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.
Summer Promise
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.
A Whisper and a Wish
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.
Yours Forever
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.