I must read like, three online predator storylines a year. This is one of another worse-case-scenario types, where the girl gets her heart broken and decides that she'll find something (someone) on the internet despite knowing better. I actually really despise this depiction of teenage girls. Sure, we do dumb things. Sure, we take risks. Sure, we defy parental rules just for the heck of it (sometimes) but I just feel like we all should know better. Yet, in the storylines, we don't. We still fall victim to online predators, and apparently, are stupid enough to lead them to our younger sister. Also, are parents so uptight in that they're not only going to homeschool Chan and Lauren, but take away all electronics? Dramatic, much? Sure, you're concerned with safety and all, but getting special equipment to detect computers, and etc.? Just, WOW. This takes paranoia to a whole new level.
Not that it irks me as much as other things, but I wasn't very appreciative of Chan's poetry. It was kind of pretentious writing, like desperately trying to sound elegant and emotional, but really didn't turn out that great. Nobody (well, me) can resist Emily Dickinson, but I feel like the whole I-love-poetry-and-I-just-adore-Dickson side story is so unnecessary. What exactly do you get out of it besides the fact that Chan wants to imitate Emily? And if the poet was really her model, why write an entire paper about her being an alleged lesbian? Weird. Same thing with Devin. How much do we really know about Devin besides that she treats her boyfriends rather badly? Do we get a side story to that? No. I wanted one, though. Don't just throw in characters without a background to support their development. Like the mom. What's going on in her mind? Or the Dad: I love his character, but I never got to know him with so little that the protagonist shares. And what's up with Adam-P? He is like the most random character of all. Out of nowhere, he gives her herpes. Out of nowhere, he's dating Ellis. Out of nowhere, he breaks up with Ellis and starts stalker calling Chan. What is going on?
Okay, so the major flop was the way the story ended. Things ended abruptly, even though I could tell the author was trying to wrap it up nicely. Devin fell, if possible, even more flat towards the end (what's the background to her boyfriend issue, Vaught? Pray tell!). The whole thing with Adam P trying to get Chan back was a dumb tactic: I just wanted him out of the picture. He has regrets? I'm sure he does, but I honestly couldn't care less. And PAUL. Yikes. I knew he was a pervert, but I did not expect him to tag on another relationship with Lauren. On the other hand, his relationship with Lauren was more believable. It’s fathomable for a girl as young as her to get sucked up into this web (pun not intended), yet still a bit crazy to think of someone like Lauren’s age being tricked and nearly becoming the next image of child porn. And how does Lauren stay from being completely bitchy to Chan one second and calm and on speaking terms the next? What about the father’s weight problem? And what about the mother? I kept waiting for some deep, mother-daughter bonding time, but that never happened. Honestly, if you’re going to try to make me believe any part of the ending, make it detailed. I was left with too many questions than answers.