Welcome, Caller, this is Chloe by Shelley Coriell

Description: Big-hearted Chloe Camden is the queen of her universe until her best friend shreds her reputation and her school counselor axes her junior independent study project. Chloe is forced to take on a meaningful project in order to pass, and so she joins her school’s struggling radio station, where the other students don’t find her too queenly. Ostracized by her former BFs and struggling with her beloved Grams’s mental deterioration, lonely Chloe ends up hosting a call-in show that gets the station much-needed publicity and, in the end, trouble. She also befriends radio techie and loner Duncan Moore, a quiet soul with a romantic heart. On and off the air, Chloe faces her loneliness and helps others find the fun and joy in everyday life. Readers will fall in love with Chloe as she falls in love with the radio station and the misfits who call it home. (for more info click here)

Epic Wins:

• Once in a while a book comes along that just screams to be read by you. I don't know if you experience this, as a book reader, but you just know when a certain book is a perfect fit for you before you even read it. Chloe is one of those books for me. 
• Chloe- Funny, optimistic, imperfect, and bright enough to glow off the pages. Chloe has one of those personalities, as a character, that just pulls and lures you in. You just have to know her. 
• The Radio Staff- Chloe finds a mock family and a support system from these people. They each have a fleshed out story that makes them almost round. 
• Duncan- The grey eyes, knobby scarf wearing, Mr. Fix-it. He genuine and kind, always lending a hand. His past and home life are troubled but yet he stands tall.
• Grams- Every good story needs a crazy grandma (think on that: Mulan, The Lorax, Hoodwinked) and Grams is as crazy as they get. She the kooky type who cause havoc and are indubitably in love with Brad Pitt.  
• THE Councilor- Out-to-save-the-world and most likely will. She guided Chloe through her Junior year project with encouragement. 
• FINALLY, a young adult character that communicates. She told people things instead of holding it all in. Despite er big personality and out going self she struggled with things. Her feelings, her thoughts, the outside world. 
• Message 1- Change will happen no matter what. The best we can do is smile and go with the flow. 
• Message 2- Sometimes our world falls apart so it can fall into place. Chloe is stripped of everything, her family, friends, and her totally awesome shoe project. She comes out of her abyss knowing it was for the best, for the big picture. 
• Message 3- People put up appearances, masks. Brie holds a mask of anger to shield from the all consuming sadness. Duncan wears a silence mask to hide his past and present state. Chloe uses positivity, jokes to hid her disorganized home life. We all pick up these masks at times. 
• Message 4- Sometimes we need to shut up and listen. Stop talking, stop thinking and just listen to those around you. 

Overall: This book spoke to me even before I read it. I set my sights fairly high for Chloe and against all odds she delivered more that I could have imagined. A very charismatic debut novel.

just sayin,
-Kare