveling. -If you like either of those things, I would recommend!
April 6, 2012
Maddie and her Aunt Sid are back, this time delving into the impoverished nation of Papua New Guinea to report on the AIDS crisis. As always, Melody does a superb job of making you feel like you are really in the country with them as they visit the clinics of Port Moresby and the mountain villages. This made the heartbreaking nature of the characters' stories even more poignant, especially Lydia who was beautifully written. Maddie herself has gained some maturity and a better sense of adventure since the first book, making it easy to believe she has completed her second year of college.
Another positive lies in Melody's ability to pull no punches with the realism, while being sensitive to her audience. She is fair to the people of PNG, while accurately highlighting their superstitious views about AIDS, their horrible social treatment of those with the disease, and how many dangers lie around every corner, especially for females. I specifically loved her numerous mentions of JAARS and the work they do in foreign countries. I was blessed as a teenager in 2000 to spend a week in North Carolina at Jungle Jump Off, a week-long program put on by JAARS that simulated living as a missionary in a remote village. We learned about the important work they do for translation and movement of the Gospel, so it was great to see a "shout-out" for them!
My three-star rating mostly reflects that I wasn't personally as interested in this one as the book set in Ireland (which sounds horrible given the real life implications of this text), but the writing, character development, and spotlight on a little-discussed issue deserve at least 4 stars.
Another positive lies in Melody's ability to pull no punches with the realism, while being sensitive to her audience. She is fair to the people of PNG, while accurately highlighting their superstitious views about AIDS, their horrible social treatment of those with the disease, and how many dangers lie around every corner, especially for females. I specifically loved her numerous mentions of JAARS and the work they do in foreign countries. I was blessed as a teenager in 2000 to spend a week in North Carolina at Jungle Jump Off, a week-long program put on by JAARS that simulated living as a missionary in a remote village. We learned about the important work they do for translation and movement of the Gospel, so it was great to see a "shout-out" for them!
My three-star rating mostly reflects that I wasn't personally as interested in this one as the book set in Ireland (which sounds horrible given the real life implications of this text), but the writing, character development, and spotlight on a little-discussed issue deserve at least 4 stars.
May 3, 2013
Maddie and her Aunt Sid are back, this time delving into the impoverished nation of Papua New Guinea to report on the AIDS crisis. As always, Melody does a superb job of making you feel like you are really in the country with them as they visit the clinics of Port Moresby and the mountain villages. This made the heartbreaking nature of the characters' stories even more poignant, especially Lydia who was beautifully written. Maddie herself has gained some maturity and a better sense of adventure since the first book, making it easy to believe she has completed her second year of college.
Another positive lies in Melody's ability to pull no punches with the realism, while being sensitive to her audience. She is fair to the people of PNG, while accurately highlighting their superstitious views about AIDS, their horrible social treatment of those with the disease, and how many dangers lie around every corner, especially for females. I specifically loved her numerous mentions of JAARS and the work they do in foreign countries. I was blessed as a teenager in 2000 to spend a week in North Carolina at Jungle Jump Off, a week-long program put on by JAARS that simulated living as a missionary in a remote village. We learned about the important work they do for translation and movement of the Gospel, so it was great to see a "shout-out" for them!
My three-star rating mostly reflects that I wasn't personally as interested in this one as the book set in Ireland (which sounds horrible given the real life implications of this text), but the writing, character development, and spotlight on a little-discussed issue deserve at least 4 stars.
Another positive lies in Melody's ability to pull no punches with the realism, while being sensitive to her audience. She is fair to the people of PNG, while accurately highlighting their superstitious views about AIDS, their horrible social treatment of those with the disease, and how many dangers lie around every corner, especially for females. I specifically loved her numerous mentions of JAARS and the work they do in foreign countries. I was blessed as a teenager in 2000 to spend a week in North Carolina at Jungle Jump Off, a week-long program put on by JAARS that simulated living as a missionary in a remote village. We learned about the important work they do for translation and movement of the Gospel, so it was great to see a "shout-out" for them!
My three-star rating mostly reflects that I wasn't personally as interested in this one as the book set in Ireland (which sounds horrible given the real life implications of this text), but the writing, character development, and spotlight on a little-discussed issue deserve at least 4 stars.
February 6, 2009
Review by Jill Williamson
Maddie and Aunt Sid are off to Papua New Guinea to work on a story about the current health crisis. As their flight brings them closer to their destination, they start to realize this is a dangerous country. A girl should never travel alone, and tourists are often attacked.
Once they arrive, they make plans to stay safe. Maddie volunteers in an AIDS clinic and asks some of the patients for their stories. What she discovers breaks her heart. The people of Papua New Guinea have some very warped ideas of AIDS. Maddie and her aunt want to write an article that will help the people learn the truth. But is the search for truth too dangerous?
This book started out a bit slow. It took them a while to fly on the plane with layovers in Hawaii and Australia and the sightseeing that goes with such stops. But once they got to Papua New Guinea, the story really picked up. I broke my heart to hear the ways that some of the characters contracted HIV. I love stories that bring worldly truths to light, and this story did that very well. Melody Carlson exposes what life is like for people in Papua New Guinea, something we all should know about. Highly Recommended.
Maddie and Aunt Sid are off to Papua New Guinea to work on a story about the current health crisis. As their flight brings them closer to their destination, they start to realize this is a dangerous country. A girl should never travel alone, and tourists are often attacked.
Once they arrive, they make plans to stay safe. Maddie volunteers in an AIDS clinic and asks some of the patients for their stories. What she discovers breaks her heart. The people of Papua New Guinea have some very warped ideas of AIDS. Maddie and her aunt want to write an article that will help the people learn the truth. But is the search for truth too dangerous?
This book started out a bit slow. It took them a while to fly on the plane with layovers in Hawaii and Australia and the sightseeing that goes with such stops. But once they got to Papua New Guinea, the story really picked up. I broke my heart to hear the ways that some of the characters contracted HIV. I love stories that bring worldly truths to light, and this story did that very well. Melody Carlson exposes what life is like for people in Papua New Guinea, something we all should know about. Highly Recommended.
February 5, 2008
Another adventure with Maddie Chase and her traveling aunt. This time they are off to Papua New Guinea, a dramatic change of scenery compared to Ireland. PNG is more like a third world country and the two travelers are somewhat shocked to learn of the horrendous crime rate in PNG. (Apparently Aunt Sid procrastinated on doing her homework.) While in PNG, Aunt Sid works on a story about the AIDs epidemic and Maddie is drawn to a clinic which treats AIDs patients. As with the Ireland book, Maddie forges an unlikely friendship with a local (her visit is only for two weeks!). Despite the unlikelihood that a strong friendship would evolve in just two weeks (Maddie and Aunt Sid even offer to help this local girl find a way to pay for college), this was an enjoyable read. Maddie continues to grow and be affected by her travels.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2008
I had such fun reading Notes from a Spinning Planet-Ireland , I was ready for Maddie's next adventure: Papua New Guinea! Though it wasn't as good as the first one, I liked reading about PNG and was quite shocked about what's going on there right now. I totally recommend this book!
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Decked with the title of "Assistant Journalist", Maddie and Aunt Sid head over to PNG (Papua New Guinea) for some serious journalism. When Maddie arrives, she is shocked about how dangerous PNG is: AIDS, robbery, and the constant fear of being raped.
As Maddie walks the halls of the crowded hospitals filled with AIDS victims, she meets Lydia..................
------------------------------------
Decked with the title of "Assistant Journalist", Maddie and Aunt Sid head over to PNG (Papua New Guinea) for some serious journalism. When Maddie arrives, she is shocked about how dangerous PNG is: AIDS, robbery, and the constant fear of being raped.
As Maddie walks the halls of the crowded hospitals filled with AIDS victims, she meets Lydia..................
Read
June 16, 2009I had such fun reading Notes from a Spinning Planet-Ireland , I was ready for Maddie's next adventure: Papua New Guinea! Though it wasn't as good as the first one, I liked reading about PNG and was quite shocked about what's going on there right now. I totally recommend this book!
------------------------------------
Decked with the title of "Assistant Journalist", Maddie and Aunt Sid head over to PNG (Papua New Guinea) for some serious journalism. When Maddie arrives, she is shocked about how dangerous PNG is: AIDS, robbery, and the constant fear of being raped.
As Maddie walks the halls of the crowded hospitals filled with AIDS victims, she meets Lydia..................
REVIEW BY MORGAN
------------------------------------
Decked with the title of "Assistant Journalist", Maddie and Aunt Sid head over to PNG (Papua New Guinea) for some serious journalism. When Maddie arrives, she is shocked about how dangerous PNG is: AIDS, robbery, and the constant fear of being raped.
As Maddie walks the halls of the crowded hospitals filled with AIDS victims, she meets Lydia..................
REVIEW BY MORGAN
March 4, 2011
Personally, I thought this installment of the "Notes from a Spinning Planet" series was better than the first book, "Ireland." Maybe it's just me, but I kind of liked the heavier material. Though a lot of it was sad and heartbreaking, it was also very inspiring and hopefull.
Maddie was a lot better in this book, too. In Ireland she kind of got on my nerves, but she seemed to have matured and was more adventurous in this book. Lydia is, by far, one of my absolute favorite characters now, and I hope she's at leat mentioned in the next book. I'm definitely excited to read "Mexico" - and see what happenes between Maddie and Ryan!
Maddie was a lot better in this book, too. In Ireland she kind of got on my nerves, but she seemed to have matured and was more adventurous in this book. Lydia is, by far, one of my absolute favorite characters now, and I hope she's at leat mentioned in the next book. I'm definitely excited to read "Mexico" - and see what happenes between Maddie and Ryan!
December 15, 2016
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
June 10, 2009
This book deals with the HIV/AIDS and sexual assault situation in Papua New Guinea. The story is interesting: a 20 year old girl going with her journalist grandmother to PNG for a business/pleasure trip. They meet with friends there, work in a clinic for people with HIV/AIDS, etc. The cultural and current event information in this book warrants 4 stars. But, Carlson protrays the language and attitude of people in their 20s in an annoying way (think spoiled 14 year old who always needs her cell phone and pink bubble gum to be happy).
August 14, 2011
I thought this book really showed what it's like in those countries such as Paupa New Guinea. And how just a little medicine could go a long way, and even though it wouldn't take very much money to get it that they still can't afford it. And how if they have it they're pretty much considered worthless, or that they did something horribly wrong to get it. It's really sad what some countries go through even from day to day.
September 10, 2017
I changed the rating again, because of Maddie the main character. I do appreciate her kindness to people but I guess growing up made me like her character less. The book was interesting for describing New Guinea and the HIV/AIDS situation there. I did take an online class about HIV/AIDS last semester which was informative so I felt like I knew a lot more about it, reading the book this time around.
4/5
4/5
June 2, 2015
This is the best in the trilogy. As Melody Carlson is never fake/manufactured, she has been to Papua New Guinea and has most likely seen people with horrible living conditions like our fictional characters encounter.
This book touched me so deeply that I was ready to travel to Papua New Guinea. I wrote to Carlson and asked about her experiences. She wrote me back. Read this book and you will be inspired too.
This book touched me so deeply that I was ready to travel to Papua New Guinea. I wrote to Carlson and asked about her experiences. She wrote me back. Read this book and you will be inspired too.
July 30, 2012
Liked the book, I think she's a really good writer and i like who she throws God into the mix, her characters are very well written and i can easily imagine them as real people. I just thought this book was a little less exciting than the first one i read from this series which was Ireland. I feel like it's kind of an in between book, so things will probably Pick up again in the next one (:
April 18, 2007
Eh. Either I'm not interested in Melody Carlson's books anymore or she's not writing anything as interesting. This was a very bland story with not a whole lot of point to it. Still okay, but not great.
February 15, 2009
This was a pretty good read, more of a curl up on a Sunday afternoon and read. The characters had a great depth that you fell in love with their personalities. Even though you as a reader is intimidated by the New Guinean culture by the end of the book you find a way to love it.
January 13, 2013
Meh. Like another textbook, just from the point of view of an annoying 20-year old who talks like a badly educated tween. No offense to tweens, because I know some that are much smarter than this girl. Anyway, it's okay, if you are interested in learning huge chunks of PNG history.
July 23, 2008
this book is a good one. Has great details, its fun
November 6, 2008
I really liked this book, i like the adventures she has and how god is throughout the book this is the second of the seiress and it is really good.
April 7, 2009
Quite a good book actually. I'd recommend it for teens or young adults thinking of doing missions.
January 21, 2009
Not bad but this series isn't one of Carlson's best.
March 9, 2009
I only read bits and pieces of it, i wasn't that intereted in the story.
September 13, 2009
I think I'll like the other books in this series better, but I just can't get excited about Paupa New Guinea. Sounds like a dangerous place and one I have less than zero interest in visiting!
January 24, 2010
Informative and fun book for teen girls.
Read
March 22, 2010F CAR nfasp
May 8, 2011
I really liked it. It was better than the first one in a lot of ways. I love all of the characters. The end was kinda abrupt for me, but I can't wait to read the next book.
December 11, 2011
Emiri - 2009
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews