Always Here For You

by Miriam Halahmy, Elaine Bousfield (Editor), Sophie Standing (Illustrator)

14-year-old Holly is lonely. Holly's parents are never around after Gran's Crisis and best friend Amy has moved across the Atlantic to Canada, loved-up with her new boyfriend, Gabe. Holly has no-one to hang out with at school apart from moody Ellen and misfit Tim - Madison and the bezzies barely notice her. Home alone in Brighton with no-one to talk to, Holly is at rock bottom. That is, until she finds Jay. Caring, funny and with so much in common, Jay is the perfect guy. They chat online, but Holly knows to be careful, she s heard the horror stories. As they grow closer and closer, chatting with Jay is all that makes Holly happy. Mum and Dad s rows get more intense and Amy's radio silence continues; the only one who understands is Jay. As Holly lets her guard down, is Jay all he seems Is Holly in too deep And is it too late Always Here For You is an unforgettable novel from acclaimed poet, novelist and special needs educator, Miriam Halahmy.

Genres: Contemporary, Fiction, Abuse

288 pages, Paperback

First published February 11, 2020

About the author

I have been writing since childhood and have published twelve novels, one for adults and eleven for young people. I have been twice nominated for the Carnegie Medal. My work has been performed on stage and I was the first recipient of the prestigious PJ Ourway Author Award, in America. My books have been published in America and translated into eight languages.
My YA novel BEHIND CLOSED DOORS was the Winner of the Manchester Metropolitan University 'great student giveaway.' "The clear and popular winner."
My latest book POMEGRANATES FOR PEACE offers a message of Peace and Hope for the Future in a very divided world.
I am a frequent visitor to schools, book festivals, conferences and universities.
And I love making videos about my work.
So do visit my YouTube channel where you can view book readings, tips and lots more about my books.
https://www.youtube.com/user/miriamha...

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really important book with a powerful message for young teens.

This book follows a 14 year old girl called Holly who meets a boy called Jay online after her best friend Amy moves abroad and shes feeling pretty lonely and isolated. She is in love with Jay but things aren't as they seem.

This book is definitely aimed at a younger audience. If I had read this when I was 13 or 14 years old, I would have really enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I'm 21 and I really struggled with the juvenile and naive characters.

I did struggle with some of the language the teens in the book used. I'm not sure if some of the words were really what young people would actually say in today's society.

If you have a young teen in your life, I would really recommend you give them this book. It has an important message about the dangers of grooming online.

As an adult reading this, I didn't love it but that's more of a preference thing. This definitely is an incredibly important book for young teens

[ezme petal stella · Rating 1 out of 5]

it was okay??
I liked the message of the overall story about grooming and I think it's really important to teach about grooming this way to get through to people but I HATED the main character!! She was around my age (a year younger or smthn) but she acted like she was 5. She was so rude to her parents- who were literally cutie pies and would do anything for her.
the dialogue as well, oh my dayes. No 14/15 year olds talk like that anymore I'm sorry Miriam 😐 I was gonna stop reading this book near the end because it just got so draining
but the cover is cool me likey 🦎

[Karen Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

A topical book, though it feels a little forced on occasion, and I think reading it as an adult gives a very different response. The story focuses on grooming, and it was clearly carefully researched, and it had - perhaps appropriate for the intended audience - a relatively happy ending.
Our main character, Holly, is in year nine. She feels left out of things in school as her best friend, Amy, has recently moved to Canada. Her parents are often out and there are issues with her gran which mean she’s often home alone. She’s a pretty ideal candidate for a vulnerable person...so when she gets a message from Jay she starts texting back. The messages soon become more personal. Though nothing is directly concerning in terms of content, the sheer volume of messages is worrying. Safe on her pedestal - she even talks about knowing how to keep safe online - Holly quickly finds herself ensnared in a worrying scenario.
I was surprised by how quickly things happened. Within a fortnight, Holly had arranged to meet the mysterious Jay and was sending him seemingly innocent pictures. But we see just how easy it is to manipulate things...and how someone intent on causing harm can use things to their advantage.
Thankfully the parents get involved at an opportune moment and Holly has friends on the periphery of her life who step up when needed. This prevents anything too extreme happening. While we know not every scenario will end positively, it certainly offers a glimpse into the issues and might make someone think for a moment before doing anything that might not work out so well.

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was very close to being a DNF. It felt as if the author had never met a teenager in their life. Holly was so incredibly annoying as a MC, and the texting made me cringe, not because of what was being said, but the overuse of text language, which was probably popular in the year 2007. The point of the story was a good one, I just think it was executed poorly. The end of the book definitely got better, but overall just wasn't for me. (I was going to crash out if I had to read the name Jay one more time)

[Mary Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

With stunning characterisation, this book paints a very realistic picture of just how easy it is to be taken in on the internet; to fall prey to online grooming and how, unlike many all too common perceptions, it isn’t always the ‘troubled’ or “bad” young people that are targeted. Steadily building the tension throughout the story, it tells the story of Holly; a bright, typical 14-year-old girl from a loving family. There is nothing about her that causes concern; apart from the abject loneliness she falls into after a series of ordinary life events that simply can’t be helped. The reader actually feels her emotions; the self-doubt, lack of confidence and sense of belonging at a vulnerable age. This sets the stage for what starts as something innocent and ends up as anything but. The insightful and precise building of the online relationship is a real eye-opener. Holly rides a real emotional roller-coaster, with all the highs of joy and excitement, the lows of loneliness, anger and confusion; the exhilaration of first love. But this is a darker, more threatening side of social networking; it's just that Holly doesn't know it. Jay subtly isolates her from friends and family, causing her to believe that he is the only one she needs. The depiction of manipulation are written so that the reader experiences this as much as Holly. As he increasingly plays on Hollys' feelings of isolation and her insecurities, while simultaneously building her attachment to him, the effect it has on the reader is palpable. We are shocked out of innocence and complacency along with Holly when she learns that Jay isn't at all as he portrays himself. But now she is trapped, with no one and nowhere to turn. It takes a massive act of courage, of soul-searching for Holly to face what has happened and to seek help breaking out of Jays' grasp with a resolution that is nail-biting and dramatic. Beautifully written with a flowing, lyrical text, Always Here For You is compelling, sometimes harrowing, insightful, urgently important; as heartfelt and warm as it is heartbreaking. This is a book that must be read...and not just by young adults. It's one that is valuable for us all. I couldn’t put it down.
(This was my third read-through; preparing for the blog tour!)

[Cerys · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was gifted an ARC of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I did enjoy this book but I definitely found that it had some issues. This follows a 14 year old girl who gets unknowingly groomed online by an older man. The theme of the book is interesting and I think it's a great way of raising awareness, especially for young teen girls who may experience something similar. However, the voice of the protagonist was very naive, but not in a sweet way. She came across as annoying and immature, and I think that older readers would be put off by her voice, and younger readers may feel patronised, especially if she is supposed to be the character they relate to.

Overall, not a bad book, but I think the tone could do with some work.

[Emma Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly is 14 and feels alone, her best friend has moved away to Canada and her parents are dealing the normal stresses of both work and home life as well as caring for an elderly member of the family. This has caused Holly to feel both isolated and alone, spending increasingly longer amounts of time fending for herself and in the house alone, where she is terrified of every noise that she hears.

Her mum does try to get her to befriend Noah, a boy in her year who is experiencing bullying from another class mate and member of his synagogue. Although Holly does not realise it this friendship may not only save Noah, but also herself.

Then Holly meets Jay, someone she believes is friends with her bestie Amy and other people in school as he was posted about on an online forum, quickly this situation gets out of hand and she begins to isolate herself from those she cares about and her personality notably changes. Is Jay what he say's he is, the photo's and things he says sound like someone she could have as a boyfriend....

A terrifyingly realistic portrayal of child grooming in our modern society using the internet. I believe this should be on the school curriculum for at risk teenagers of 13+, it shows in a realistic way the risks that young people, not specifically girls are exposed to the unknown on the internet. I will definitely be keeping this book for my step daughter to read when she is of a suitable age and feel any parent who would want an insight into the risks may also find it useful. I have given it 5* for its realistic portrayal.

[Gill James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story engages you from the outset. Miriam Halamy uses a third person narrative but we still feel as though we are right in Holly’s head. We also have extracts from her diary at the end of the novel. She really captures the young girls voice.
This is a very important topic – internet safety. I can see a second novel here where we watch Holly as she comes up to and goes through the court case and then rebuilds her life afterwards.

[Grace Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

VERY unnerving. A must-read though. Insightful, infuriating, terrifying.

[Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrifying story about a 14 year old who is groomed online, full review here: https://bit.ly/2XGgukb

[Freya Parsons · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first started reading this book, I really wasn't enjoying it. I found the characters unrelatable and the way they interacted unrealistic.
However, as I got into it and I learned more about Holly, I started to enjoy it more and discovered its powerful message.
Although it isn't one of my favourite books, it is definitely an important one, and is a really good way to learn about internet safety in a more interesting way than what we are taught at school.

[Galina · Rating 4 out of 5]

"No-one knows where I am or cares, she thought."
Always Here for You by Miriam Halahmy is a cautionary tale of modern times. Inspired by the real-life events, the author was compelled to write this book because of the heart-breaking cases of two vulnerable teens who were groomed online by the adult predators.

Holly is fourteen. She lives with her parents. Dad works in a busy firm and is often tied with clients into the evening. Mum works part-time, but also looks after Gran, coping with the latest crisis.
Her best fiend Amy has moved from the UK to Canada, and by the snaps she posts online, she is having the time of her life.
Holly is worried about being left on her own in the evenings. All she wants is for Gran's Crisis to be over, so "we could get back to normal".
At school things are complicated. All the girls from school are growing away from her and going out with boys. It doesn't help that the Queen bee Madison, who's the prettiest and most popular girl in school, and her Bezzies, make fun of Holly and patronise her.

Holly is still a naïve child, who thinks that everyone except her has a boyfriend.
Then one day she joins in a Shoutout from one of the girls at school: "Hey, everyone, meet Jay, nice funny guy". After checking his profile, Holly adds Jay to her friends' list. They begin to chat. Jay makes Holly laugh, and writes all the right sympathetic comments, when she complains about having no-one to hang with now, since her best friend moved abroad.
Her parents become instant irritants in her life, all she wants to do is escape to her room and go on chatting to Jay. Jay appears to be this cute, funny, adorable boy, while his messages show how much he cares for her. They have so much in common.
"Jay's in my life now. I'm not alone anymore, she told herself". Holly doesn't see that slowly Jay alienates her from her friends and family, playing on her insecurities and feelings of loneliness.
She is manipulated, but doesn't understand it. She is so eager to please Jay, that she keeps their chats private from everyone else.
And when Jay asks to meet her under the Brighton pier, she agrees...

As a parent, you just want to grab her by the hand and stop her: No, No, don't go there, don't trust this guy.
This book made me think how lucky I was to grow up in the times without all the social media, its pressure and dangers.

When my younger son is a bit older, I will ask him to read this book. We have talked about the dangers of the Internet. Some of his class mates already have smartphones. They're entering this scary big world so young, and so naïve.

Miriam Halahmy consulted professionals in both the public and voluntary sectors for background research for this book.
It is a useful tool for younger audience to understand the possible dangers of the Internet. Written in an engaging way, it sends a clear message how to understand the use of social media in a cautious and sensible manner.

This book is aimed at a younger audience. Personally I struggled a bit with the text-speak, as it grates on my nerves, but I appreciate it is necessary for the narrative to feel authentic.

Always Here For You would be a good resource for any school library. It tells Holly's story in a sympathetic, non-patronising way. If you have a tween or young teen in your family, get this book for them.

Full review appeared at Chez Maximka (blog). https://chezmaximka.blogspot.com/2020...

[Nicole Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review originally posted on The Bibliophile Chronicles.

Always Here For You is the tense and gripping tale of a young girl named Holly who is struggling with being lonely. Only fifteen, her best friend has moved to Canada and is having the best time without her, and her parents are preoccupied with Holly's ailing grandmother. Looking for companionship she begins talking to a stranger online. She knows not everyone is who they say they are online but as she begins to feel more and more isolated, Holly feels like she only has Jay to turn too. When they decide to meet face to face Holly begins to wonder if she's made a mistake, and if Jay is all that he seems.

Miriam Halahmy has created a fast-paced and timely tale about how easy it is to fall victim to someone on the internet. The brilliantly depicted characters highlight the unnerving realty of how chatting to a stranger for a few minutes can change your whole life. The story is a tense one, with the tension ramping up the closer Holly gets to meeting Jay face to face. I thought Holly was a really fascinating protagonist, she's aware of the dangers of the internet, but it doesn't stop her from being unknowingly groomed.

Always Here For You does a fantastic job of raising awareness for something that occurs all too frequently. A well written contemporary story that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. It's a pretty quick read too, so definitely one to recommend if you're looking for a story to get lost in for an afternoon.

[Eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book in my opinion is great for tecahing younger teens about grooming online, and it makes you more wary of strangers online. I enjoyed reading this book, it made me smile sometimes and i liked the freindships made in this book by the protagonist. The communication between the charcters is not how teens talk nowadays in my opinion, but it was quite accurate in other ways.