Fool's Gold: Color Me Consumed (TrueColors Series #6)

I couldn't put this book down. It was a good eye opener about getting into popularity and credit card debt and things that don't really matter. Fools Gold, you would be surprised how easily you can be fooled. It showed me that you shouldn't let other people change you. True "gold" isn't found in material objects.

Very good book. Carlson does a great job of writing for young adult gals. I bought the whole series and can't keep it on the shelf.

I have a lot of the True Colors series,and this one was one of my very favorites! It's a must read!

Hannah Anderson is a MK (missionary kid) from Papua New Guinea. While on furlough from the missionary field, she visits her extremely fashion-forward and materialistic cousin and family. Vanessa's life is vastly different from Hannah's; she lives in a huge house and shops places Hannah has never even heard of, like Prada, Gucci, and Armani. Wanting to connect with her cousin again, Hannah joins Vanessa on these shopping trips. What starts out as innocent teen girl bonding turns into a major stumbling block for her. Whatever she purchases seems to need some other accessory in order complete the "look."Although Hannah is spending more money than she ever thought was possible ($300 for a pair of jeans?) it never seems to be good enough for her new (so-called) friends. As she sinks more and more into debt (eek!) she finally comes to realize that everything she's purchased are not her identity, nor is her value based on the clothes she wears. It's only Fool's Gold after all.Materialism, sadly, is a part of everyday life for most teen girls. It's easy to get caught up in what the latest issue of Teen Vogue says is in style, and forget that your value is so much greater than the price tag of your clothing. In Fool's Gold, Hannah discovers that no matter how beautiful your clothes make you appear on the outside, it means nothing if you do not value your inner beauty.The Wordsmith Journal strives to guide readers to books of personal interest, with the understanding and respect that what appeals to some may not appeal to others. Therefore we attempt to keep our reviews focused on content, genre and style. The rating is necessary to make use of Goodreads and Amazon. It reflects the reviewer's own level of enjoyment, but the review is intended to be informative for the benefit of all readers.

In Fool's Gold,Melody Carlson introduces us to Hannah, the daughter of missionaries to Papua New Guinea who is staying with family for the summer while her parents are trying to raise funds for their mission work. Hannah is thrown into a lifestyle completely opposite from the one to which she was accustomed in PNG. Over the course of a summer, Hannah turns away from the God she has always followed and falls into the age old trap of serving the worldly gods of money and popularity.The book is definitely geared towards teenagers and addresses the age old issue of peer pressure. Carlson's story of fall and redemption certainly speaks to legions of teenagers who feel, succumb to, and overcome the pressure to be one of the crowd. Hannah must learn through her mistakes that it takes true strength to turn away from the things of the world and to turn to God.What I like about Carlson's novel is that she really does relate to teenagers and relays a story that can truly make an impact. As teenagers, most of us felt the pressure to fit into a mold. Carlson leads Hannah on this journey of losing herself to the crowd and then finding her way back to the One who asks us to break the mold, not fit into it. Carlson's story is an easy read and one to which it is easy to relate. While I wouldn't necessarily recommend this novel for adult readers, I would certainly recommend this for their teenage children. Carlson has truly found her niche in writing for young adults and does a wonderful job of addreessing the issues that face them in their daily lives.This book was provided free of charge by the publisher as a review copy. The publisher had no editorial rights or claims over the content or the conclusions made in this review. Visit [...] for more information on this book.

Hannah is a missionary kid (otherwise known as MK) from the island of Papua New Guinea north of Australia. She is visiting her Uncle's family in America for the summer while her parents crisscross the country raising money to return to New Guinea. Her cousin Vanessa and Aunt Lori are shopaholics - obsessed with the latest fashion, designers and brand names. They are embarrassed by Hannah's 'Aussie' clothes. Hannah feels lost and out of place with Vanessa's friends and the whole shopping scene.Hannah takes a job with her Uncle's company supposedly to earn money for her continued education in New Guinea. Soon her coworkers have her spending more money than she has, getting a credit card, and buying expensive clothes she neither needs or can afford. She becomes obsessed with fitting in with the crowd. She seems to have left her faith as well as her Bible behind in New Guinea as she strives to fit in with the other wealthy kids - living for the moment. Hannah is soon finds herself head over heels in debt and doesn't know how to cope with her situation.A must read to learn how Hannah solves her debt problem and returns to her faith. Did she come to recognize what she valued most? Did she learn that all that glitters is not gold? Melody Carlson has a excellent command of the minds of teenagers, especially the rich, and what influence peers have on each other.Highly recommended for teenagers and parents. You will become a fan of Ms. Carlson.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."