Viva Vermont

By Wednesday of the following week, DJ had received thirty-seven anonymous text messages - each one sounding more hateful and threatening than the previous one. 

Book: Viva Vermont! by Melody Carlson, Zondervan Publishing, 2008

Genre: Modern Realistic Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 14-18

Subjects: Alcohol - drunkenness, dating relationships, mental disorders, friendships

Summary: DJ's leg is healing up well, but life isn't getting much easier. She's working on the whole forgiveness thing with Connor and Haley, but then when Connor decides he'd rather date DJ again, she has a decision to make. Then the General announces that all the girls are invited to spend a weekend at his lodge skiing and snowboarding. Great right? It seems exciting to DJ... until Eliza and Taylor take steps to get all the guys to come as well and start making plans for partying - including getting rid of the grownups! Then comes a scare - DJ starts getting threatening text messages on her cell phone and when the truth is discovered, a life hangs in balance. 

Notes: This book deals with some heavy issues. The big focus is the partying/drinking/drunkenness. Teenagers loose with lots of alcohol and no adult supervision leads to nothing but trouble in this book. Then, it addresses Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in one of the characters. It even throws in some sexual opportunities. One thing examined a bit in this one is what a true friend will do when you want to go partying and get drunk. Does a true friend join in, stand back and watch, or intervene by calling the cops?
Recommendation Scale: 4/5
Reviewer: J:-)mi

Ephesians 5:18 - Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.