Just Ask (Diary of a Teenage Girl: Kim, Book 1) [Paperback]

Melody Carlson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 7, 2005

Who Do You Ask When You Don’t Have the Answers?

What’s a girl to do when caught between a rock and a hard place? The “hard place” is losing the use of her beloved car, and the “rock” is her immovable dad. In order to regain driving privileges, Kim Peterson’s dad talks her into writing an advice column for teens in his newspaper. Kim reluctantly agrees and writes under a pen name. But as she reads letters from peers and friends, she becomes keenly aware of two things: (1) Some kids have it way worse than her, and (2) she does not have all the answers! Who can she turn to?

Thursday, September 1

I’ve been saving for my own car, but my parents decided that I can only get a car if I keep a clean driving record. That means absolutely NO tickets—period—nada. And the policeman said he’d clocked me going 72 in a 55 mile zone. Oops.

When Kim Peterson gets a speeding ticket, her dad offers her a way to retain her driving privileges. If she’ll write the anonymous teen advice column for his newspaper, she can still get a car. So Kim becomes “Jamie” of “Just Ask Jamie.” No big deal, she thinks.

She answers letters about stuff that’s everyday and stuff that’s not: parents, piercings, dating, drugs, depression, and people who are just users. Nothing Kim can’t handle.

But when a classmate is killed, the letters turn to questions about life, death, and what it all means. And Kim starts to wonder if she really does have all the answers—and if not, where to find them. The Christian faith of her adoptive family? The Buddhism of her Korean heritage? Who can she turn to—to just ask?

Story Behind the Book

“My teenage years remain vivid in my mind. It was a turbulent time full of sharp contrasts—love and hate, pain and pleasure, trust and doubt. Then, just as I reached my peak of questioning, rebelling, and seeking, I found God. And I found Him in a really big way! My life turned completely around and has, thankfully, never turned back. Hopefully this story will touch and change hearts—speaking to teen girls right where they live, reminding readers that God is alive and well and ready to be intimately involved in their lives right now! ”

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up–Kim, 16, struggles with religious questions and ultimately tries to live a Christian life while she writes a teen advice column for her dad's newspaper. Then, a family tragedy occurs and her faith is shaken. Kim is a realistic young woman trying to make sense of her world in the context of her religion. She makes mistakes and experiences the consequences of bad decisions, but, in the end, faith and friends pull her through. Though the theme is heavy, the writing is breezy and fun.–Heather E. Miller, Homewood Public Library, AL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Melody Carlson has published more than 90 books for children, teens, and adults—with sales totaling more than 2 million. Several of her books have been the winners of various writing awards. Her Diary of a Teenage Girl series has received great reviews and overwhelming fan mail. Melody has two grown sons and lives in Central Oregon with her husband. They enjoy skiing, hiking, gardening, camping, and biking in the beautiful Cascade Mountains .

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Books (July 7, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590523210
• ISBN-13: 978-1590523216
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.6 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #419,188 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Melody Carlson has written around 200 books for teens, women and children. That's a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a "storyteller." Her books range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She's won a number of awards (including the Rita and Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is a decent book, August 8, 2008

By 

J. Cutler - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Just Ask (Diary of a Teenage Girl: Kim, Book 1) (Paperback)

This book is good for teens who are stuggling with their Christian faith or who need some encouragement, except I didn't like how Kim was interested in a non-Christian when she got saved. But, all in all it was a great book and I liked reading the advice columns even though some of them were dumb. It's hard to know which books in these series are the best and which ones to read, but I'd say this one was good enough to want to see what happens next.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Gives religion a bad name, December 27, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Just Ask (Diary of a Teenage Girl: Kim, Book 1) (Paperback)

I brought the book because it seemed interesting, yet it was a let-down.
Its about Kim, an adopted child, questions life and religion. While she is thinking about Buddhism, her ultra-Christian friend judge her and force her to go with the Christian faith. She also mentions how in Buddhism there is no judging, yet in the book there is judging within the Christian community. When a friend dies in the school she goes through a phase then finally goes back to being Christian, of course her friends approve. Her best (and most judgemental) friend offended me the most. She was always about being holy, yet Kim describes her wearing revealing clothing. Then later Kim dates a boy and her friends try to prevent it because the boy is not Christian.

In the book she is the author of an advice articles in a local newspaper. In the beginning she gave well planned out advice, when she "Re-converts" she gives half-hearted advice and ends with something about putting your faith in god. Not that its a bad thing but it is like she gave people a "Do this and im going to leave it half open"

I am a Catholic but i disliked how the Christian faith was shown in the book. It made seems everyone was small-minded and when Kim was open-minded her friends judged her. I do not recommend this book.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, December 9, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Just Ask (Diary of a Teenage Girl: Kim, Book 1) (Paperback)

I loved this book "Just Ask". Kim, the main character, is a 16 year old searching for answers. She was adopted from Korea, and has two loving parents. She's got this deal with her Mom and Dad that if she keeps a clean driving record, then they'll match what she's saved up (for a car) and she'll finally have a car of her own. When she gets a driving ticket, her hopes for a new car are gone. When she tells her Dad that she got a ticket, he says he won't tell her Mom as long as she writes for an advice colomn in his newspaper. She reluctantly agrees, and as she starts writing, she sees life from other people's point of view. And when a kid from her school dies, she doesn't know where to turn. She's got to turn to God for the answers.
I loved this book, and I'm hoping to get the next Kim book 'Mean To Be' for Christmas!!!!! I definitely reccomend this book.