STALKER GIRL

Harriet the Spy was never so actionable. Carly’s tale begins in medias res: Carly follows her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend around New York City, disguising herself with oversize sunglasses and scratchy wool hats. She knows it’s unhealthy, but she just can’t help herself—that annoying Taylor Deen isn’t just dating Carly’s Brian, but she seems to be beautiful, friendly and smart to boot. After an extended scene of Carly’s stalking, the narrative travels back in time six months to present the story of Carly and Brian’s relationship. Carly’s summer of working at camp, overly peppered with exposition, gives the thin impression of a likable girl whose first real relationship is made even better by her friendships with Brian’s warm, loving family. Perhaps that makes the breakup worse, although it’s Carly’s own obsessive behavior that forces the relationship’s end. With too much telling instead of showing and a rushed conclusion, it’s difficult to understand Carly well enough to empathize with her poor choices. They are worth exploring, but as a story, this falls flat. (Fiction. 13-16)