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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not for me.
I was interested in this for the premise and the format, but the way it was written wasn't particularly original. It is described as a 'letter' but it really is just recounting the ENTIRE story, mundane details and all, to the kidnapper. Because it's being written to him, I expected the story to be told in a somewhat non-linear way that would be more exciting to read.
After finishing the book, I can't say I'm comfortable with how Ty is romanticized and made out to be someone who is a victim of circumstance. In some ways he is, and that sucks, but he stalked, drugged, and abducted Gemma. If there had been a better handling of what it's like to develop Stockholm Syndrome and fall in love with an abuser, that kind of a thing, I would be more okay with it. As it is, her parents and any doctors are villainized for calling him a monster, etc etc. And it's not really delved into - Gemma brushes it off.
I also had a hard time believing the abduction scene in the beginning. If this was written in the late 90's, it would have been more believable. Admittedly, I have never abducted anyone, or even contemplated it, so I'm no expert. It just seemed that drugging Gemma in public and then changing her clothes and dragging her onto another flight (while her parents waited for her at their gate) wouldn't have worked so easily.
I was interested in this for the premise and the format, but the way it was written wasn't particularly original. It is described as a 'letter' but it really is just recounting the ENTIRE story, mundane details and all, to the kidnapper. Because it's being written to him, I expected the story to be told in a somewhat non-linear way that would be more exciting to read.
After finishing the book, I can't say I'm comfortable with how Ty is romanticized and made out to be someone who is a victim of circumstance. In some ways he is, and that sucks, but he stalked, drugged, and abducted Gemma. If there had been a better handling of what it's like to develop Stockholm Syndrome and fall in love with an abuser, that kind of a thing, I would be more okay with it. As it is, her parents and any doctors are villainized for calling him a monster, etc etc. And it's not really delved into - Gemma brushes it off.
I also had a hard time believing the abduction scene in the beginning. If this was written in the late 90's, it would have been more believable. Admittedly, I have never abducted anyone, or even contemplated it, so I'm no expert. It just seemed that drugging Gemma in public and then changing her clothes and dragging her onto another flight (while her parents waited for her at their gate) wouldn't have worked so easily.
Giving this book a 5 because I've been drawn to reread so many times.
I think it's well written and hauntingly beautiful. Each time I've read it has been such a different experience. I definitely see how a first read, especially at a young age, may miss the point of the book.
Reading it for the third time in my 30s, I have so much pity and anger for Ty. I am rooting for Gemma the whole way through. I see now so much in a different light, from what he tells her to how he acts.
I also read and reviewed the sequel. I don't fully recommend it, but some people loved it.
I think it's well written and hauntingly beautiful. Each time I've read it has been such a different experience. I definitely see how a first read, especially at a young age, may miss the point of the book.
Reading it for the third time in my 30s, I have so much pity and anger for Ty. I am rooting for Gemma the whole way through. I see now so much in a different light, from what he tells her to how he acts.
I also read and reviewed the sequel. I don't fully recommend it, but some people loved it.
Gemma is abducted by a crazy guy while in an airport with her parents, and taken into the Australian outback. Was she chosen or could it have been any other girl ?
This book is written as her letter to her captor, Ty. She recalls her time with him in the desert.
I found it slow at times, but kept wondering "what is going to happen next ? will she live with Ty forever ? if not, how will she escape ?". It took me about half of the book to truly get into the story and to enjoy it. I loved the characters, though, and how the author shows the progression of Gemma's feelings.
PS: kuddos to the camel and the chickens.
This book is written as her letter to her captor, Ty. She recalls her time with him in the desert.
I found it slow at times, but kept wondering "what is going to happen next ? will she live with Ty forever ? if not, how will she escape ?". It took me about half of the book to truly get into the story and to enjoy it. I loved the characters, though, and how the author shows the progression of Gemma's feelings.
PS: kuddos to the camel and the chickens.
I had a hard time at first with this book because I never really felt like Ty was the bad guy - even when Gemma was describing him, she commented on things like his body or his eyes or complimented him in some way. But the more I read I realized the reason for this was because of how she ended up feeling about him by the end of the book...had she wrote this letter while everything was happening, it wound have sounded much different.
I knew I should be hating him for what he had done, but I just couldn't feel it because my feelings matched Gemma's as she wrote the letter, and I was instead eager to see how their relationship progressed.
I loved the mutliple options Gemma provided at the end for how she could present the entire kidnapping; it really made me see the various ways the situation could be described - all of which were accurate. This book really makes you think!!
I knew I should be hating him for what he had done, but I just couldn't feel it because my feelings matched Gemma's as she wrote the letter, and I was instead eager to see how their relationship progressed.
I loved the mutliple options Gemma provided at the end for how she could present the entire kidnapping; it really made me see the various ways the situation could be described - all of which were accurate. This book really makes you think!!
This was a fun YA read. Written as a letter it's the story that tells of a teenage girl who is captured and taken to the Australian desert.
The relationship between the two developed nicely and there wasn't the usual trope of "I've fallen in love with my kidnapper and he's such a good guy now!" I found that quite refreshing. Christopher did a nice job of painting a very complex kidnapper who believed his actions were all for the best. She also did a wonderful job juxtaposing the co flicking feelings of a teenager who hates her kidnapper but also finds him interesting as time wears on.
Overall it was a fun read and written in letter form like it was gave the book a nice twist I feel it would have lacked otherwise.
The relationship between the two developed nicely and there wasn't the usual trope of "I've fallen in love with my kidnapper and he's such a good guy now!" I found that quite refreshing. Christopher did a nice job of painting a very complex kidnapper who believed his actions were all for the best. She also did a wonderful job juxtaposing the co flicking feelings of a teenager who hates her kidnapper but also finds him interesting as time wears on.
Overall it was a fun read and written in letter form like it was gave the book a nice twist I feel it would have lacked otherwise.
An interesting read. The language and a little of the content (friends boozing and 'fucking' around a fire in a garden in front of the narrator) probably makes it unsuitable for the under 16s, but Stolen is a good, original read which gives you food for thought.
A kidnapper who just wants company and treats his victim well - to the point of actually turning himself in in order to save her life - an interesting theme, and well told, especially for a debut novel.
Some of the descriptions of the Australian desert and landscape are hauntingly beautiful, and the psychological action is well and truly interesting enough to make the plot sing a long with quite a bit of momentum.
A kidnapper who just wants company and treats his victim well - to the point of actually turning himself in in order to save her life - an interesting theme, and well told, especially for a debut novel.
Some of the descriptions of the Australian desert and landscape are hauntingly beautiful, and the psychological action is well and truly interesting enough to make the plot sing a long with quite a bit of momentum.
3½ out of 5 stars
This book had been on my to-read list for a very long time, and over the years I’d heard mixed opinions about it. So I was prepared for the possibility of an “Oh no I’m kidnapped but my kidnapper is so hot so actually I’m in love with him let’s go on adventures together forever” kind of story that might make me angry.
That’s not at all what I got from the book.
(Potential spoilers ahead, sort of?)
I’m obviously no expert on Stockholm syndrome, but I thought the book did a very, very good job of portraying it. Gemma (the kidnappee)’s attitude change was an extremely slow progression: she pretty much remains in a state of abject terror throughout most of the book, with trying-to-get-away being her #1 goal the whole time. Honestly I think that a lot of readers end up sympathizing with Ty (the kidnapper) more than Gemma is shown to in the book. And it’s only near the very end that I’d really use the word “sympathetic” to even describe it.
If you’ve ever been bothered by stories with extremely unhealthy “I’ve fallen in love with my captor” plots, then I think you’d really appreciate this book. It does a wonderful job of not doing that, in my opinion (again, being no expert on the subject).
The only reason I didn’t give it a higher rating is that the middle of the book is actually fairly boring. I loved getting into Gemma’s head and learning more about Ty’s past (which, yeah, his childhood sucked, but mostly it’s creepy hearing him talk about Gemma from years past, it gave me shivers), but the actual things they go out and do I found to be extremely boring. Don’t get me wrong, though, this is a 3½ that leans toward a 4, not a 3. As you can see, I rounded up to a 4 for my Goodreads rating.
If you haven’t read the book yet, I recommend it!
(Review cross-posted on Youth Book Review)
This book had been on my to-read list for a very long time, and over the years I’d heard mixed opinions about it. So I was prepared for the possibility of an “Oh no I’m kidnapped but my kidnapper is so hot so actually I’m in love with him let’s go on adventures together forever” kind of story that might make me angry.
That’s not at all what I got from the book.
(Potential spoilers ahead, sort of?)
I’m obviously no expert on Stockholm syndrome, but I thought the book did a very, very good job of portraying it. Gemma (the kidnappee)’s attitude change was an extremely slow progression: she pretty much remains in a state of abject terror throughout most of the book, with trying-to-get-away being her #1 goal the whole time. Honestly I think that a lot of readers end up sympathizing with Ty (the kidnapper) more than Gemma is shown to in the book. And it’s only near the very end that I’d really use the word “sympathetic” to even describe it.
If you’ve ever been bothered by stories with extremely unhealthy “I’ve fallen in love with my captor” plots, then I think you’d really appreciate this book. It does a wonderful job of not doing that, in my opinion (again, being no expert on the subject).
The only reason I didn’t give it a higher rating is that the middle of the book is actually fairly boring. I loved getting into Gemma’s head and learning more about Ty’s past (which, yeah, his childhood sucked, but mostly it’s creepy hearing him talk about Gemma from years past, it gave me shivers), but the actual things they go out and do I found to be extremely boring. Don’t get me wrong, though, this is a 3½ that leans toward a 4, not a 3. As you can see, I rounded up to a 4 for my Goodreads rating.
If you haven’t read the book yet, I recommend it!
(Review cross-posted on Youth Book Review)
dark
emotional
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated