This was my first Christian fiction read, so I’m reviewing this title as an outsider of the genre. My Name is Chloe is the first title in a series of books featuring a character named Chloe Miller who starts off as an outsider at her school with her colored hair and punk style clothing, but then accepts Christ into her life and makes two new friends who join her to form a Christian rock group.
Overall, I was disappointed with this title as I had thought it might be different or less preachy as some reviews had claimed. The message of Christianity begins early in the book, within the first few pages, before I felt the reader even has a sense of who Chloe is as a character. The story is told in diary format, which some teens may enjoy for its voyeuristic approach, but not enough detail goes into the Chloe’s daily life, the people who are in it, or getting to know Chloe before her big change. More time is spent laying the groundwork for her conversion, which happens rather suddenly without any visible motivation, other than the purpose of moving the plot forward. The conflicts are minor and the character changes are not very honest or realistic, in my opinion. Many characters come across as stock and stereotypical and a subplot to convert Chloe’s friend Allie, who’s into Wicca, is painfully transparent. I would have been more interested if Chloe had made friends who were of differing beliefs and the story had perhaps focused on the difficulties and rewards of having friends of different faiths, but the goal of this book is obviously not geared toward that. It may have even helped if something dramatic or life changing had taken place to shake Chloe’s life up and make her evaluate her beliefs, this might have made the story more real. Pretty much a thin vehicle for a message, some Christian teens seem to enjoy this series as well as other Carson titles, but I would advise non-Christians or those interested in a more compelling plot to skip this one. ( )

A fifteen year old starts a band and hopes to hit it big. Typical, right? Well, not really. Chloe Miller is angry at the world and doesn't try to hide it. She fights with her parents and thinks of them as hypocrites. Basically a social outcast, Chloe makes friends with two girls, one a Christian and the other a Wiccan. She doesn't know where to turn, especially when a girl at school begins to torment her.

This book was beatifully written from a unique point of view. If you are into music and rebel stuff, this is good for you. Some have complained that it's not as good as the first books about Caitlen O'Connor, but I found at least as good or even better. Once again, a must read from Melody Carlson that is both relevant and touching. ( )