Published by Warped Tomato Publishing
****
My Review
I think I was on edge before I even started reading Cyberstalker. The title says it all.
It’s been plastered all over the news. Countless movies have been made about it. Predators prowl the internet, preying on the innocent, the young. Nothing is private.
But you have to remember this is a young girl, just entering highschool. Didn’t we all think we were invincible, we were going to live forever, nothing bad would happen to us?
That’s what Lilly thinks even though it niggles at the back of her mind when she friends a young guy on MyWorld, a site similar to Facebook. She hesitates but then thinks why not.
Ian’s insidious. His stalking is subtle in the beginning, luring her in. But then it escalates. Lilly feels like she’s being watched, followed, threatened. As much as she wants a boyfriend, she’s beginning to realize she should’ve listened to her inner voice.
This is every parents worse nightmare. You can’t watch what your child is doing every minute of the day. You have to give them room, teach them about the dangers, and trust them.
While this story is fiction, it could and does happen. That’s why I had chills while reading it and was almost afraid to keep going. I was worried about how bad it would get.
I’d recommend this to all ages. Told from Lilly’s point of view, you read her thoughts, understand her vulnerabilities and actions. Younger readers and siblings, along with parents, could learn a lot from this.
4 Stars
***
A gripping YA novel for the Facebook generation.
“I love you.”
Lilly’s heart misses a beat when these words appear on her screen. Okay, she’d love to have a boyfriend, and when Ian sends her a friendship request, she eagerly accepts. He just looks so gorgeous in the pictures. But when she’s about to meet him in person, things take a dramatic turn. Who is Ian really? And how far will he go to get what he wants?
3 Rules Against Cyberstalking:
1. Don’t accept friendship requests from people you’ve never met.
2. Don’t look at their photos.
3. Don’t fall in love.
PRAISE for “Cyberstalker”:
“Gripping and insidiously convincing, CYBERSTALKER will simultaneously thrill and appall readers, who may start to wonder who might really be on the other end of every Internet conversation.” MG Harris, international best-selling author of “The Joshua Files”
About Author Jens Hildebrand
I’ve always read a lot and started writing when I was ten. Reading and writing have always helped me in my life, and I need both the same way that I need air to breathe. During my time at school I wrote a Sherlock Holmes novel, one horror and two adventure novels, and lots of short stories. My inspirations were Jules Verne, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Stephen King and Ray Bradbury – quite a weird mixture, I know. My great mentor was my granddad, who was hilariously funny and inspiring. He read all my stuff and was happy for me, and he also found out that in the early 19th century one of our ancestors, Wilhelm Zahn, produced amazing books about the ancient murals in Pompeii and was friends with Goethe. This provided even more inspiration, as did all those late-night films I watched when I was home alone: mostly old B-monster-movies by Jack Arnold (“Tarantula”, “Creature from the Black Lagoon”), “The Thing from Another World”, and John Carpenter’s “The Fog”. Our old house always creaked and cracked, and that didn’t help. Well, it sure got my imagination going…
Later, while studying at uni I started producing computer software, for example the first language
learning software on CD, and guidebooks for teachers about the new media, like the first didactical treatment of teaching film analysis.
On my way to school one morning I came up with the idea for “Granny Gertrude”, which then led to the stories about Tom and “TEAM 002″. I’ve always been a great fan of James Bond, and it’s kind of funny that there even is a Bond story titled “The Hildebrand-Rarity”, which was used as a source for the Bond film “Licence to kill” (1989). So it’s only logical for Tom, the hero of my secret agent thrillers, to admire James Bond. The idea for “Cyberstalker” came about during my work as leader of our team for crisis intervention. It’s more grounded in reality than you would like to know.
I love England, first and foremost our English friends and Dartmoor, where Sherlock Holmes chased the “Hound of the Baskervilles”. The small village of Postbridge has become our second home, and we love exploring the area and sitting round the fireplace, chatting with friends.
At our school, I currently hold the post of Deputy Headmaster. I also coordinate our crisis & counseling team. We endeavour to help our pupils, mostly to make them resilient against bullying, cyberbullying, cyberstalking etc. What’s most important job is creating a good atmosphere at school. We also work within a great network of partners such as other schools and counseling centres.
Author Links
****
The overall tour giveaway will be a movie script, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, with authenticated autographs.
Click on the rafflecopter below to enter.
Email fictionaddiction.booktours@gmail.com
****
Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!
To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!
Thanks for the awesome giveaway, this book sounds great!
It was disturbing and educational at the same time. Very glad I read it.
Love the sound of this book…. I would love to win an I am definitely going to be reading this one for sure!!! Thanks for the fabulous giveaway!!!
You’ll be doing some thinking after reading this one.
I think we need better training when it comes to safety on the net. We are not as anonymous as we think we are. 🙂
Anna from Shout with Emaginette
The author puts you in Lilly’s head. You see why she’s doing what she does, her thoughts and confusion. Very scary at times the way a teenager’s mind works.
[…] Fuonlyknew […]
Fabulous review Laura.
Thank you for taking part in Jens’ tour.
Shaz
Thanks Shaz. I’m glad to be a host for the tour. I would have missed this author and his thrilling novel otherwise!
Awesome giveaway. I even like the publishers name – Warped Tomato. How fun is that? In sharp contrast to the premise of Cyberstalker.
I liked that name too. You’d like this one Sherry. A quick read as you won’t want to stop til the end and the author nailed it writing as a female teenager.
Really creepy. The thought gives me chills. But, really important information for this day and age and a must read for every teenager–and adult.
I second that Taylor!
I agree with you – just the title has me on edge. I just had to explain to my daughter the other day she can’t be friends with people on Facebook she doesn’t know in person and that I don’t know in person. It’s a scary world out there – I’m super cautious, too. This sounds like a nail biter! 0.0
That was a difficult conversation, I bet. Teens think they are invincible but with all of the programs out there and stuff at the schools, theyare beginning to understand the dangers.
Thank you for the giveaway