Stalker Girl by Rosemary Graham

Book Details
Stalker Girl by Rosemary Graham
Hardcover, 208 pages
2010, Viking Juvenile
ISBN: 0670063037

Synopsis
Carly never meant to become a stalker. She just wanted to find out who Brian started dating after he dumped her. But a little harmless online research turns into a quick glance, and that turns into an afternoon of watching. Soon Carly is putting all of her energy into following Brian’s new girlfriend—all of the sadness she feels about her mom’s recent breakup, all of the anger she feels over being pushed aside by her dad while he prepares for his new wife’s new baby. When Carly’s stalking is discovered in the worst possible way by the worst possible person, she is forced to acknowledge her problem and the underlying issues that led to it.

Review
My opinion is firmly on the fence when it comes to Stalker Girl. The emotion in the book was so spot on. The pain, loss, fear and denial experienced during a romantic break-up felt throughout the novel was breathtakingly expressed. I can't deny that Carly's feelings became my feelings. Unfortunately, the escalation of her stalking her ex-boyfriend's new girlfriend crossed into the ludicrous.

In the beginning, Carly's need to know about Brian's new girlfriend seemed normal. We saw the entire relationship between Carly and Brian and knew the loss she was feeling. Wanting to know who she lost him to is understandable. But then she crossed a line into sheer craziness. Perhaps if she had been stalking Brian, the lengths she went to would have been a little bit more realistic. Her focus on the girlfriend took the book somewhere reasonably sane females just don't go, making it very hard to relate to Carly and ultimately alienated me completely.

Stalker Girl is a fun, honest and well written book, but it lost me towards the end. Even someone spiraling out of control has limits, which was forgotten somewhere in this book.

Rating

Links

Rosemary Graham's website