Title: Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe
Author: Shelley Coriell
First published May 1, 2012
320 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9781419701917 (ISBN10: 1419701916)
Rating: 3.82
Overview
Chloe Camden used to be the most popular girl in school, but when her best friend betrays her and her school counselor cancels her independent study project, she’s forced to find a new purpose. In an effort to salvage her academic career, Chloe joins the school’s struggling radio station, where she’s met with rejection from her peers.
With her grandmother’s mental health declining and her former friends turning their backs on her, Chloe finds solace in hosting a call-in show that quickly gains popularity. Along the way, she befriends Duncan Moore, the quiet and quirky radio techie, and together they bring life to the station and those who tune in.
Chloe’s journey to finding her true self is heartwarming and inspiring, and readers will cheer her on as she helps others find joy in the everyday. Welcome to the world of Chloe Camden – it’s a place you won’t want to leave.
Editoral Review
Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe by Shelley Coriell is a young adult contemporary novel that has been praised for its witty humor, complex characters, and touching yet realistic depiction of teenage life. Coriell, a former professional musician turned writer, uses her own experiences as inspiration for this heartwarming coming-of-age story.
Set in a small town in Arizona, the novel follows Chloe Camden, a spunky and extroverted high school student who is struggling to find her place in the world. After being expelled from her prestigious private school, Chloe is forced to attend public school, where she joins the school’s radio station and discovers a talent for hosting a talk show.
As Chloe navigates the challenges of being a teenager and the ups and downs of a new romance, she also confronts difficult family secrets and learns to embrace who she really is. One of the strengths of Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe is its relatable portrayal of teenage life in America.
Coriell captures the pain and joy of adolescence with honesty and compassion, showing how even the most confident students can struggle with identity, family dynamics, and peer pressure. Chloe’s journey is not a fairy tale, but a realistic portrayal of the ups and downs of growing up.
Another strength of the novel is Coriell’s writing style. Her prose is fluid and engaging, immersing the reader in Chloe’s world and creating a vivid sense of place.
She also uses humor effectively, balancing serious themes with witty one-liners and clever banter between characters. However, one weakness of the novel is the pacing.
At times, the plot stalls, with too much focus on Chloe’s romantic relationship and not enough on her personal growth. Additionally, some of the secondary characters feel underdeveloped, with their arcs feeling incomplete.
Overall, Welcome, Caller, This Is Chloe is a captivating and relatable young adult novel that is sure to resonate with readers of all ages. Coriell’s rich characters, engaging writing style, and heartfelt themes make the novel a worthwhile read for anyone craving a realistic yet hopeful story about growing up.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
