Stalker Girl

July 26, 2010
As discomforting as waiting for a character in a horror film to finally get axed, Graham’s novel follows high school senior Carly, as her seemingly innocent desire to see her ex’s new girlfriend, Taylor, in person turns into a day spent trailing her every move. Donning different hats and faking cellphone calls whenever Taylor glances her way, Carly follows Taylor all over Manhattan. The tension of this first section all but disappears during a long flashback to Carly’s romantic summer with Brian, which, along with details about her family life, gives readers subtle insights into her behavior, without justifying it. Carly’s family is disintegrating, her mother splitting from the boyfriend they’ve lived with since Carly was young; this loss, coupled with Brian’s dumping her, is more than Carly can handle. Carly’s stalking is inevitably and humiliatingly discovered, but Graham (Thou Shalt Not Dump the Skater Dude) doesn’t quite recapture the intensity of the beginning of the story. The omniscient narrator, though, gives readers a strikingly intimate perspective on Carly, following her with the same level of detail that she pursues Taylor. Ages 12–up.

January 1, 2011

Gr 8-10-When Carly's mother ends her relationship with her boyfriend, Carly is given two options for the summer: either go live temporarily with her father and stepmother in Ohio, or take a job at Stony Hollow, an exclusive sleepaway camp at which her mother is the Interim Director. Opting to take the camp position, Carly finds that she desperately misses city life and is unnerved by ordinary sounds in the woods, but soon falls in love with Brian, her fellow kitchen worker and a talented musician. Summer camp comes to an end all too quickly, and Carly finds herself back at her expensive Manhattan all-girls prep school, while Brian rents an apartment in Brooklyn. Greater exposure and praise of his band lead to an increase in female fans, heightening Carly's insecurity and resulting in an irrevocable split in the relationship. When Taylor, Brian's new girlfriend, arrives on the scene, Carly's obsession and stalker tendencies go beyond the pale, leading to unintended and fateful consequences. The action feels a bit flat and moves slowly, although the tempo increases in the last third of the story. Several scenes show promise, insight, and excitement; the tension between the rich Manhattan second-home owners ("Citiots") and year-round residents is believable, while Carly's interrogation by a defense attorney is fast-paced. However, readers never fully empathize with or understand her actions. Although the ending is somewhat tidy and perhaps not redemptive enough, there is hope that Carly has learned her lesson.-Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2010
Grades 8-11 In a move reminiscent of Amy Efaws After (2009), Graham takes a vilified behaviorin this case, stalkingand assigns it to her protagonist, and along the way manages to generate a surprising amount of sympathy. Seventeen-year-old Carly is a normal girl: shes got a good family that is nonetheless drifting apart and a best friend growing distant as college looms. Most importantly, though, she has Brian, the cute bass player of a band that is seriously on the rise. As the bands popularity skyrockets, Carly mishandles her jealousy over the growing number of groupies and ends up dumped. The chance discovery of Brians new flame starts her along a path that seems fairly harmless to CarlyGraham gets inside of her head to an impressive degreeeven as it becomes legally criminal. Graham starts with the stalking and backtracks, successfully bestowing a bit of whiplash on her readers. Its a patient read heavied with lots of character development, so mileage will vary, but theres no doubting the intelligent structure and execution.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)