Yikes! What do I buy for (insert a name)?

Interesting title, no? Bet it grabbed your attention! For all of us, there are teens and those who love a good teen read on our Christmas list. But what do we buy for who?

Today, I’m giving you a list of personality types and the book or books they might love.

Ready? Here we go.

The quiet, dreamy teen who needs a cozy, curl up by the fire love story. Buy THE HEALER’S APPRENTICE.

The cool girl who likes to read about fashion, fun, and friends. Buy the ALL ABOUT US series from Shelley Adina.

The teen boy who loves graphic novels. Buy the CIRCLE TRILOGY by Ted Dekker. Beautifully illustrated!

The teen who loves a mystery! Buy the RAYNE TOUR books by Brandilyn and Amberly Collins.

The Sci-fi/fantasy junkie, boy or girl. Buy Jill Williamson’s BLOOD OF KINGS series.

The teen girl who needs a deep level read. Buy SECRETS UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN.

Books are such a great Christmas gift. The holidays are hectic. And when the presents have been opened, the tummy is full of tasty yumminess, and the snow is piling up outside…well, what better thing to do than crack open a new book and settle in? I’ve always had a special place in my heart for relatives who buy me books for Christmas. Better than fuzzy socks or a sweater–although I love fuzzy socks–books transport us to another world, another life. They force us to think and create scenarios in our imaginations.

Have fun shopping and I hope these gave you a few ideas.

 Be blessed and enjoy the season!

Heather Burch

Review: Goodbye Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson

Review by Jill Williamson

 

Sigh! It’s the perfect ending to an amazing story. In Goodbye Hollywood Nobody, by Lisa Samson, Scotty and her dad are on a mission: find Babette, Scotty’s mom. But the journey to Maine only seems to give another dead end. Scotty pushes her sorrow to the back of her mind as she heads to the Red River Home for Children in Kentucky to volunteer, in search of ways to be more Jesusy.

 

Seth Haas calls and mentions that his ex, Karissa, is in trouble. Scotty, in a very Jesusy moment, invites Karissa to the Red River Home, hoping that the actress might find God herself. Scotty loves the children at the home, especially baby Silas. She feels a connection to her mother as she holds the baby. God is good.

 

Karissa shows up in a red convertible, toting enough luggage for a European cruise. The workers at the children’s home quickly put her in her place, but it’s not until Karissa carelessness causes a major accident that the actress wakes up. Can Scotty do the most Jesusy thing yet and forgive the Karissa for everything?

 

Ever since book one, Lisa Sampson has created a story that tops itself. Where this one wasn’t as funny as the first, it’s rightly so. Scotty is still as charming as ever, but she’s discovering what’s important in life. As she nears her eighteenth birthday, Scotty is proof that all a girl really needs in her life is a relationship with Jesus.

 

Standing ovation.

 

Age Range: 12-16

Genre: Chick Lit

Part of a Series: Book Four in the Hollywood series.

Pages: 189

Publisher: Th1nk (NavPress)

Released: 2008

 

Review: Romancing Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson

Review by Jill Williamson

 

Recently reunited with her dad, Scotty Dawn’s life has changed for the better. Scotty, Charley, and Dad take the RV to Asheville, Texas where Charley is working for an impossible director. Star of the film, Scottish actor, Anthony Harris, makes the horrible job worthwhile when he rescues Charley from the director’s wrath. Not only is Anthony a hero, he and Charley have been spending a lot of time together.

 

Charley isn’t the only one finding romance. Scotty meets Angus, a young bagpiper whose family runs the campground the RV is parked at. Seth and Karissa are also back together, much to Scotty’s chagrin. She blogs about Seth’s bad choices on her blog, but a comment from a reader reminds her of the plank in her own eye.

 

When he hears about Charley’s budding romance, Jeremy comes running with intentions of his own. Charley is forced to choose. Scotty’s choice is made for her. Angus’ family is falling apart, leaving little time for romance. Scotty spends her free time with her dad, brainstorming ways to find her missing mother. She can’t seem to write on her blog. The reader was right. Making fun of Hollywood celebrities doesn’t feel right anymore, especially when Seth’s behavior is beyond reproach.

 

Lisa Samson has created a marvelous character in Scotty Dawn. She’s funny, smart, and is turning into an amazing young woman who’s delightful to spend time with. I can’t wait for the fourth book.

 

Highly Recommended.

 

Age Range: 12-16

Genre: Chick Lit

Part of a Series: Book Three in the Hollywood series.

Pages: 194

Publisher: Th1nk (NavPress)

Released: 2008

 

Review: Finding Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson

Review by Jill Williamson

 

In Lisa Samson’s Finding Hollywood Nobody, Scotty and Charley head to Marshall, Texas where Jeremy is directing a horror film. Horrifying to Scotty is that actress, Karissa Bonano, has the lead. While Charley mass produces food for the set, Scotty explores her new surroundings as usual, befriending the locals who teach her a little bit about the power of prayer. She looks forward to Seth Haas’ visit, but Biker Guy is nearby, which sets everyone on edge. Scotty is tired of living in fear and looking over her shoulder. She gets careless. Will prayer be enough to save her when Biker Guy finally catches up with her?

 

I loved Lisa Samson’s first book in this series, Hollywood Nobody, and this sequel did not disappoint. Scotty is a wonderfully deep character with a witty, sarcastic voice. The story weaves through the lives of real people and shows us that making friends is always worth the effort, despite age, race, fame, or wealth. It also left me anxiously awaiting book three. Well done!

 

Highly Recommended.

 

Age Range: 12-16

Genre: Chick Lit

Part of a Series: Book Two in the Hollywood series.

Pages: 185

Publisher: Th1nk (NavPress)

Released: 2008

 

Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson

Review by Jill Williamson

 

To most teens in America, Hollywood stars are royalty. In her Christy award winning young adult novel, Hollywood Nobody, Lisa Samson shows us that celebrities are people, just like everyone else.

 

Blogger Scotty Dawn has a unique life. She lives in an RV because her mom, Charley, is a food stylist. The two travel from movie set to movie set giving Scotty the up-close-and-personal on many of Hollywood’s A-list. She secretly blogs about these superstars on her Hollywood Nobody blog, which is growing in popularity every day.

 

But Scotty is lonely. On the set of her mother’s latest job, Scotty makes friends with newbie actor, Seth Haas, but is disappointed when he starts dating snotty “it girl” Karissa Bonano. Scotty keeps her distance from the new “couple,” thankful she’s able to vent incognito via her Hollywood Nobody blog.

 

When Charley starts getting suspicious phone calls, Scotty wonders what’s up? Why do they always have to run? Who is Charley hiding from? And does it have anything to do with Scotty’s father?

 

Scotty Dawn is a joy to read. I loved her antics from her blogging rants to her acting debut as a life-size mustard bottle. For a quick and fun read, with some surprise plot twists, Hollywood Nobody is a winner. Highly Recommended.

 

Age Range: 12-16

Genre: Chick Lit

Part of a Series: Book One in the Hollywood series.

Pages: 209

Publisher: Th1nk (NavPress)

Released: 2007

 

Review: In Between by Jenny B. Jones

Review by Jill Williamson

 

I haven’t laughed so hard from reading a book ever. Jenny B. Jones’ debut novel, In Between, is a hysterical read.

 

Katie Parker’s mom is in prison, and Katie is shipped off to live with pretend-o-parents, James and Millie Scott in the small town of In Between, Texas . When Katie discovers her new foster dad is a pastor, she dresses Goth for the first day of school, certain Millie won’t let her out of the house. Her plans backfire and Katie is not only forced to go to school with black fingernails, but ends up sitting at the Goth table at lunch, seeing as that’s where she looks to fit in.

 

Unfortunately, a couple of her new friends are not the best influence, and Katie unknowingly is recruited for a midnight vandalism jaunt to the local vintage theater. Katie is the only teen nabbed by the coppers, who take her down to the station and inform her that the Scotts are the owners of the theater. Humiliated, Katie waits for her foster parents to send her packing. They don’t, however, and Katie experiences some awesome tough love for the first time in her life.

 

Katie struggles to adapt to her new, strange world, which includes church, smart friends, a massive dog, and a crazy foster grandma who rides a bicycle built for two. She tries out for the school play and falls for a cute and troublesome senior guy. Her new friend doesn’t approve, foster granny doesn’t approve, but Katie’s of the opinion that what the Scott’s don’t know won’t hurt them. It’s a good thing God is watching out for Katie Parker, even though she doesn’t have a clue.

 

It’s one comical situation after another with Katie Parker, whose fun, sarcastic voice keeps you turning the pages so fast they catch fire. This is a must read for teen girls…and girls of any age! Looking forward to book two.

 

Highly recommended.

Age Range: 12-16

Genre: Chick Lit

Part of a Series: Book One in the Katie Parker Production.

Pages: 346

Publisher: Th1nk (NavPress)

Released: 2007

 

 

 

 

Review: The Big Picture by Jenny B. Jones

Review by Gigi Hoffman

The Big Picture, the final installment of Jenny B. Jones‘ Katie Parker Production series, was a laugh out loud read! (I was there when my best friend read it and she giggled almost non-stop.) Katie Parker is such a realistic character, very easy to relate to with her spunky attitude and witty humor. The crazy antics of her foster grandmother, “Mad” Maxine, are hilarious–especially the ones she gets Katie involved in. They remind me of the crazy stunts I pull with my best friend. Katie and the other characters seemed like real people, friends I half-expected to step right off the pages of the novel and into real life. Jones does a superb job of blending humor and real-life drama, pulling it together into a can’t-put-it-down read that you really must read.