Author: Cindy

PUB DATE: February 17,2009

This is the second book in the series. Maya is one year older in this book. She still wants a normal life. Maya is dealing with the difficulties of being a Christian, trying to live a normal life, living with her uncle and cousin, having a boyfriend and a rebelous friend Marissa.

We find out that Shannon, Maya’s mother is in prison for possession. Her father is touring in Europe with his band. Living with her uncle and cousin, Maya is beginning to feel as though she is a normal teenager. Things feel as though they are coming together for Maya. She is still thinking about the emancipation cause she is worried about when Shannon gets out of prison.

Maya begins her summer vacation and her art teacher has suggested that Maya paint a mural. She agrees to do it and enlists the help of Marissa who is going to help out as part of her community service hours. Realizing she needs more help she asks Caitlin if she could ask around the church so Caitlin gets four kids from youth group to help out.

Things are going good for Maya. She is working and her father bought her a hybrid car so that she is able to get around. Just as things are looking up for Maya she discovers she is being sued by Brooke and her family. Brooke fell while she was helping with the mural. From the fall she got up and said she was okay and refused to go to the hospital. When she discovers who Maya’s father is she fakes her injuries. While Maya find out that Brooke is faking her injuries?

After the mural is done Maya and Dominic beginning dating and Maya feels that things are getting serious fast so she panics and breaks up with Dominic. Will Maya regret breaking up with Dominic?

Marissa is Maya’s best friend and she is the party girl who likes to have fun and drink. Up until now Marissa has always been lucky but her luck as run out she is in a serious car accident. She almost dies from her head injuries. Will Marissa survive this and finally see that its wrong to drink and drive?

Maya uncle is really impressed with Maya and her going green that he offers her a spot in the paper to write a Green column and before she knows it she is offered a spot on tv. Will Maya decide to do it?

I am really looking forward to book three in this series, if there is a book three. I checked Melody’s site and there is no mention of a new book..yet! I enjoyed this book and there was more going green tips at the end of each chapter.

PUB DATE: July 2008

This is another great start of a series for Melody Carlson. I am really enjoying reading Melody Carlson’s books. What I really liked about this book was the green tips Maya offered at the end of each chapter on what to do to make your living environment greener.

For me I am thankful to live in an area where last summer we were provide bins to compost food, grass etc. I never realized how much we threw in the garbage until I started composting. Instead of throwing about 4 bags of garbage out weekly I am down to one small bag. Plus I am a big time recycler.

A Not So Simple Life is book one in the series of Diary of a Teenage Girl. Its about Maya Stark. She is a 15 year old girl who appears to have it all, famous parents, money, and a Beverly Hills lifestyle. Her dad was a 80s pop star who is making a comeback. (Does that sound familiar? It seems so many popstars seem to be making a comeback these days doesn’t it?)

When you really look into Maya’s life you realize its not as perfect as it appears. Maya is not happy. She is trying to get emancipated from her parents. More so her mother. Her parents are divorced. Her dad is away on tour and has very little time for Maya. Her mother drinks and does drugs. So any money Maya’s father sends her mother takes it to support her habit. Her mother will vanish for days on end leaving Maya alone to fend for herself sadly Maya is use to it and manages to get along just fine. Maya is mature beyond her years.

Realizing that in order to get emancipated Maya needs to make sure she has money in her bank account to show a judge she will be able to support herself. Maya gets a job at a chic boutique on Rodeo Drive. While working there she is approached by a woman who works at a Ralph Lauren store. From there she is told she could model. Realizing she could make money she decides to go ahead and begins to work as a model. Maya saves about ten thousand dollars and its all in her account until one day she goes to deposite a check when she realizes there is a mistake. Maya has only about a thousand left. Her mother took the money. Maya is furious. She goes home, her mother is gone and she starts looking around. She realizes that her mother found the paper work on the emancipation.

Maya is furious so she calls her father and tells him everything. She tells him she is going to kill herself but she doesn’t really. When Maya’s mother finally comes home Maya confronts her about stealing the money and her mother is like its our money not just yours. This angers Maya so they start fighting. Thankfully before it can get to physical her dad storms in. Her dad tells her to pack her things cause she is going with him. Things are fun on the tour until Maya realizes its getting old fast.

Figuring out what to do they come up with the plan for Maya to go live with her uncle Allen and cousin Kim. Her father will send money for her to live in and she likes that idea.

This story continues in book 2 Its A Green Thing: Diary of a teenage girl.