Departures: The Rediscovered Stories by Robin Jones Gunn

Robin Jones Gunn was one of my absolute favorite authors when I was in middle and high school. I absolutely devoured the Christy Miller series in 7th and 8th grade. So I had no choice but to request this book and get caught up.

Departures gives readers two new stories about familiar friends: Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen. Each novella is about 100 pages, and I flew right through them. I had forgotten how much I loved Gunn's stories! Gunn uses her writing as a ministry to readers. These in particular are focused on teaching valuable biblical truths to teenage girls. The messages come through loud and clear. There is no subtlety with the truth here! The characters wrestle with different situations and rely on Scripture and the counsel of more mature believers to come to conclusions about which direction to go. At times, the stories seemed fairly simplistic in light of all the challenges that teens face today. But the more I read, the more I found myself remembering what it was like to be a teenager ... a high school student trying to make the right decision, on my way to college trying to figure out relationships. My younger self really identified with Christy and Sierra.

I cannot recommend this book ... and others in the series ... highly enough for girls of all ages. These would be totally appropriate for middle school and high school students. And if you're like me and a little bit older than that, don't be embarrassed to catch up with these old friends!

I received a free copy of this book from WaterBrook Multnomah in exchange for my fair and honest review.

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About the Book
Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen cross paths on their way to summer vacations that reveal what a gift it is to have a true Forever Friend.

Now Boarding at Gate 10
After her high school graduation, still aching from Todd’s departure, Christy joins her family on a trip to Wisconsin to visit relatives. While there, she reunites with Matthew, an old friend from junior high. When Matthew starts to show a romantic interest in Christy, she realizes this summer vacation could change everything she thought her future would be.

In the Event of a Water Landing
Fifteen-year-old Sierra Jensen can’t wait to spend her summer vacation with her friend Jana at a pristine lake in Montana. But when they arrive, it becomes clear that Jana’s only interest is acquiring a boyfriend. Sierra just wants to hang out with the guys as friends, but Jana turns every encounter into a possible romantic relationship. As their friendship begins to suffer, Sierra wonders if it’s possible to find a Forever Friend who will listen to you, laugh with you, and keep your confidences.

About the Author
Robin Jones Gunn is the best-selling and award-winning author of more than seventy books, with over 4 million copies of her titles sold worldwide. Best known among them are the Christy Miller, Sierra Jensen, and Christy and Todd: College Years teen series. A Christy Award winner and a two-time finalist for excellence in fiction, Robin has also been a Gold Medallion finalist. She and her husband have a grown son and daughter and live in Hawaii.