Funky Fall (Norma Elliot's Secret Journal #4)by Victoria Simcox
Fifth grade is in full swing, and Norma Elliot is juggling it all; Mrs. Gookaw’s rambling lessons, Aunt Gail’s flashy new boyfriend, and the Porgys’ annoying, hairless chihuahua.
Meanwhile, Pepper proposes to Miss Kelly with a rubber ring (probably from a vending machine), Boyd’s crush drama is spiraling, and Norma’s growing-up weirdness isn’t exactly smooth sailing.
With her journal and faith, Norma faces awkward family moments, friendship chaos, and funky fall surprises--learning that life’s not about staying comfy, but about trusting God in the mess and the good times too.
Victoria Simcox draws readers into Norma’s world through warmth, humor, and honesty--showing that God’s love meets us in every stumble and victory. No matter the chaos, His grace stays steady, lighting the way through it all.
My Take:
Norma Elliot is dealing with more of the struggles tween girls have - mean girls, boy problems, and puberty. Fifth Grade is never easy, and Norma is having to deal with ALL that, plus family drama. Aunt Gail has kidnapped Grandma and whisked her down to Peru to be a model for her anti-aging cream. While down there, Aunt Gail spends more time with a flashy new boyfriend than catering to grandma's wrinkling face.
Meanwhile, cousin Pepper proposes to Miss Kelly, using a gumball ring, and the guy Norma is beginning to like, Boyd, is having a crush on Norma's worst enemy. The neighbors are starting to invade with their own issues, including their very odd dog who is leaving puddles and presents in her room. She finds herself babysitting iguanas. Including one that attempts to win a basketball game. But it finally comes to a head when her boy crush asks her to write a love poem for him - one he's intending to give to his OWN crush, Norma's enemy, Lydia.
Norma manages to take most of this in stride, however, thanks to her faith and her secret journal. She's finding out that life is not all peaches and cream, roses and fluffy kittens. Sometimes it can be a bit... funky.
G - squeaky clean. Well, except for a neighbor who seems to have a bottle of something that gets him soused.
PG - this book addresses the 'development issues' girls in this age group have to deal with. Budding, training bras, angst, boy crushes, and the like. The subject matter is handled well, in classic Simcox style. Humor and sass.
Just like in the previous books, this hilarious book may seem like fluff, but it contains meat as Norma recaps her day with God in her journal. A verse from the journal ties it all neatly together with a bow, and you discover that the events of the day do have an eternal significance, no matter how trivial they seem on the uptake. Norma struggles with patience, weariness, anxiety, angst, and the tongue. Her conversations with God in her journal hammer home for girls struggling through the same things that they are not alone, that God has GOT this, and that He has a plan for them.
Funky Fall: Norma Elliot's Secret Journal #4 by Victoria Simcox is a hilarious but powerful vignette into the life of a teen girl, and the struggles they face. Her family is side-splitting. Her school life is classic. I believe all Christian girls struggle with the same issues Norma does, and can benefit from this supercharged side-splitting trip. Most memorable line: "And that's why you should never trust a llama." also, "with a look that could melt steel." One added note - no bearded dragons were harmed in the making of this novel. Five Stars!
About the Author
Victoria was born in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, to an Austrian immigrant mother and a Dutch immigrant father. She now calls Western Washington home. Besides her writing career, Victoria taught elementary-school art for several years. Her past times are writing, reading, painting watercolors. She likes to read theological as well as some fantasy genres. Two of her favorite authors are R.C. Sproul and C.S. Lewis.
Blog: victoriasimcox.blogspot.com
Face Book: http://tinyurl.com/3wl6gjs
Twitter:http://twitter.com/#!/VictoriaSimcox
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