Author: Sarah Darer Littman
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publish Date: Aug 1, 2011
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I am truly horrified by what happens in this book. I know, it is real life. I know, it happens all the time, but man, I was horrified. I literally put the book down and went to sleep. Or tried to. I had terrifying dreams. However, I am really, really glad I picked it up and decided to finish it. It has a cleansing soul to it. I felt better at the end. Not quite whole, but definitely better.
The author did such an incredible job making me feel like I was that character, Abby. I identified with her need to reach out and have someone love her, even if the person on the other end was not who they said they were. And I really loved the family's and friend's perspective on this situation. It was simply amazing.
Abby is a girl who is starting high school with her best friend. Sadly as real life shows, we get split up from our friends and are forced to start new relationships. Abby has a hard time doing this, but her best friend doesn't. Which in turn makes her feel more lonely. She turns to her computer where herself and her friends chat on a teen website. Unfortunately, anyone is open to chatting there. Being a nieve 14 year old, things take off faster than Abby can imagine and she is knee deep in a very disturbing situation she is sadly unaware of - until it is too late.
This book covers so many topics - new schools, new friends, bullying, love, lust, peer alienation, family controversy, rivalry and so much more. I really thought it was well developed and well written. However, it was very tough to read the "adult" parts through Abby's eyes. I felt hatred for the man who tells Abby lies.
I really thought this book was the epitome of thought provoking.
Summary -
Abby and Luke chat online. They've never met. But they are going to. Soon.
Abby is starting high school--it should be exciting, so why doesn't she care? Everyone tells her to "make an effort," but why can't she just be herself? Abby quickly feels like she's losing a grip on her once-happy life. The only thing she cares about anymore is talking to Luke, a guy she met online, who understands. It feels dangerous and yet good to chat with Luke--he is her secret, and she's his. Then Luke asks her to meet him, and she does. But Luke isn't who he says he is. When Abby goes missing, everyone is left to put together the pieces. If they don't, they'll never see Abby again.
