About the Book

Book: Taking Chances

Author: Melody Carlson

Genre: Middle Grade

Release Date: April 15, 2020

510P-sVOjwL Zoey knows her days are numbered. At least when it comes to remaining in Cedarville. So when Louisa coaxes her to be part of a garage band, Zoey tosses her insecurities aside to make music with her friends. And she even goes out for the basketball team. But what will happen when her mom shows up and pulls the plug on everything?

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My Review

The Zoey series for middle schoolers continues. Author Melody Carlson does a great job of capturing the angst of that age as Zoey struggles with life. It’s not a heavy book, as Carlson gives it light hearted and fun moments while being honest about attitudes and things like peer pressure, gossip, bullying, and other things kids deal with.

This final book teaches the lesson of forgiveness and letting go of hurts. It shows the importance of friendships and family. It would be a great addition to your child’s library!

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

About the Author

Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women, and children. That’s a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a “storyteller.” Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, True Colors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She’s won a number of awards (including RT’s Career Achievement Award, the Rita, and the Gold medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog.

More from Melody

Sometimes I feel guilty for ‘torturing’ my teen and tween characters, but I do it for my readers. It’s not easy being an adolescent, and reading about someone who’s facing hard times is comforting. But in the final Zoey book, I really wanted to give her some victories too. So when challenges come her way, she stands up to them. And she even puts her newly found faith to work. The goal is for readers to feel hopeful about their own lives when they see Zoey rise above her tough circumstances.