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Kiss, Bang, Boom! Zella's Story
Zella Storm is a "unique" girl. She has always done things a little differently and dating is just another one of those things. She is finally at the age where she is allowed to date, but surprisingly she has decided to forego the whole process. Zella is fine with her decision and is actually much happier without boys in her life until Toby Woods, a missionary kid from Korea, comes to town. He is everything that she thinks a boyfriend should be. Her friend Celeste encourages her to pursue him, and her life long enemy is determined to beat her to the chase. With so much on the line, will she change her mind, or will she stick with her decision and say no to dating?
259 pages, Paperback
First published December 7, 2009
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11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 23, 2010
A great book for teen girls. Deals with teen issues in a humorous, respectful way and looks at different options in regards to dating. I'm glad this is book one in a series - I want to find out what happens to the characters.
July 15, 2023
A younger me loved this book. The adult I am today knows that this book was an added layer of anti dating purity culture icing on the cake served to me growing up.
If your family is into that your kid will love this book.
If your family is into that your kid will love this book.
October 28, 2025
LOVED this book! I felt like I was was stepping back into high school. I read so much of myself in Zella. I so appreciate Leslie bringing hard, hard topics and Christ together in YA literature. Can’t wait to read book 2!
December 22, 2011
Do you remember how difficult your teen years were?
Were you awkward?
Did you feel unloved by those you most desired to be loved by?
Did you march proudly to the beat of your own drum?
Did you gain satisfaction and fulfillment in knowing that others were attracted to you as a friend or even more?
Do you know anyone in any of these stages right now or soon to come upon them?
Are you still in any of these stages, just in a more "grown-up" way?
In Kiss, Bang, Boom! Leslie Lamb weaves an honest and realistic account of teens walking through some of the toughest years of their lives. Her characters are bold, strong, and easily arouse a plethora of emotions in the reader. Though I am not in her target audience (youth or young adults), I found myself identifying with many of the thoughts and struggles her characters experienced.
Kiss, Bang, Boom! is the first of a series. It is told from Zella Storm's point of view. Zella is one of the main characters of the story and is just as unique as her name...and not at all ashamed of it. Zella has chosen to live quite differently from the majority of her peers in many ways...dating (or a choice not to), hair color (hot pink then later rainbow!!!), living unapologetically for the Lord, and so on. In this anecdote, she is dear friends with one girl and bitter enemies with another. In the meantime, a dreamboat of a guy comes into the picture that unintentionally threatens to throw off part of her plan of being different than the rest. (Leslie even makes you remember the warm, fuzzy feelings of first love, or first like, or first crush...whatever you wanna call it, she reminds you how it feels!)
Without going into the story details (because I can in no way do justice to the excellent job Leslie has done in writing this YA saga), I will say that Leslie has boldly tackled and brought to the surface some very real but hard to face teen topics...one being that of self-mutilation---cutting. (
If this is sounding in any way familiar to you because of someone in your life (or yourself), please get a copy of this well-crafted, essential story of young adults at some of the most important and most difficult times of life. I wish I had read this at a much younger age. It would surely make a great gift for anyone in this target audience.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Leslie Lamb. No other compensation was received. The fact that I received a complimentary product does not guarantee a favorable review.
Were you awkward?
Did you feel unloved by those you most desired to be loved by?
Did you march proudly to the beat of your own drum?
Did you gain satisfaction and fulfillment in knowing that others were attracted to you as a friend or even more?
Do you know anyone in any of these stages right now or soon to come upon them?
Are you still in any of these stages, just in a more "grown-up" way?
In Kiss, Bang, Boom! Leslie Lamb weaves an honest and realistic account of teens walking through some of the toughest years of their lives. Her characters are bold, strong, and easily arouse a plethora of emotions in the reader. Though I am not in her target audience (youth or young adults), I found myself identifying with many of the thoughts and struggles her characters experienced.
Kiss, Bang, Boom! is the first of a series. It is told from Zella Storm's point of view. Zella is one of the main characters of the story and is just as unique as her name...and not at all ashamed of it. Zella has chosen to live quite differently from the majority of her peers in many ways...dating (or a choice not to), hair color (hot pink then later rainbow!!!), living unapologetically for the Lord, and so on. In this anecdote, she is dear friends with one girl and bitter enemies with another. In the meantime, a dreamboat of a guy comes into the picture that unintentionally threatens to throw off part of her plan of being different than the rest. (Leslie even makes you remember the warm, fuzzy feelings of first love, or first like, or first crush...whatever you wanna call it, she reminds you how it feels!)
Without going into the story details (because I can in no way do justice to the excellent job Leslie has done in writing this YA saga), I will say that Leslie has boldly tackled and brought to the surface some very real but hard to face teen topics...one being that of self-mutilation---cutting. (
If this is sounding in any way familiar to you because of someone in your life (or yourself), please get a copy of this well-crafted, essential story of young adults at some of the most important and most difficult times of life. I wish I had read this at a much younger age. It would surely make a great gift for anyone in this target audience.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Leslie Lamb. No other compensation was received. The fact that I received a complimentary product does not guarantee a favorable review.
April 24, 2022
Zella and crew prove that a Christian book geared towards teens can in fact be "real" without compromising morality. Lamb does a wonderful job of drawing the reader into the story. She weaves an inspiring tale of a young girl's search for acceptance and love, whilst remaining true to her personally held morals and beliefs. Readers, especially those within the targeted demographic, can easily see a little piece of themselves in the thoughts and actions of various characters as the story unfolds. A great read for teens and adults alike!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews