Chris's Reviews > Norma Elliot's Secret Journal: Summer Blues: Humorous, Inspirational

Norma Elliot is dealing with all the usual struggles pre-tween girls have - mean girls, boys, and... puberty. Her best friend is starting to develop, and Norma wonders when that's going to happen to her. Actually, her life seems pretty simple for a girl growing up - until the rich girl tricks her into signing up for a singing competition. The laughs just keep coming as her inept aunt and cousin try to teach her how to sing, all while dealing with laryngitis and a depressing lack of talent. The scorching heat doesn't help, either, as Norma slathers on fake tan cream and gets a zebra sunburn. It seems God has got his work cut out for him reigning in this little firebrand, and teaching her valuable lessons in humility and compassion.

Content:
Drug Content:
G - squeaky clean

Violence:
G - Nary a bit. Well, except for the dog biting the neighbor lady.

Language:
G - squeaky clean.

Adult Content:
PG - As you might expect from a preteen girl book, there's some slight interest in boys. As the book progresses, her best friend Taylor starts to develop breasts, and that's a topic for a bit of discussion between them. Just about timing and fairness.

Christian content:
Just like in the previous books, this hilarious book may seem like fluff, but it contains meat as Norma recaps her day with God in her journal. A verse from the journal ties it all neatly together with a bow, and you discover that the events of the day do have an eternal significance, no matter how trivial they seem on the uptake. Norma struggles with her own pride, humility, and complaining.

Final analysis:
Summer Blues: Norma Elliot's Secret Journal #3 by Victoria Simcox is a quick read with a surprising amount of meat. As in the first two books in this light-hearted fun series, this third offering shows Norma's progress maturing in her journey toward teenship. I fully expected her to barf all over her friend after insisting they ride the scariest rollercoaster at the fair. The introduction of her redheaded cousin Kian (who she calls Pepper after the way his name sounds like Cayenne) makes for extra hijinks, as she shoots him in the head with a sticky piece of candy, mistaking him for a home invader. Short, hilarious, and thought-provoking, this is a clean and safe book perfect for Christian families with preteen daughters. I found it entertaining, fast-paced, well-written, and hilarious. Five Stars!