Book Review: I’m So Sure

Synopsis

“Living in Truman, Oklahoma wasn’t 100% miserable for Bella. Sure, she misses Manhattan, couture clothes, and her dad. But she was making new friends at Truman High and almost enjoying her work at the school newspaper. Then the whole stepdad-wrestler-reality-show issue hit and her life is now being splashed across weekly tabloids and broadcast news.

As if having a camera crew following her around isn’t bad enough, Bella soon discovers a conspiracy against the Truman High prom queen candidates. And the closer she gets to the answer, the more danger she’s in.

As her relationship with Luke teeters between friendship and romance, Bella’s ex-boyfriend Hunter reappears and vies for Bella’s attention. Denying allegations of a love triangle, working to solve the prom queen mystery, and trying to keep her cool on national television finally motivate Bella to start talking-and listening-to God more.”

Comments

Written primarily for an audience who is Christian, this book is a continuation of Bella’s adventures adjusting to her new life.  Some consumerism related to brand names, but all in all, a clean read for this age-group.  Some readers may not be familiar with the religious references.

Language

None [?]

Sexual Content

A boy ‘entwines himself’ around a girl. Teens caught ‘making out’. Line, `This from Matt, who probably thinks anything with boobs is hot.’ Bella’s grandmother offers her a ‘boob job’ for graduation.  A female wrestler’s ‘boobs are like weapons’.

Drugs/Alcohol

None

Violence/Disturbing

A teen makes and plants a bomb in the prom queen’s tiara that he later detonates remotely. No one hurt.

Social/Family

Bella’s father dates a much younger woman. When asked if he had checked her credentials, Bella’s mom says, `I think 36 D is all he needed to know’. An unwed teen mother gives up her baby for adoption. Bella doesn’t like that her father is ’shacking up’ with his girlfriend.  Comment about messages on Facebook that ‘border on sexual harrassement’. Word usage: skank. `Dorky gamers’ aka ‘future millionaires whose money will one day make them hot.’

Religion/Spiritual

Kids pray, idea of being a ‘witness’, word usage: tract.  Bella ‘knew she shouldn’t go fishing for a boyfriend in unsaved waters.’ ‘Leading’ someone to the Lord. ‘Did the Rapture come and I missed it?’ General Christian ideas of Jesus saving, God’s grace, etc.