Customer Reviews

Dark Blue: Color Me Lonely (TrueColors Series #1)

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Dark Blue: Color Me Lonely/ Melody Carlson

NavPress, 2004, 196 pages

Young Adult Christian

Jordan Ferguson makes cheerleading squad and starts making new popular friends. Her best friend Kara who she has known all her life is suddenly being left out.

Color Me Lonely, is about two best friends Kara and Jordan. Jordan and Kara do everything together but when Jordan suddenly wants to become a cheerleader Kara is not eager to follow her best friends plans. Jordan tries out for the cheerleading squad her freshman year in high school but fails to make the team. Kara is actually reluctant her friend doesn't make the team than sad for her. When sophomore year comes around Jordan enthusiastically wants another chance at becoming a cheerleader. When Jordan makes the team this year Kara is sad and upset and wonders what may happen to their friendship. Jordan starts ditching Kara to hang out with her new cool popular friends. Kara feels like she has no one and her best friend has totally deserted her. Kara makes new friends eventually and her life is suddenly coming together. Kara also finds god and realizes how much of a friend he can really be when needed. Jordan on the other hand, is no longer getting along with her" popular" friends because of a incident that went on at the dance. With open arms, she comes running back to Kara for support and a shoulder to cry on. Kara doesn't seem to want it this way anymore.

Color me Lonely is a great start to Carlson's True Color series. I think that this book shows friendship and how much a person can turn to god when something goes wrong. I think this book shows great character in Kara and shows the ability Carlson has to capture her heart. Melody Carlson did a wonderful job at making every page of this book more exciting each paragraph. The twists and turns in this book left me thinking about life and kept my heart racing.

If Melody Carlson's point in writing this book was to make teens think, she was successful. Carlson explained in great detail throughout this book how turning to God with a problem could make every problem seem just a bit smaller. Carlson's writing was very unique and it is a very powerful start to her series. The only weakness in the book was I think she drug the part of the book out where Kara had no friends. Most of the book Kara was having trouble making new friends and it made me more depressed than happy to read the book. Regardless of this flaw, the book was hard to stop reading. Carlson did a very good job in writing the ending. I think Melody Carlson writing about teen Christians is a very brave move. Religion is a serious topic in most cases but Carlson presents it well in her book really explaining what teens go through until they find God in their life. She was right on topic the whole book explaining exactly what teenagers go through and she presents many great results for their problems. Some parts of her novel were depressing and made me upset but I still kept reading. For the most part the booked move me into thinking about my own life and how I can make it better through God. I would highly recommend this book to any teenager who is going through any problem. This novel is also recommended for anyone for just a great novel to sit down and read. Carlson will really catch your eye with all her twists and turns and her book will really make a person think.

Color Me Lonely is a wonderful book every teenager should read. The book may have depressing moments but do not be discouraged if the person keeps reading the ending is breathtaking. Color me lonely will leave any persons mind working and ready to keep reading more of her wonderful stories.

Melody Carlson has created an emotional touchstone resource for female teen readers in her series titled True Colors. A prolific author of over seventy books, and mom to two grown sons, Carlson has taken a reminiscent look back at her own teen years to write this story. The result is terrific, and young adults will find Carlson's fiction closer to "true" life than they might anticipate.

The story's primary message is based on the excruciatingly painful emotion of loneliness and how it can overwhelm, undermine, and skew the ability to function in a healthy way. Kara Hendricks is a quiet girl, but when outgoing Jordan Ferguson takes her hand (way back in kindergarten) and announces her loyalty, Kara and Jordan become best friends for the better part of eight years. Fast forward to high school: Jordan now announces to the still shy and reticent Kara that she's going to try out for the cheerleading squad. Kara is abhorrent but supportive. Shockingly, Jordan does not make the team, to Kara's clear relief. The following year Jordan will not be dissuaded and tries out a second time; she makes the team, to Kara's obvious discomfort.

What follows is not so unusual in the basic fictional formula, where two former best friends take their separate paths --- one's heart is broken (the one left behind) and the other moves on to better and brighter things. This story aptly describes the day-to-day heartaches that Kara experiences as a friend no longer needed or wanted in Jordan's now-popular social set. While the book could read blandly and predictably, Carlson does some creative wordplay and continually draws readers smack-dab into Kara's volatile emotional journey, thus ensuring a lively, engaging read. Using such emotionally charged phrases as "...another part of me is dark blue, and I feel buried alive in a deep and bitter grief," and "I am lonely. Unspeakably lonely. And there is this dull empty ache inside of me. Sometimes I think it might actually kill me. But perhaps that would be a relief," Carlson successfully gets her readers' attention.

DARK BLUE: COLOR ME LONELY follows Kara though the school year as she works to survive her emotional funk. She meets new people, slowly engages with them, and learns about true friendship. In the midst of her deepest feelings of despondency, Kara reaches out to God and makes a connection with Christ --- her now "best friend." The author explores Kara's newfound faith tenderly yet with a frank transparency that works well with the current tempo of the entire text. Young adults will not only appreciate the candor with which this topic is explored, they'll find themselves seeing social situations in a whole new (and enlightened) way.

--- Reviewed by Michele Howe

This book was pretty good about a girl named Kara Hendricks, who lost her best friend due to cheerleading. Kara's one and only friend, Jordan Ferguson, tried out for cheerleading and made the squad. Jordan still hung out with Kara until the "popular" chicks started to stick around Jordan and became friends with her. Kara became depressed and lonely because Jordan wasn't really friends with her anymore. She kept thinking Jordan would come back but every time her hopes got high, they would crash back down again. Kara was in art class or what some people would call it a "geeky" class and she started to talk to these 3 outcasts, Edgar (school nerd), Amy (Goth), Felicia (fashion disaster). She was invited to an art show with Felicia and Felicia's friend, Jessie. Kara enjoyed the show but felt kind of left out because Jessie and Felicity kind of ignored her. Then the Harvest Dance came up and Kara wanted to go but couldn't show her face to Jordan. Then Amy (in her future she wants to become a fashion designer) thought that Kara and Edgar could go together. Kara wasn't so sure until Amy gave Edgar a makeover and overall, Kara thought he looked like a cutie. Kara got a makeover and looked like a girl from the sixties. She and Edgar went to the dance. Kara liked going with Edgar but Jordan and her popular friends got a little snooty. From there, Kara no longer wishes to be Jordan's friend and begins to come closer with the 3 outcasts.

Things I liked about the book are that Kara finally was becoming friends with the outcasts because she was getting a little annoying weeping over Jordan, that she got saved by God and finally cheered up, and this book had good detail but not many thrills. The book was good and once in a while I couldn't put it down. But sometimes I could. Anyways the things that I disliked are some parts near the end that deals with Edgar's family. It is sad and Edgar is already the school nerd, he shouldn't have those troubles also. Another thing I dislike about the book is that Kara was always weeping! Everything practically revolved around Jordan. It became annoying after a while. But the book was overall good.

The people who I think would like this book is definitely girls. Also girls who are Christians might like it because it does have a religious touch dealing with Kara getting saved. This book is also realistic fiction so people who like realistic fiction would like it.

Kara Hendricks and Jordan Ferguson have been best friends since kindergarten, but that all changes during sophomore year when Jordan becomes a cheerleader and dumps Kara for more popular friends. Feeling betrayed, all Kara can do is sulk, hoping Jordan will take her back, but after a few weeks Kara realizes that this will not be the case. Kara starts eating lunch with an outcast, a goody-two-shoe, and a goth, all who are art geeks, but still feels the pain of losing Jordan. Then, through this unlikely bunch, Kara is introduced to the one true friend who can fill the hole in her heart, God. Dark Blue: Color Me Lonely, by Melody Carlson, was an awesome book that I would recommend to all Christian teen girls.

This wonderful page turner was enticing and a fast read. Because it was filled with so much drama, this book was never boring. Also, this book is made up of many short chapters, so each chapter leaves the reader at a place where they just can't stop reading. For example, towards the middle of the book, a chapter ends with Kara running into her room, sobbing, and wishing everything could just end. The beginning of the next chapter explains why she was crying in order to keep the reader hooked.

Reading this book taught me a lot about my relationships with other people, as well as my relationship with God. I have learned to value my friendships more and make the most of everyday. Also, although Kara, the main character, only represents one way to live for Christ, I think she sets a good example. From her, I realized that I should pray all the time, not only when something's wrong. I think anyone who reads this book could learn something about relationships or God.

I found the characters in this book easy to relate with. I think anyone who has lost a friend or felt lonely or betrayed can relate to Kara. Others, who have lost parents, may be able to relate to another character named Edgar. There are other characters too who have assorted issues, so no matter who the reader is, he or she will be able to relate to some character in someway. I think this make the book more meaningful, enjoyable, and interesting.

Dark Blue, by Melody Carlson, is a five star book filled with life lessons. Also, it is a fast read and easy to relate to. Dark Blue is the first book in the Truecolor series, which now has eleven books. Each book in the series is about a different girl and touches on a different issue faced by teens today. I recommend that any teen girl read Dark Blue, as well as the other Truecolor books to learn how to deal with any problems they might have.

S. Leser

I read the book Dark Blue from the True Colors Series. I didn't like this book as well as the other eight. This book is about a girl named Kara and she loses her best friend Jordan. When she finds a new group of friends she becomes very caring of them. Kara also finds a new best friend that she turns to a lot of things. You will have to read to figure out who that person is. Something in the book happens to Jordan and her new group of friends and now Kara is the only one she can turn to. Will Kara be friends with her again after that horrible thing that she has done to her. This is the first book that she wrote out of the series and there are a total of eight books. There is a new on coming out in July. I can't wait for this book !

Dark Blue is about two girls, Kara and Jordan, and they have been friends since kindergarten. When they get in high school Jordan decides she wants to try out for cheerleading and she didn't make it. The next year she tries out again, but unlike last year, she makes it. A couple weeks after she makes it she starts going on and on about it and kind of leaves Kara out of things and starts hanging out with the popular cheerleaders. Kara gets sad and goes home every night and just cries. If you want to find out if they become friends again read the Color Series by Melody Carlson.

I made a text-to-self connection in Dark Blue. At the beginning of the year one of my old friends and I were best friends and now we never hang out or talk. I really thought we would be best friends forever, but like they all say, "nothing lasts forever". It makes me think about how bad Kara felt when Jordan ditched her for all the more popular girls. That was the biggest connection I made in Dark Blue.

Melody Carlson has really outdone herself with DARK BLUE: COLOR ME LONELY, book number one in the True Colors Series. Focusing in on real issues that teen girls face, this series is extremely down to earth and in your face with the topics discussed.

Right from the start, Carlson creates completely believable characters and situations, with Kara being a somewhat shy teenager who is dumped by her best friend Jordan for the cheerleaders. As Kara finds herself going deeper and deeper into her own loneliness and despair, everything seems more and more hopeless. On the surface, the story feels pretty typical - almost even easy to guess what the ending will be. But that's when Carlson throws in completely unexpected plot twists to completely send this book reeling into "classic Christian fiction" status.

Carlson takes some interesting writing approaches in her style for DARK BLUE. From the very beginning, we're sucked into the head of Kara and never leave, feeling every emotion and up and down she feels. Carlson has definitely captured something brilliant here.

The main character is depressed, then suddenly finds God and everything is okay. Yes, I believe in God's healing, but I don't think it is really like a lightening bolt. This book only contributes to the Christian belief that you should be able to pray and "trust" God and just snap out of depression. You'd never say that to someone with cancer or an amputated limb, why depression?

Jordan and Kara have been best friends since Kindergarten, but after becoming a cheerleader, she ditches Kara to be with her "popular friends". This leaves Kara feeling horribly lonely, and often times, feeling like she wants to die. In art class, she makes a new group of friends; Felicia, Edgar, and Amy. They often have interesting conversations. Through this time of horrid depression, Kara finds a true best friend, one who will never leave her.

I was inspired by this first-person novel. This has alot of deep meaning in it. I like how it was written. And there are some entertaining humor moments. My favorite character is actually Amy Weatherspoon, the goth girl. I like her personality. Anyway, this novel really made me think. I've had a period of when I felt lonely, but I realized Jesus really is the most best friend you'll ever have. Ever since I read this book, I consider no human friend a best friend, only Jesus, and for those who are close to me, I call them closest friends instead.

I admit, I didn't think much of it the first half when I first read it, and didn't really get pulled in until like halfway through. However, read it a second time, especially aloud, and the entire book is amazing! It's one you can read again and again, without getting sick of it!
I really wish there was more, though. I think Edgar and Kara should get together, they'd make a cute couple (I know, you probably think I'm crazy! LOL).

As a high school teacher, I'm aware of what teenaged girls like to read. Melody Carlson has another winner of a series started here, and the girls in my school are fighting to check out this first book in this new series. I recommend you pick it up, read it fast, and then donate it to your local high school library.