Meet The Girls of Harbor View
They look different, think different, and have different interests, but they are the best of friends. Friendship rules for these girls and provides the basis for their growth as neighbors and Christians.
The girls of Harbor View discover the beauty of believing by learning to understand one another and by coming together in difficult circumstances. Get to know each of the girls better here and then read the Harbor View books to experience their adventures in friendship and faith!
Her Story:
Amy’s family escaped war-torn Vietnam in the early eighties. The youngest in her hardworking family, Amy has three adult siblings, and is the only member of her family born in the United States. She speaks both fluent English and Vietnamese. Her parents, brother and two sisters own and operate a restaurant on the waterfront and have lived in Harbor View for the duration of Amy’s life. Amy helps out at the restaurant as well and is expected to carry on the traditions of her parents and their homeland.
Her Gifts:
Amy is very bright and has skipped a grade making her the youngest in the Rainbow Bus club. She is organized, punctual, and seems to have an inner calculator ready at a moment’s notice. She is musically gifted, loves school and hates to be late! Amy is very curious about what it means to be a Christian.
Her Challenges:
Amy gets easily frustrated with her parents, their difficulties with speaking English, and their “old ways.” She is a perfectionist and struggles with being wrong and making mistakes. It is hard for her to compromise and to not be the one in charge.
Her Look:
A lot of gumption wrapped up in a little package, Amy is small with short, straight bobbed hair and razor-straight bangs.
Her Story:
Carlie is the oldest of three children. Her family moved to Harbor View after her dad was laid off from a lumber mill in northern California. Carlie is often expected to help with her two younger brothers which she usually does willingly. Her mom is a neat freak and believes her only daughter should look, dress, and act ladylike at all times. Carlie longs to be dirty and barefoot for just one day! She is also close with her aunt, Tia Maria, who lives nearby. Carlie and her family speak both English and Spanish.
Her Gifts:
Carlie is social and outgoing with a quirky sense of humor. She is very helpful around the house and with her younger brothers. She loves to run and to get her hands dirty and wishes to shed the girlie, proper clothes her mom favors for some more comfortable, casual options. Carlie loves being outside and working in the backyard garden that she designed and planted with her dad. She dreams of owning her own landscaping business.
Her Challenges:
Carlie struggles with the big expectations and limitations that she has as the oldest (and only) daughter in her family. She has to work hard to show people who she really is. She has to work equally as hard to not jump to her own conclusions about others. Carlie longs for close friendships with other girls her age and tries to understand the real message behind church services that she finds boring and disconnected.
Her Look:
Don’t be fooled by the prim looking blouses and immaculate sundresses, Carlie is a nature girl at heart. She has coal black eyes and beautiful dark curls that she longs to cut (to get rid of the tangles and to save time washing and drying).
Her Story:
Chelsea is a newcomer to Boscoe Bay in the summer before the girl’s seventh grade year. She has moved from Minneapolis and is none too happy about it! Her dad is a bigwig at the bank and her family home is a mansion in the ritzy Pacific Shores neighborhood. Introduced to Carlie through Carlie’s aunt who works for the Landers’ family, Chelsea is forced to stop her sulking and give her new life and surroundings a chance.
Her Gifts:
Chelsea can be barrels of fun. She is strong-willed, straightforward, and says what she thinks. Quick to put her foot in her mouth, she is equally quick to apologize.
Her Challenges:
Like a bolt of lightning Chelsea can be both stunning and frightening at the same time. It can be hard to get to know her as she is quick to anger and has a habit of distancing people by saying things out loud that should often be kept to herself. Chelsea knows that she has an “impulse control” issue. She learns much from her Harbor View friends and the faith and beliefs that fuel their relationships and actions.
Her Look:
More than a bit of a shopaholic, Chelsea has access to the latest (and most expensive) styles out there. She has fiery red hair with curls as unpredictable as she is. A freckled nose and blue-green eyes complete the picture.
Her Story:
Emily lives with her older brother and her mom who works as a desk clerk at the Boscoe Bay Resort. She’s a newcomer to Oregon having recently arrived from Idaho. Emily spends lots of time alone as her mom and brother work long hours and she is initially very quiet and pretty unhappy. Emily is a mystery at first as she closely guards secrets and sorrows from her family's past.
Her Gifts:
Emily loves to write, especially poetry, but is careful to hide this fact. She loves to read mysteries and puts her bookworm side to good use sleuthing out some real mysteries for the Rainbow Bus club. Emily is observant, thoughtful, and loyal. Her Harbor View friends help her to break out of her shell and believe in herself and her relationship with God.
Her Challenges:
As a result of a rocky past and complicated present, Emily can have a hard time trusting others. She has a hard time seeing the talents and treasures that her friends and family see in her. On the quieter side, it can be difficult for Emily to open up and try new things.
Her Look:
Emily is petite with blonde hair and blue eyes—she doesn’t consider herself very gifted when it comes to fashion or appearance. She appreciates the generosity of others (especially Morgan) as she builds a new life, new wardrobe, and new home in Harbor View.
Her Story:
Morgan is an only child who lives with her very nurturing grandma and her outgoing mom who runs a funky import and bead shop on the waterfront. Her dad lives in New York and has never been a part of Morgan’s life. Morgan knows Boscoe Bay and Harbor View like the back of her hand. She is very close with her family but longs for friends in the neighborhood.
Her Gifts:
Morgan is a natural leader and is generous and wise for her years. She is even-tempered and works hard to see the good in everyone. Morgan loves to do anything creative, dreams of being a fashion designer and sews her own (somewhat strange-looking) ensembles. Very spiritual and active in her church, she is comfortable sharing her faith with others.
Her Challenges:
At times, Morgan does not think before she speaks. She can also forget that other girls are not as comfortable in their own skin as she is. When joking around, Morgan can cross the line and sound like a bit of a tease.
Her Look:
Morgan is tall and slender and wears small tortoise shell-rimmed glasses that she’s constantly pushing up her nose. Her black wavy hair is always beautifully done in beaded braids that are the envy of her Rainbow Bus friends. Always coming up with something new, Morgan may be in pants made out of bandanas one day and a dress with a crazy diagonal hem the next.
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