Road Trip (Diary of a Teenage Girl: Chloe, Book 3) [Paperback]

Melody Carlson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 2003

After signing a contract with a major recording company, Redemption's dreams are coming true. Chloe, Allie, and Laura begin their concert tour with the good-looking guys in the popular band Iron Cross. Allie's mom and her brother with Down's syndrome add a little variety to their entourage. But as soon as the glitz and glamour wear off, the girls find life on the road a little overwhelming. Even solid, well-balanced Laura appears to be feeling the stress - and Chloe isn't quite sure how to confront her about the growing signs of drug addiction...

we want it all, or so we say / but what gets lost along the way? / along the road to riches, fame / we know we’ll never be the same

The guys in Iron Cross occupy Chloe’s thoughts a little more than she cares to admit. Still, life on the road gets less and less glamorous and more and more overwhelming–especially when solid, well-balanced Laura begins acting strange. Her hostility toward Chloe’s concern makes the girls wonder how much longer they can keep their act together...

Story Behind the Book

Over the years, I have worn many hats, from pre-school teacher to Young Life leader to political activist to senior editor. But most of all I love to write! In the past few years, I have published more than ninety books for children, teens, and adults. I hope the Diary of a Teenage Girl series will impact the lives of teens through an honest and gutsy approach of a "diary style" book.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Melody Carlson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than ninety books for teens, women, and children, with total sales over 2 million. Several of her books have been finalists for, and winners of, various writing awards, including an award this last May for children’s literature from CSLA in Wisconsin . She has two grown sons and enjoys an active lifestyle of hiking, skiing, and biking. Melody and her husband live in the beautiful Oregon Cascade Mountains with their Labrador retriever.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Books (December 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590521420
• ISBN-13: 978-1590521427
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #486,798 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

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hit the Road of Success, September 28, 2005

By 

Tigers#1 (Versailles, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Road Trip (Diary of a Teenage Girl: Chloe, Book 3) (Paperback)

This book was about Chloe, Laura, and Allie. These 3 teenage girls have formed a band called Redemption and in this book they are on tour after being discovered by a Christian music industry called Omega and it was a success! Well, this book is in first person view and told by Chloe. Chloe loves being on tour but feels uncomfortable singing autographs and being praised so much. Sooner or later she comes around and gets used to it. Well they have constant practice and have concerts that normally turn out great. But Laura starts getting grumpy by the loss of sleep but normally gets pepped up in time for the concert. Then Chloe discovers Allie's Ritalin bottle is empty. Allie doesn't take her Ritalin because it makes her too groggy. Chloe gets suspicious and discovers Laura's got hooked on drugs including Allie's Ritalin. Laura uses her weak strength to get out this mess but of course, uses God's help. Laura comes through and gets off drugs. She tells Omega and they just make her got to a rehab program and Allie and Chloe have to attend Al-Anon classes which are classes for somebody's close friends, family, etc. that are trying to help that person get off of alcohol problems, drugs, etc. During this tour Redemption tours with Iron Cross, a big-hit Christian guy band. Laura confesses her problem to them and national TV. You have to read the book to find out the ending with the band, the romance, the drugs, and what God has in store for them next!
I liked the idea of Redemption touring with Iron Cross because since Redemption is a girl band and Iron Cross is a guy band so it gives a romantic twist. I also liked the idea that the angelic girl, Laura, got hooked on drugs even though drugs are awful and I despise them, but it thickened the plot and proved anyone could get hooked on it. It also added suspense and thrills to the story. I disliked the part when Cesar "kisses dating goodbye" because it took away a relationship and like a part of the book which made it interesting. I also disliked that the book ended without a real ending and that you have to find out the ending in the next book when it's just starting.
People who enjoy music and want to take a career up in music might like it because it talks about an average group of friends who make it into fame. Girls might like it also because it is told by a girl who falls in love with a guy but the girl admits a silly little crush. So people interested in music and girls might enjoy it the best.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun book, but a tad unrealistic., August 6, 2004

By 

Teresa Frampton "Stef" (Michigan, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Road Trip (Diary of a Teenage Girl: Chloe, Book 3) (Paperback)

"Road Trip" continues the story of Chloe Miller, a punky teenage rebel-turned-Christian who's in a band, Redemption, with her two best friends, Laura and Allie. In this addition to the series, they go on a tour with Iron Cross, the most popular Christian band in the country. They encounter many problems on their tour, such as Laura's sudden drug usage. But of course, in the end, everything turns out alright...almost. At the end of the book, the girls are waiting to see if Laura's mom will let her continue to be in the band.

She probably will, because even though the Chloe books are supposed to be easier to relate to than the Caitlin ones--which they are, in a sense--the Chloe books seem to be becoming more & more unrealistic. It's very rare that a band that has only been together for six months gets on the bestseller list. And it seems as if every time something goes wrong for the band, it works out for the better.

I'm not trying to sound pessimistic or anything, but sometimes, that's not how it works in real life. Some problems are never solved. Yet it seems that, even though Laura did have her drug problem, and other obstacles popped up in the book, Chloe is usually happy. Most teens, even if they are Christians, are battling depression, but Chloe's band is apparently headed straight to the top, and everyone around her seems to be becoming Christians.

I'm not saying I hate these books or anything. In fact, Melody Carlson is probably my favorite author right now. If you're looking for a fun read, definitely choose this book. It's just frustrating that everything in Chloe's life, no matter how un-perfect it is, seems to become almost perfect within the next few pages.

I'm sure everyone who reads this is going to bash me in their review, because I know I'm sounding like I'm really against these books. I guess I should accept the fact that there's barely any books out there that are completely realistic. But don't get me wrong, I'm definitely going to read the next book in the series.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars engaging look at the troubles of teens, December 31, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Road Trip (Diary of a Teenage Girl: Chloe, Book 3) (Paperback)

The Christian rock group Redemption is on its way to fame and glory when it signs a major contract and tour as the opening act for the highly regarded male group, Iron Cross. As the trio travels the road by bus, they will find trials and tribulations riding with them.

Chloe, Allie and Laura soon find the grind of touring taking its toll on each one of them. Laura seems off kilter, turning introspectively moodier by the minute. Chloe looks like she is ready to bolt for home every time a crowd gathers around the trio though she finds some solace with Allie's mom and her Down's syndrome brother. However, the one in deepest troubled waters is Allie, whose showing a growing dependence on drugs that could destroy her career and end Redemption's dreams of success.

The latest teenage girl novel, ROAD TRIP, is an engaging look at the troubles of teen life especially those under the spotlight of fame. The story line may be Chloe's diary, but actually is mostly told in third person narration between the key cast members as each suffers from doubts and woes that make them so human instead of preachy paragons. Melody Carlson provides a warm, but frank Christian teen tale that will provide plenty of enjoyment yet inspire young and old to more than just tolerate others. Anyone who has not read the previous novels of this motivating interesting series such as I AM CHLOE will, like this reviewer, want to obtain them.

Harriet Klausner