On My Own has seemed to be the best yet in the Diary of a Teenage Girl series. While I prefer Carlson's True Colors series to the Diary of a Teenage girl books, this one showed true challenges to Caitlin's faith.

While I believe in the awesome power of God to change hearts, the fact that Liz did not automatically convert made this book realistic. As a Lutheran, I believe that God calls us to plant the seed and to live as a Christian rather than overevangelizing. While some of Carlson's terminology hints that she is most likely a mainstream Protestant, I do appreciate that this book focuses on Caitlin living her faith rather than talking about it.

Caitlin also seems more human in this book. When she is angry, it seems genuinely angry, as compared to previous books where the most common expression of anger seemed to be "I'M JUST SO MAD" Her confusion over the Josh situation and her frustration and loneliness at college also make her seem more like the average Christian girl rather than Superdisciple.

I would recommend this book to any teenage girl, especially those who will be entering college in the next few years.

On my own is mainly about Caitlin O'Conner going off to college and she doesn't know anyone there. She gets stuck with a roommate, Liz, who is not very nice. Caitlin got in a lot of fights arguments with Liz because Liz is more of a party girl, and they just don't get along. Caitlin met some friends that are religious, and had a youth group. When Caitlin finally went home college it was like a vacation for her. She would talk to Chloe, Josh Millers sister, often. Once she got back to college, Caitlin didn't know if she was going to stay with Liz or after term, change roommates. Is Liz going to follow through with college because of troubles with she is having with Liz? What are all the things Caitlin is going to have come into her life?
Overall this book was a pretty good book. This wasn't the best one that I have read out of this series, but it was still good. The book started out boring because nothing was going on except for things happening with her and Liz, but it get good once you get farther into the book.
I would recommend this book to all girls for grades 7 onto any adults. Girls that like diary books or books about teenage girl's life would really like these books. This book is the forth book in the series so if you want to read this book you might want to read the first three first or you will be lost. This book is kind of similar to the books P.S. Longer Letter Later and Snail Mail No More.

Caitlin O'Conner is off to college to see what's out there for her. Her roommate, Elizabeth Banks or Liz, is Caitlin's first problem. Liz does not like Caitlin at all and tells Caitlin that right away. Before Caitlin leaves for Christmas she gets Liz a Christmas gift that makes Liz tell about the way she is. After Liz spilling about why she is Caitlin goes home to find another surprise. Josh Miller, Caitlin's ex-boyfriend from high school, gives her a Christmas present. Caitlin is so surprised by this gift she doesn't know what to do. The gift throws Caitlin for a whirlwind of emotions and she has to conquer all of them. Caitlin does get through these emotions but what happens to her and Josh is surprising. At the end of the book Caitlin's life seems to be looking up again. Everything seems as if it's all going to be all right.
I really enjoyed this book. I think that it is my favorite out of the other books in the series. On My Own keeps you guessing on what's going to happen next. It keeps you wondering if Caitlin will ever make it through this tough time. I had no dislikes about this book at all. I could hardly put the book down.
I would recommend this book to anyone who has already started the series. If you thought that book three wasn't the greatest or you thought that it was awesome and none of the other books could get better think again. Any teenage girl would enjoy this book. What Melody Carlson talks about in these books are true things that happen to every day girls like me. An average girl can pick up this series of books and relate to at least one thing if not more. I defiantly recommend this book, On My Own, to any girl from the age of tweleve to eighteen. Everyone I think will have no regrets of reading this book!