MY REVIEW:

Without a mom to help with her hair and makeup or to guide her in choosing her clothes, Chelsea has faded into the background at school and stopped attending church. When her dad’s fiance helps with a dramatic makeover, Chelsea finds her life changed in ways she could never imagine. From wallflower to the new girl at school that all the boys want to date and the girls want to hate, Chelsea is not even sure who she is anymore. “The Jerk Magnet” is all about the incredible journey of discovery shared by Chelsea and her new friend Janelle.

I have read a few reviews that criticize the extreme makeover that Chelsea experienced. Yes, her future step-mom could have helped her with a new hairstyle, her makeup, and with making better wardrobe choices but for the author to make her point, Chelsea needed to experience both extremes in order to understand the importance of not judging others by their outward appearance. I really liked the way Carlson illustrated that prejudice works both ways and that the beautiful and popular people are sometimes misjudged as badly as the unattractive ones. I also thought that Janelle’s idea for their camping trip was inspired.

I am not sure how she does it but Melody Carlson always manages to be totally in touch with the lives and emotions of teen girls. I have not been a teen for many years but I can still remember having some of the same feelings and reactions as some of Carlson’s characters. I love the way she writes entertaining novels with relevant messages for today’s teens.

This book was provided for review by
Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.



ABOUT THE BOOK:

What if beauty is more than just skin deep?

When Chelsea Martin’s future stepmother helps her transform from gawky and geeky into the hottest girl at her new school, Chelsea is pretty sure it’s the best thing that ever  Happened to her. But her hot new look has a downside. She’s attracting lots of guys who all have one thing in common: they’re jerks. Oh, and stealing the attention of all the guys in school doesn’t exactly make her BFF material for the girls.

Finally a great guy catches her eye. But he’s the only one around who doesn’t give her a second glance. Can Chelsea come up with a plan to get his attention? Or will her new image ruin everything?

“Available January 2012  at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than five million. She is the author of several Christmas books from Revell, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, and Christmas at Harrington’s, which is being considered for a TV movie. She is also the author of many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, Double Take, The Jerk Magnet, and the Diary of a Teenage Girl series. Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books in 2010 and 2011. She and her husband live in central Oregon. For more information about Melody visit her website at www.melodycarlson.com.