Review of Molly Mormon?
Title: Molly Mormon?
Author: Tamra Norton
Publisher: Bonneville Books
Date: 2002
Website: Cederfort.com
"If I didn’t try to do what’s right, didn’t bother to go to church, say my prayers, read my scriptures, and seek after things that are virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, my life as ‘Molly’ at Oakley High School probably wouldn’t seem so difficult at times. But ever since the sixth grade, I’ve gone from Molly the feminine, intelligent, strong, independent, and unsinkable, to ‘Molly Mormon’ the ‘Primary Princess’ and ‘Seminary Saint.’"
Being a good Mormon girl in a small LDS community in Idaho, where most people are related to you and everyone has known you since your nursery days is hard enough. But to be named Molly of all things, and to be one of the more dedicated church members, is making Molly’s junior year in high school rough. There is a small group of inactive teens who are determined to make Molly miserable. When there are only 26 students in your entire junior class, having the most popular ones hate you is sure to ruin your social life!
It’s a hard year for Molly. Starting a food fight (well, dumping chocolate milk into the laps of her tormentors) soils her reputation as a perfect child, but does wonders for her popularity with some students! And she finally gets asked out. She’s been sixteen forever without that getting that coveted first date. But then life takes a more serious turn. The boy she’s really interested in seems to have a drinking problem and is inactive. Her cousin, who is also her best friend, becomes pregnant. A girl she can’t stand, one of her tormentors, is made her partner in a communications class. They not only have to talk in class, but they also have to eat lunch together, do service projects, email and telephone each other. And about that inactive boy...who is maybe reforming....? Life is certainly taking some surprising twists for this Latter-day Saint teenager.
Girls who enjoy living the gospel but don’t enjoy the teasing that goes with it will find Molly a sympathetic role-model. She’s not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but she does care about making good choices and about helping others to do the same. It is so hard for good LDS girls to find role-models, even within the typical LDS literature, that it’s a pleasure to have someone prove that good LDS girls do make good characters for books.
We can presume the author knows a little about modern teens, since she has seven children-and homeschools them, which I consider a vote in her favor (and proof that she is a brave woman. I only homeschooled three!) I knew I would like her though when I read that her hobbies were reading in the bathtub, camping in the living room, and dancing in the kitchen. You just know in advance that such a sister will write a lively book! Be sure to visit her web site to learn more about Tamra and her most recent book, Molly Married?