This contemporary Christian book is made up of the first three books in the ” Christy Miller” series. Written by Robin Jones Gunn, it is published by Bethany House Publishers, a division of the Baker Publishing Group.
The Christy Miller Collection is written for kids ages 12 and up. The age range reflects readability and not necessarily content appropriateness.
Volume 1 in The Christy Miller Collection holds three books about Christy Miller, a teen girl whose family lives on a Wisconsin farm then moves to Escondido, California, an hour and a half away from her wealthy aunt and uncle. Once or twice a year, she spends time with her aunt and uncle in Newport Beach, Calif. There she meets Todd Spencer, an easygoing surfer and a Christian, who becomes a romantic interest.
Fourteen-year-old Christy spends the summer with her aunt and uncle in California. As Christy meets new friends, she is exposed to other teens involved in sex, drugs and drinking. Although she is offered drugs and alcohol, Christy honors a promise she made to her parents not to do anything that she might regret. Christy meets Todd, a surfer who loves talking about God. Todd and his friends challenge Christy in her faith, and she invites Jesus into her life. Christy wonders if she and Todd could ever be more than just friends.
Christy is excited when her family decides to move to California. As a 15-year-old sophomore, she has to make new friends at a new school, and Christy is surprised when she fits into a popular group of girls and attracts the attentions of the school’s heartthrob, Rick Doyle. One of her new friends, Brittany, appears to have an eating disorder. While Christy, Brittany and another new friend, Janelle, vacation in Palm Springs with Christy’s aunt and uncle, Brittany persuades the other girls to go with her to the drugstore. She picks up her mother’s prescriptive diet pills and three boxes of laxatives. Then she tries to leave the store without paying. When confronted by a security guard, Brittany slips the items into Christy’s purse and runs out with Janelle, leaving Christy alone with the guard. Christy is taken to the police station for questioning before an officer releases her to her aunt and uncle. She learns the importance of saying no to bad influences and yes to good ones. She also learns to rely on God — the one friend who will never abandon her.
It’s Christmas break, and Christy gets to spend a week at her aunt and uncle’s house. Before she leaves, she meets her friend Rick in the church parking lot to exchange gifts. His unanticipated kiss leaves her confused about their relationship. Once at her aunt and uncle’s, Christy is excited to be with her old beach friends — especially Todd. However her romantic dream of spending time with Todd doesn’t work out as she had hoped. When the gang goes ice-skating, Christy ends up with Doug the entire time, creating numerous wrong impressions. Christy apologizes to her friends, and Todd gives her an ID bracelet with the word Forever engraved on it. Todd explains to Christy that no matter what happens in their relationship, they will be friends forever.
Each book in this collection is grounded in Christian beliefs. Summer Promise deals with the need for Christ’s forgiveness and the belief in salvation through faith, not works. A Whisper and a Wish emphasizes intimacy with God and the influence of friends. Yours Forever explores becoming who God wants us to be and how God never gives up on us, even when we fail.
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In each book, Christy’s parents are portrayed as loving and wise. Aunt Marti is controlling, intrusive and immature in her faith. Uncle Bob is supportive and easy to talk to.
In Summer Promise, Shawn lets out a string of curse words, which are not mentioned. After smoking marijuana, Shawn tries to go body surfing and crashes into the jetty, dying the next day. While drunk, Alissa’s mother punches her in the eye and threatens to kill her. Alissa admits that six months earlier she tried to kill herself.
Summer Promise: Several scenes indicate that Alissa is flirtatious, sexually active and uses birth control pills. Erik wants Alissa to have sex with him as a way of telling him goodbye. Christy wonders if Todd will ever kiss her. After her date with Todd ends badly, Aunt Marti assumes Christy is upset because Todd and Christy have had sex, and Christy wasn’t prepared. Todd briefly kisses Christy.
A Whisper and a Wish: Brittany is surprised when Christy tells her she only kissed Todd once over the summer, because Brittany thinks that being close to a guy means being more physically involved. However, no mention is made of the girls sleeping around.
Yours Forever: Rick kisses Christy. She compares his kisses with the innocent kiss she had shared with Todd. On New Year’s Eve, Todd kisses Christy once on the lips and once on the head. Christy’s summer friend Alissa writes Christy to tell her that she’s pregnant. Alissa is 17-years-old and unwed. She tells Christy she considered abortion until she found a Christian pregnancy help center; now she has decided to place the baby with an adoptive family.
If your children have read this book or someone has read it to them, consider these discussion topics:
Summer Promise:
A Whisper and a Wish:
Yours Forever:
Click here for a more thorough review of each book:
Summer Promise
A Whisper and a Wish
Yours Forever
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