My Trip To Mexico

This winter I decided that I was tired of the cold Oklahoma weather so I decided to go south. I took a little trip to Mexico. Okay, so I didn’t really go to Mexico. I didn’t get to bask in the sun while drinking a fruity concoction with a little umbrella in it. I did, however, travel to Mexico through the pages of a good book. I picked up a copy of Notes From A Spinning Planet: Mexico at my school’s used book sale. This a Christian novel written by Melody Carlson. The publisher’s description is as followed:

Madison Chase’s holiday break is drawing to a close and she’s eager to leave the gray Washington winter and join her Aunt Sid on a warm vacation to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Maddie is pleasantly surprised when her good friend Ryan McIntire shows up to enjoy the trip with them, and she looks forward to spending time with him. But when Ryan runs into his high school crush, the beautiful Shelby Wagner, Maddie’s jealousy threatens to spoil their sun-drenched days.

Unsure of her relationship with Ryan, Maddie distracts herself by befriending a local girl, Francesca Tarrago, who is both intelligent and hardworking but lives in deep poverty. As Maddie does what she can to help Francesca, she discovers a secret that Shelby has been keeping from all of them. Can Maddie put aside her conflicted feelings and love Shelby enough to help her?

Follow Maddie to the romantic beaches of Mexico as she explores a love deeper than simple affection– and discovers the beauty of true sacrifice.

I don’t want to give too much away. You will have to read the book to find out what happens. I will tell you that Maddie takes advantage of the opportunity to help those around her in need. In return, she learns to trust God more. I think my favorite line from this book is the last line in the entire novel where Maddie says, “Sometimes I imagine God cradling the globe in his hands, and I tell myself that as long as I’m with God, the Creator of the universe, I can be comfortable and at home anyplace on the planet.” There are many lessons to be learned from Maddie, so the next time you are looking for a good book, read this and enjoy a little trip to Mexico.