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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
I was wary of Stolen at first. The premise was of a young teenage girl who gets kidnapped by a handsome stranger and he holds her hostage in the Australian Outback until Stockholm Syndrome starts to sink its teeth into her mind. Too often, I find, stories (esp. young adult) try to sell that stalking=love, and typically with older men and young girls. "He's just SO IN LOVE with her that he can't help but be obsessed with her - isn't that romantic?" That kind of thing bothers me on a fundamental level. So, I entered this book worried. And at first, the book did nothing to soothe those fears.
I listened to the book in audio format during a couple of long drives and my solitude as I cruised down road amplified the story in an unpredictable way. The vast majority of the tale is spent with only Gemma and Ty, her kidnapper, alone in the harsh Australian desert. The audio book, which is performed by Emily Gray, I think is the best way to enjoy this story. Christopher has structured the book as a lengthy letter from Gemma to Ty and is the first book I've ever encountered that was in first/second person. That might grate on some readers, but I found that it added to the impact.
As I was pulled into the endless desert and the conflicting emotions that Ty brings out in Gemma, I found myself almost as confused as she was. A rational section of my brain cried out against the creepy things he was doing, but a more emotional part felt sorrow for a boy who was so lonely that he was driven to such extremes. I had to keep reminding myself that he was a kidnapper and a grown man who had stalked a girl from the age of 10. It wasn't always as easy as it should have been to hate him.
The strongest elements of the story are the emotions it inspires and how it forces you to confront them along with poor Gemma. Gemma's characterization is well done, but it's Ty and how he relates to her that is the most complex part. Ty does do an awful thing, but through Gemma's eyes, we see another side of him and I'm still questioning whether the author intended to romanticize the kidnapping or if that was Gemma's stockholm syndrome twisting the narration of events. Sometimes he seems almost too good to be true, but there are hints, especially towards the end of the book, that imply that we might not be getting the whole story.
So, is Ty a lonely, misguided boy who makes a mistake or a monster made sympathetic through the rose-coloured glasses of an unreliable narrator? Sitting here, writing this review, months after I finished the story, the answer seems clear, but when I was listening to the narration alone in my car, it wasn't.
I listened to the book in audio format during a couple of long drives and my solitude as I cruised down road amplified the story in an unpredictable way. The vast majority of the tale is spent with only Gemma and Ty, her kidnapper, alone in the harsh Australian desert. The audio book, which is performed by Emily Gray, I think is the best way to enjoy this story. Christopher has structured the book as a lengthy letter from Gemma to Ty and is the first book I've ever encountered that was in first/second person. That might grate on some readers, but I found that it added to the impact.
As I was pulled into the endless desert and the conflicting emotions that Ty brings out in Gemma, I found myself almost as confused as she was. A rational section of my brain cried out against the creepy things he was doing, but a more emotional part felt sorrow for a boy who was so lonely that he was driven to such extremes. I had to keep reminding myself that he was a kidnapper and a grown man who had stalked a girl from the age of 10. It wasn't always as easy as it should have been to hate him.
The strongest elements of the story are the emotions it inspires and how it forces you to confront them along with poor Gemma. Gemma's characterization is well done, but it's Ty and how he relates to her that is the most complex part. Ty does do an awful thing, but through Gemma's eyes, we see another side of him and I'm still questioning whether the author intended to romanticize the kidnapping or if that was Gemma's stockholm syndrome twisting the narration of events. Sometimes he seems almost too good to be true, but there are hints, especially towards the end of the book, that imply that we might not be getting the whole story.
So, is Ty a lonely, misguided boy who makes a mistake or a monster made sympathetic through the rose-coloured glasses of an unreliable narrator? Sitting here, writing this review, months after I finished the story, the answer seems clear, but when I was listening to the narration alone in my car, it wasn't.
UGH
All I can really say about this book is
THE FEELS
What made me the most upset is that she let him go. Throughout the entire book, I was waiting for that moment where they kissed and fell in love and questioned what they should do.
BUT IN REALITY, I ended up falling in love with Ty myself and hated to read that he was taken away just after they kissed for the first and last time.
That was actually a nice twist and it got the tears flowing.
Thank you, Lucy Christopher.
All I can really say about this book is
THE FEELS
What made me the most upset is that she let him go. Throughout the entire book, I was waiting for that moment where they kissed and fell in love and questioned what they should do.
BUT IN REALITY, I ended up falling in love with Ty myself and hated to read that he was taken away just after they kissed for the first and last time.
That was actually a nice twist and it got the tears flowing.
Thank you, Lucy Christopher.
Gemma is kidnapped right under her parents' noses; she's drugged and taken from the airport to the Australian outback by Ty, who has long harbored feelings for her. Christopher's protagonist, Gemma, is a believably conflicted and feisty one. She constantly argues against Ty's weak arguments for keeping her against her will. She tries to escape. Her character struggles with liking Ty and viewing him as her captor, even after her rescue and examination of Stockholm Syndrome.
The use of the outback fills a double purpose as a vivid backdrop and mechanism to keep Gemma from seeking rescue. Christopher's tactic of addressing the book as a letter to Ty pulls the reader into the action, since they're reading it as if they are Ty himself. Thoughfully pace, interesting and morally ambiguous, but nothing I passionately loved.
The use of the outback fills a double purpose as a vivid backdrop and mechanism to keep Gemma from seeking rescue. Christopher's tactic of addressing the book as a letter to Ty pulls the reader into the action, since they're reading it as if they are Ty himself. Thoughfully pace, interesting and morally ambiguous, but nothing I passionately loved.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book will make you feel mixed feelings. You can truly feel everything the main character is feeling. It such an emotional rollercoaster. You never know what you truly want throughout the book. It had a satisfying ending.
The book started our very intriguing but once I got 60-100 pages in I was thinking more “what’s next” like something new and exciting needs to happen. It was a very good book overall I just felt it dragged on for a bit in the middle. I loved the ending!!
Other than being a little slow-moving, this was really good. A very simple telling of a very complicated story. There's a lot to think about once you're finished. The exploration of Stockholm syndrome and how it happens is fascinating. The delicate psychological balance of adapting to an unadaptable situation while still remaining in fight/flight mode is a testament to human survival. All those who are tempted to sigh in love-struck awe over Ty, remember, you're inside the mind of a captive. Reading the thoughts of a victim. Remember that as you make your way through the novel. I found the ending to be a perfect culmination of events.
I get that this book was trying to display what Stockholm syndrome is like to the victim. But I still couldn't stomach what Ty did. Kidnapping someone is never okay, no matter how "troubled" the perpetrator might be. Sorry, not buying this.
This story is an absolute stunner. It's so descriptive and beautifully told. Set in the Australian Outback, the land itself definitely becomes a character through Christopher's incredible writing. Stolen is disturbing, it's heart-wrenching and it will leave you aching.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced