Review: Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Stolen by Lucy Christopher
Publisher: Chicken House Ltd
Published Date: May 4, 2009
Pgs. 320

Told in a moving letter to her captor, sixteen-year-old Gemma relives her kidnapping from Bangkok airport while on holiday. Taken by Ty, her troubled young stalker, to the wild and desolate Australian outback, she reflects on a landscape from which there's no escape. A story of survival, passion and darkness, Gemma reveals how she had to deal with the nightmare, or die trying to fight it….

This novel is unlike any novel I’ve ever read, leaving me of all people SPEECHLESS. What can I say without spoiling the book? I have no clue! This is one of those novels I feel is a Must Read and will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.

Christopher’s Stolen is written in a way where the protagonist writes to her captor hence the title “A Letter to My Captor.” This is the first time I’ve ever read a narrative style like this and it compels the reader to take note of the emotions Gemma experiences. This book is a page turner and I was caught up in this story from the first to the last page. I had a hard time putting this book down (I know I skipped out on a meal or two)!

Sometimes I was left confused at how I’m supposed to feel about this novel. I mean, someone is kidnapped every day (According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (citing U.S. Department of Justice reports), nearly 800,000 children are reported missing each year. That's more than 2,000 a day). You see it on the news all the time. So, in a way I should feel disturbed about Ty’s involvement in Gemma’s life - Right? Well, somehow by the end of this book – I ended up feeling sorry for him. I guess this is why we hear the term Stockholm syndrome (behavior of kidnap victims who, over time, become sympathetic to their captors).

Yet again, this is one of those novels that words cannot express how great this book is. All I’m saying is read it for yourself! This is an amazing novel for readers of all ages that will leave you astounded.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars