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rachel_abby_reads's review
3.0
This book is quite a bit different than the Grandma Dowdel series that so enchanted me. Gail is 16, living in an old town in upstate New York, dating a young man her mother finds unsuitable. Well, dating in the "it's a good thing she's on the pill" sense. Then she begins getting disturbing notes and phone calls. She doesn't quite know to whom she can turn for help, and the few she does turn to are out of their depth.
This book asks more questions than it answers, and spells out quite clearly the frustrating idea that not all things can be made right, or even acceptable. I was surprised at how tense the story made me feel, drawing me into the Gail's fear and helplessness. At the end, Gail showed more strength and acceptance of reality than her parents did.
This book asks more questions than it answers, and spells out quite clearly the frustrating idea that not all things can be made right, or even acceptable. I was surprised at how tense the story made me feel, drawing me into the Gail's fear and helplessness. At the end, Gail showed more strength and acceptance of reality than her parents did.
brittneycloyd's review
3.0
The pacing of this book is off. The first 2/3 of the story center on a girl who receives scary notes and calls. It was suspenseful. Then I reached what seems to be the climax (although it came too early) and suddenly it's a story about social justice and no longer a thriller. Then in the last few pages there's a minor thrill again.
The book is entertaining enough, but I was left wondering what's the big idea?
50 States Challenge: Connecticut.
The book is entertaining enough, but I was left wondering what's the big idea?
50 States Challenge: Connecticut.
munchjax's review
5.0
I really loved this book it had so much truth to it. It was well written and not your basic formulaic young adult fiction, I'm unsure if this really is young adult it didn't feel that way. I'm so glad I chose this book for my young adult course I'm taking.
angelcarmie2's review
3.0
I've done a review of this book on my youtube channel! If you want to see my thoughts, click the link below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vciDGk0t_M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vciDGk0t_M
dustilane's review against another edition
5.0
TW: sexual assault, stalking
"If I didn't know which one to fear, how could I keep from fearing them all?"
A high school girl receives threatening notes and phone calls, realizes that she is under constant observation, and survives her worst nightmare.
I am a huge fan of YA thriller/ horror novels from the 70s-90s. That's what I thought I was getting into, but quickly realized that is not what this is. This is a daunting tale of stalking and rape and what it can do to a person. This is a book about the cruelty of the law and the rich and how difficult it is to get justice for women who have survived sexual assault. This book is absolutely heartbreaking and I won't ever forget it. This is not a fun, creepy read in a fantasy land of horror. It's a book that is unfortunately very much grounded in reality.
I was absolutely shocked to find such a heartbreaking, realistic tale of sexual assault from a male writer, in the 70s no less. It was uncomfortable, devastating, and a story I will be thinking about for a long time.
"If I didn't know which one to fear, how could I keep from fearing them all?"
A high school girl receives threatening notes and phone calls, realizes that she is under constant observation, and survives her worst nightmare.
I am a huge fan of YA thriller/ horror novels from the 70s-90s. That's what I thought I was getting into, but quickly realized that is not what this is. This is a daunting tale of stalking and rape and what it can do to a person. This is a book about the cruelty of the law and the rich and how difficult it is to get justice for women who have survived sexual assault. This book is absolutely heartbreaking and I won't ever forget it. This is not a fun, creepy read in a fantasy land of horror. It's a book that is unfortunately very much grounded in reality.
I was absolutely shocked to find such a heartbreaking, realistic tale of sexual assault from a male writer, in the 70s no less. It was uncomfortable, devastating, and a story I will be thinking about for a long time.
falconerreader's review
3.0
This book TERRIFIED me as a kid. My best friend's older sister had read it first, and she would call us when we were home alone and ask, "Are you in the house alone?" in her creepiest voice. When I finally read it, the whole part of the book after The Event was not as interesting to me. I just remember the terror of the idea of someone stalking you like that.
lrconnol's review
1.0
I disliked this book. The beginning half is a rape of a babysitter by her best friend's boyfriend. The rape is tastefully done, not graphic. What happens later is the disturbing part. The boyfriend is the son of a very prominent family and the girl is not from wealth. The town turns against her. He is sent off to boarding school but she has to stay there. The whole second half of the book turns into a diatribe against the rape laws. Very disappointing from this author.
xtinamorse's review against another edition
PopSugar Reading Challenge 2019: A book with a question in the title
Shit, this book was bleak. And not just because the main character calls her mother "Mother." Despite being published in 1967, the treatment and consequences of acquaintance rape are troublingly still very relevant today.
Shit, this book was bleak. And not just because the main character calls her mother "Mother." Despite being published in 1967, the treatment and consequences of acquaintance rape are troublingly still very relevant today.