Posts Tagged 'Internet'

The Obsession by Natasha Preston

Published February 24, 2026 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Suspense/Mystery

Connie has risen to fame through her mother’s vlogs and the family has enjoyed the spoils of their internet fame, but it has come at a price. Connie has started feeling like someone is watching her after some unusual online comments and a few local girls who resemble her start dying. Despite her growing uneasiness her mother and sister, Isla, refuse to stop posting all of the details of their daily lives for fear of losing this lucrative career. When her mom and sister leave for a long college scouting trip, Connie is nervous to stay in their sprawling home despite the state of the art security system and police chief looking in on her from time to time. Connie does have a few good friends who are always there when she needs them, but she knows someone has been on her property and possibly in her house, which makes her terrified to be on her own but no one seems to take her worries seriously and she begins to wonder if it is, in fact, all in her head. Is Connie safe in her own home? Did they invite trouble by putting their lives on the internet for all to see?

Fans of suspense/mystery stories like April Henry will like this author and this title. The premise is intriguing in the age of people posting far too many personal details online, but the pieces don’t always fit together satisfactorily. The reader can definitely feel Connie’s growing anxiety and frustration that no one is really taking her feelings seriously, but it is hard to determine at first if someone is in fact trying to get her or if she has just become overly worried after some not so nice comments she saw online. The ultimate resolution seems a bit rushed and some fans will not find it satisfying, but it is still a great pick for reluctant readers who love a fast paced, exciting story.

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Published January 15, 2010 RAC , Realistic Fiction 2 Comments
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Genre:  Realistic Fiction

# of Pages:  382 p.

RAC:  Yes

Marcus and his friends choose to skip school and go downtown in order to participate in a tech savvy scavenger hunt type game and are caught in the middle when terrorists blow up the Bay Bridge in San Francisco.  Marcus and his friends pull out of the crowd running for cover in order to get medical attention for their friend, Darryl, who was injured after the blast.  Instead of going to a hospital, however, they were transported by Homeland Security to a facility in which they were detained, questioned, and tortured for information on the terrorist attack.  Marcus had several items on him that they wanted access to and when he refused to give them passwords they would use terrible tactics to get him to talk.  His parents were not notified of his whereabouts and he was not allowed to consult with an attorney.  When they finally released him a few days later he was warned not to tell anyone what had happened or else they would come for him again.  Marcus vows to wage war on any government who thinks they can take away the rights of its citizens in the name of security.

This story asks the reader to think about what he or she would do in some difficult situations that are only slightly exaggerated.  The book portrays this world of suspicion and doubt in a way that anyone could see it actually happening.  The question is what would you do if you felt your rights were being stripped illegally?  Marcus’s story encourages communication and discussion about government control and inalienable rights.  Students who like espionage novels will like the technology and creative plans Marcus uses in order to try and reveal the truth.  Highly recommended.

Icecore by Matt Whyman

Published January 6, 2009 Adventure , RAC , Realistic Fiction 2 Comments
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Genre: Realistic Fiction

Age Level: 14 and up

# of Pages: 305 p.

RAC List: Yes

Carl Hobbes was mysteriously picked up on his way home from school and informed that he is being investigated for stealing gold bars from Fort Knox. He admits to taking a challenge issued to him by a chat room to find flaws in the security system, but denies having anything to do with the theft. He is taken to Icecore, a frozen detention center in the Arctic Circle for questioning. Carl is told that with his cooperation the United States won’t press charges, but after arriving in this place he quickly realizes that he may have been set up. The guards abuse the inmates, the inmates are kept in cages, and there are vicious dogs waiting to tear into them if they make a false move. As Carl begins to realize his dire situation, an unexpected even occurs in which he begins to worry more about his survival than his freedom.

For students who like to read spy type novels this book will keep their attention for the entire story. National security, detention centers, interrogation techniques, undercover spies, and even hardened criminals are all topics that are touched on in this exciting story. The middle lagged a bit and the ending may not please all readers, but it is still worth a read for fans of The Bourne Series or The Sleeper Code Series.

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