Books for Christian Girls: "Dawn Chandler" by Eliza Noel

About this book:

  “Dawn Chandler likes the way her life is— or was. She liked going to the mall with her best friend, excelling at middle school, and attending church with her family. Typical life for a twelve-year-old in the city of Fresno.
   When Dawn’s parents announced they were going to homeschool her, on her birthday no less, she felt like her world was falling apart. Normal kids are supposed to go to school, not read books at home. To make matters worse, they may be leaving the only home she’s ever known.
   What are her parents thinking?
   Before making the final moving decision, the Chandler family visits Lone Pine, a small town between Mt. Whitney and Death Valley. While there, Dawn and her siblings become acquainted with their eccentric great uncle, explore the new area, and meet a large homeschooling family. All of this makes the 'vacation' more bearable. Still, Dawn isn't sure if she can make the move and leave everything she’s familiar with behind.
   Can Dawn learn the values of faith, family, and contentment?”

Series: Book #1 in the “Dawn Chandler” series.

Spiritual Content- Scriptures are read & discussed (most in a sermon); Prayers & Blessings over food; Church going & a sermon about contentment (which Dawn makes notes on); Dawn’s parents decided to homeschool their kids after praying about it and due to “recent things at school that as Christians we can’t morally agree with”; *Spoilers* Towards the end, after a sermon, Dawn has a “heart check” and tries to be more content; At the end, Dawn realizes that God used coming to the new town for good and is happy *End of Spoilers*; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of churches, church going, pastors, sermons, worshiping, & worship songs; Mentions of Christian bands/singers (Citizens of Glory, Skillet, Royal Tailor, & Branan Murphy); A few mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; A few mentions of those & events in the Bible; A couple mentions of blessings; A mention of being Christians; A mention of Heaven;
             *Note: Dawn wonders if the new town is working a “spell” or using its “magic charms” on her because she’s not as miserable as she thought she would be; A mention of ghosts (teasing); A mention of Santa Claus; A mention of cave girls.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘dumb’; Eye rolling, sarcasm, & sibling teasing (nearly all eye rolling and sarcasm are done in a teasing/non-mean spirited way); A field trip to a concentration camp for Japanese-Americans during World War II (Dawn finds it sad and creepy, barely-above-not-detailed);
Dawn is sad to leave her hometown and friends & is upset at the situation but thinks that her parents know what’s best for her…“probably” (she goes back and forth thinking that it will be awful and it being a new adventure; She does voice an attitude and shows a bit of defiance a few times, which her parents comment on her to change it; *Spoilers* Towards the end, Dawn feels bad for being rude to her parents and apologizes to them; Shortly after, she gets in a bad mood again (causing her little sister to cry) and her mother and her have to have a discussion *End of Spoilers*); Dawn gets in a bad mood (attitude and disrespectful) & her mother and her have a talk; Dawn isn’t sure about being homeschooled because school has practically been her whole world; Dawn and her best friend’s relationship gets a bit rocky throughout the book because of making new friends and being in different places (*Spoiler* It causes Dawn to wonder if they even had a real friendship; Dawn goes to her house to talk and the friend apologizes for how she’s been acting *End of Spoiler*); A girl comments to Dawn about her being stuck up and snobby since Dawn is from the big city (which Dawn showed none of this towards her and Moriah says that the girl is going through a lot and is “upset with the world right now”); A few jabs/mean comments from a bully (which Dawn says one back and feels guilt over it; nothing is resolved about that, hinting that it might be discussed the next book in the series); Mentions of someone falling off a roof & the injuries (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a concentration camp for Japanese-Americans during World War II; A few mentions of injuries from mountain biking accidents (including paralyzing someone); A few mentions of bullies & bullies; A couple mentions of the Civil War (referring to an outfit from that time period); A couple mentions of bullets & shooting; A couple mentions of jail; A mention of crimes; A mention of robbers; A mention of stealing; A mention of jealousy; A mention of gossip; A mention of a someone looking like a dying dog when trying to dance; A mention of animal poop;
             *Note: When an older teen teases Dawn and makes comments against her hometown, she wants to slap him (but does not); Mentions of stereotypes of those who live in the country and homeschoolers & Dawn being shocked by the lack of accuracy; Mentions of books, fictional characters, & quotes from them (Anne of Green Gables & Nancy Drew); Mentions of movies & TV shows (Princess Diaries, Gladiator (which isn’t allowed to be watched), Sound of Music, Snowball Express, & America’s Funniest Videos); A few mentions of restaurants & fast food chains (Red Robin, Olive Garden, & McDonald’s); A few mentions of brand names (Uggs & Nike); A mention of Disney (referring to an old movie); A mention of social media (YouTube); A mention of a girl in black sitting by herself (which Dawn is shocked to see emo kids in the new town); A mention of zombies.

Sexual Content- Dawn notices a handsome/cute older boy a few of times (including his kind attitude to others; her brother teases her about him once later); A few mentions of a handsome/cute boy & that Dawn and her friend would be giggling about him if together.

-Dawn Chandler, age 12
                                P.O.V. of Dawn (Prologue in Moriah’s)
                                                        167 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

This was such a cute large family and homeschool family representation!

I was a little concerned that Dawn would be a stinker or rude because of the impression of her not wanting to move or be homeschooled, but while she was sad and upset, she was mostly respectful and only had an attitude a handful of times (which her parents commented on and was always corrected and/or discussed), which I appreciated. It was realistic and also had the proper lessons with parental guidance and correction.

One minor comment I would note would be the statement about someone’s dancing looking like a “dying dog” which might upset some sensitive dog/animal lovers.

I don’t have too much to say about this middle-grade books besides that I really enjoyed it, the lessons, and could see many pre-teen/tween girls enjoying it as well!

See y’all on Friday with a new review!