Exposed

Publishers Weekly

Timely topics steer this story-with an inflexible grip. Despite her spot on the varsity baton-twirling team and despite an unswervingly loyal best friend, Chandra is a leper at school: her last boyfriend gave her herpes but publicly blamed it on her. When she decides to find a guy online, the first (and only) person she meets is good-looking, sympathetic Paul. She falls for him immediately, and not too much time elapses before she is streaming videos of herself, shirtless. Where issues also dominated Vaught's Big Fat Manifesto and Trigger, the characters' voices and the author's insights in those novels compensated; here, Chan behaves like a teen in a B-movie who knows a criminal is on the loose but opens the front door anyway. Readers might grow impatient not only with her but with the obviousness of the message. Ages 14-up. (Dec.)

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VOYA - Cheryl French

Romance at West Estoria High School is no longer an option for Chan Shealy. Thanks to her cheating ex-boyfriend and the herpes he gave her, no guy at school will have anything to do with her. She decides to look for love online and escape into "safe" fantasy for a while instead. The moment the first message from KnightHawk859 pops up in her inbox, Chan's whole world changes. She knows it is risky and that she is breaking her parents' Internet rules, but he is all she can think about. Chan starts off as likeable, with realistic dilemmas at school and home and an appropriate mix of earnestness and teen frustration. Her narrative loses credibility, however, when the story becomes entirely about her online relationship. The danger is so obvious that even forgiving readers will be stretched to believe Chan does not see it. This issue-driven story lacks nuance and lays the morality on too thick. Readers never really know - or care about - the characters. The budding online relationship comes across as hollow. Chan neglects friends, schoolwork, and twirling for this person. She is quickly pulled into revealing more and more of herself - literally and metaphorically - but the lure is never shared with readers. Emotionally empty and uneven, the story picks up pace at the very end when Chan finally puts the pieces together. Unfortunately many readers could grow frustrated and lose patience with Chan and with the book long before then. Reviewer: Cheryl French

Children's Literature - Janis Flint-Ferguson

High school twirler Chandra Shealy has contracted an STD. The romantic relationship with athletic jock Adam P has ended and most of the school has taken sides with Adam's new girlfriend, rival twirler Ellis Brennan. It has been a humiliating experience to say the least, so Chan is looking for something a little less physical, certainly less intimate, when she goes online to find a new "boyfriend." Chan's best friend Devin tries to be a voice of reason, but she does want her friend to be happy and when Chan meets Paul, it looks like things will definitely be improving. Paul helps Chandra lose some weight for the regional twirling competition with a training regiment that includes walking and weights. But he also entices Chan to send live pictures of her playful use of weights and seductive flirting. When her mother catches Chan playing around, she takes the computer. But Chandra does not give up Paul that easily and despite the fact that Chan's younger sister is experiencing nightmares and climbing into bed with her, Chan manages to reestablish her relationship with Paul, who volunteers to help her maintain their online chats through secret means. But as the stress of the regional competition and the clandestine relationship build, Chandra is losing control over her life and becomes quite ill. This is a modern horror story that will draw high school readers into its cautionary tale of computers as resource for both good and evil. Ultimately it is a human relationship, however flawed, that provides true support and redemption. Reviewer: Janis Flint-Ferguson

School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up

An obvious story about an Internet predator. Chan Shealy, 16, is determined to find a boyfriend online "so I can have all of the fun and absolutely none of the real-life hassle." Last year, her entire school found out that her BMOC boyfriend gave her herpes. So, she meets Paul online, and he becomes the savior in her life. The two chat late at night and he lures Chan into telling him all that he needs to prey on her and her sister, Lauren. Readers will find it hard to believe that the teen can't see what is coming, especially after Paul videotapes her without her shirt on, and they will be frustrated with Chan's naïveté. The book's message is clear, and it sometimes undermines the plot. Despite this, some readers might learn from it. Exposed has an important, timely topic that teens need to be aware of.-Shannon Seglin, Patrick Henry Library, Vienna, VA

Kirkus Reviews

A too-obvious cautionary tale about Internet predators. Chan is determined to put her past behind her, and she believes the best way to do that is to find a new boyfriend, preferably someone sensitive, cute and, if possible, far away. Still reeling from a bad breakup, she wants nothing more than someone nice. A hard-nosed coach, an overbearing mother, an overly permissive father and a sister who is growing up too quickly all combine to keep Chan spinning. Paul, her online crush, is about the only easy thing in her life. Late-night chat sessions lure Chan into telling Paul all he needs to know to prey on her and her eight-year-old sister, Lauren. While the "ripped from the headlines" message is clear, it sometimes takes center stage to the detriment of the story. Chan is realistic and sympathetic, but her naivete becomes both tiresome and unbelievable. Readers may well be frustrated by the uneven plot and the familiarity of the story. (Fiction. 14 & up)