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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
Every single one of these characters is INSUFFERABLE. The mother and boyfriend especially. There's just no gray area for any of them. They're either awful people or supposed angels. If the plot hadn't been actually decent, I would have dropped it after meeting them in chapter 1.
But then the plot turned ridiculous and statutory rape-y and gross and I didn't like it. The ending especially can fuck all the way off. I don't recommend this at all. It's bad, even as 90s YA goes.
But then the plot turned ridiculous and statutory rape-y and gross and I didn't like it. The ending especially can fuck all the way off. I don't recommend this at all. It's bad, even as 90s YA goes.
I got the digital library version of this - updated with references to cell phones and the Internet. The story itself retained certain marks of 80s YA fiction though: the protagonist's only relationships are with her parents, boyfriend and employers. How are you supposed to flesh out a young character without looking beyond the love interest and her babysitting job? What is she interested in? What sets her apart aside from the psychic abilities the book focuses on? Lois Duncan's writing can be fantastic, but this book was dreary. Beyond updated tech references this book could have done with heavy editing to cut out some banal and unnecessary details and the use of 'incredulously' to describe reactions.
One funny thing: in the update the love interest rookie cop is renamed Rob, rather than Ron. I guess the publishers decided they didn't want their readers picturing a Ron. Ron Swanson is what pops into my head :P
I forgot until recently that there was one summer that I was super into Lois Duncan books. This one as probably my least favorite, as intriguing as a crime-solving teen psychic sounds.
I read this book for a Reading Competition when I was still in middle school and something about it stuck with it. I liked the mystery of it and I thought that the end was a nice way of adding that extra romance without taking away from the rest of the book.
This was an enjoyable, albeit typical Duncan story. Some suspense, some romance, some teen angst and parental conflict, and, of course, kidnappings. Not to say those are bad elements, just that those are what you can expect when reading most of her work. I enjoyed this one, kept me entertained throughout.
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this book because it had the hint of paranormal with a budding love story. Plus, it had just enough intrigue to keep the suspense level at just the right amount.
slow-paced