Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman

Want to Go Private? by Sarah Darer Littman
"Abby and Luke chat online. They've never met. But they are going to. Soon.

Abby is starting high school--it should be exciting, so why doesn't she care? Everyone tells her to "make an effort," but why can't she just be herself? Abby quickly feels like she's losing a grip on her once-happy life. The only thing she cares about anymore is talking to Luke, a guy she met online, who understands. It feels dangerous and yet good to chat with Luke--he is her secret, and she's his. Then Luke asks her to meet him, and she does. But Luke isn't who he says he is. When Abby goes missing, everyone is left to put together the pieces. If they don't, they'll never see Abby again."- summary from Amazon

I got this book randomly from the publisher but I'm so happy I got it because I've been meaning to read something by Littman. This book is really good and it makes me want to read more from her. The story is structured wonderfully, broken up into 3 parts. the first part is all about Abby getting to know Luke and then going to meet up (it's the longest section), the second part switches between the perspectives of Abby's little sister Lily, her best friend Faith, and Billy, a boy in her science class, as well as some police reports, and the third section deals with the aftermath of Abby being found.

It's hard to read this book because watching Abby fall under Luke's spell is just heartbreaking and can be a bit frustrating. I think that frustration comes from the reader already knowing she's going to be abducted but Littman does a good job of making the reader identify with Abby a bit- the start of high school being scary, feeling lonely, not being listened to, etc. All of us, I'm sure, has felt something that Abby went through that got her to be open to Luke's lies.

I almost cried a few times during the third part which isn't something that happens often when I read a book. That alone should show you how good this book is at conveying emotions and sucking the reader deep into the story. It takes a lot to get me to tear up (and even more to actually cry) so if an author can do that, kudos to them. I think the only other book to do that to me was Alive and Well in Prague, NY by Daphne Grab and that was over 3 years ago (June 2008).

Overall, just a fantastic book. Littman has written a riveting and emotional tale that should be devoured by many. As a side note, the author will be at the PAYA Festival later this month so if you're nearby, come on by to get a book signed!

FTC: Received ARC from publisher. Link above is an Amazon Associate link; any profit goes toward funding contests.