That Was Then...: Kim: Book 4 (Diary of a Teenage Girl)

I have read every one of the Diary of a Teenage Girl books--Caitlin's, Chloe's, and Kim's, and this is one of the best in the series. Of the three, Kim comes across as the most "real," especially after her mother dies of cancer. The only bad thing I have to say about this series as a collective is that there are some things that happen in all the books. For example, many people who have read the Caitlin books will see a big similarity between her best friend Beanie and Kim's best friend Natalie. But overall this is a great series, and a wonderful book. I recommend it to any girl from 12-22 (jr. high-college age), but do think parents should read it before their younger daughters read it, as drugs, alcohol, and sex are mentioned (albeit negatively) in every portion of the series. Although most people won't have to go through everything that Kim goes through, everything is dealt with in a realistic manner, and often it feels like you could be reading your best friend's diary. Melody Carlson is one of the best authors for young adult Christian fiction; I have yet to read one of her books that I did not like.