New York Debut (Carter House Girls) [Paperback]

Melody Carlson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 28, 2009 | Series: Carter House Girls (Book 6)

Mix six teenage girls and one '60s fashion icon (retired, of course) in an old Victorian-era boarding home. Add boys and dating, a little high-school angst, and throw in a Kate Spade bag or two . . . and you've got The Carter House Girls, Melody Carlson's new chick lit series for young adults! New York Debut The New Year promises to be lively for the Carter House girls. No sooner does the calendar page turn and the girls are forced to confront a whole load of difficulties. There is constant pressure from Mrs. Carter as the household prepares to participate in the high stakes Spring Fashion Week in New York City. Competition flares from all directions as the girls vie for top billing, premium outfits, and attention from favorite guys. Stresses mount and some personal challenges grow into serious problems. Will the girls survive the big city experience and the even bigger trials that come along with it?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books for teens, women, and children. Before publishing, Melody traveled around the world, volunteered in teen ministry, taught preschool, raised two sons, and worked briefly in interior design and later in international adoption. 'I think real-life experiences inspire the best fiction,' she says. Her wide variety of books seems to prove this theory.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (April 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310714931
• ISBN-13: 978-0310714934
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #581,714 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

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Edgy..., May 1, 2009

By 

Janna R. Ryan (Nebraska) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: New York Debut (Carter House Girls) (Paperback)

I have a few comments about the Carter House Girls series...

1) I really like this series. New York Debut is #6 in the series and even though I have missed a couple in the middle I can still enjoy the most recent addition, and enjoy it I did!

2) I need to make clear that the Carter House Girls is for YA, but not all YA (young adults). My almost 13 year old is not ready for this series. Period. The characters are diverse and interesting and cover all spectrums and I love the concept. 6 girls from various backgrounds come to Carter House to live while they go to a local high school. While at Carter House they learn about fashion, poise, manners, etc... or they are supposed to. Sounds good right. So why is it not right for my daughter yet? Melody Carlson deals with real issues in these books. Sadly, they really are real issues, but not issues that my daughter has been exposed to yet and I want to keep it that way for awhile longer. So these books will wait for her patiently on my shelf for the time being.

3) So what are some of these issues? Well, the main character, DJ, is a Christian but most of those around her (including her Grandma, Mrs. Carter) are not. Some of the issues dealt with in the books I have read include anorexia, reputations (as in sexual reputations), boyfriends, drinking... in this particular book, one of the girls is coming back from the rehab she checked herself into in the last book. So let me clarify that Melody deals with these issues wonderfully. But at this point my daughter wouldn't even know what rehab is.

I definitely recommend this series for high school girls in public school, even college girls and women like myself, but not for the younger girls that haven't been exposed to some of this yet. Just use your common sense and enjoy!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fashion Show, May 1, 2009

By 

Sally "SmilingSally" (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New York Debut (Carter House Girls) (Paperback)

This installment of the Carter House Girls series highlights teen drinking and eating disorders. Six girls live together in a boarding house and study modeling. Excitement builds as Spring Fashion Week in New York City nears. The girls actually participate by modeling in the show. Some modeling tips are included.

Taylor is in rehab when the story begins. DJ continues to mature in her Christian walk as she influences others for the good. Eliza represents evil and pays for some bad choices.

The book ends where the next volume will begin. Most female teens will enjoy this series.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars More escapades of the Carter House girls, April 30, 2009

By 

K. Herbrand - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: New York Debut (Carter House Girls) (Paperback)

Book 6 in the Carter House Girls series picks up as DJ is being picked up from the airport on her return from Las Vegas (see my review of book 5, Lost in Las Vegas). Taylor is noticeably absent and DJ has to share with her grandmother that she is at a rehab facility in California for alcohol abuse. Grandmother is upset and disappointed because she is afraid that Taylor won't make it back in time for Fashion Week in NYC.

As school starts up again after New Years, DJ, Rhiannon and Casey begin to notice that Kriti seems to be eating less and working out more. They do an intervention and Kriti confesses that Eliza has been influencing her to lose weight. They convince her she doesn't need to and move her in with DJ - away from Eliza.

Grandmother begins having classes on Saturday mornings to teach the girls about etiquette, manners and how to "own" the cat walk. She opens these up to the community and the Carter House girls find themselves spending time with Daisy, a new friend, and Madison and Tina, two old enemies.

I had only read book 5 prior to this book (other books in the series include Mixed Bags, Stealing Bradford, Homecoming Queen, and Viva Vermont). Again, it was hard to differentiate all the girls at first, and I would not have had a clue had I not read Lost in Las Vegas. I don't think it reads well as a stand alone. That being said, it does have good lessons and values for a teenage Christian girl to follow and illustrates how one can turn to God in all sorts of situations. I hope to eventually be able to go back and read the first 4 books in this series. Bikini Breakdown is book 7 of this series and it is due out in October 2009.