Zoe and Cara were as close as friends could be—until Zoe moved away. Miserable without Zoe, Cara grew into an unhappy sixteen-year-old, tormented by the popular girls and nursing a hopeless crush. Then one day Cara returns home from a miserable day at school to find Zoe sitting on her bed. Shocked and delighted, Cara agrees to hide Zoe from troubles at home and the two resume their friendship as though no time has passed. Zoe even helps Cara get up the courage to stand up for herself and talk to her crush. But when one of the popular girls winds up dead, Cara begins to suspect that Zoe is responsible, and her questions only feed Zoe’s anger. As Cara searches for answers, she is forced to confront a deadly truth….
Choker
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Book Description
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Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
In this creepy psychological thriller, something disturbing is happening in the background while 16-year-old Cara narrates, oblivious; and readers will relish hunting for the clues. Cara is relieved when her best friend, Zoe, whom she hasn’t seen since moving away in fifth grade, appears at her house needing a hiding place. Cara is ridiculed at school—after a disastrous cafeteria incident, the mean girls call her “choker”—but Zoe always knows what to do. With her help, Cara successfully makes over her image, but the better Cara does, the more resentful Zoe becomes. When one mean girl drowns and another disappears, Cara starts wondering why Zoe has returned, and what she is hiding from. Right from the prologue, when young Zoe cajoles Cara to eat her mom’s “zombie” pills, it’s clear that their obsessive relationship is twisted, but Woods plays with readers’ expectations well enough to keep us guessing at Zoe’s true nature. Terrific pacing and mounting suspense lead to a resolution that may not surprise savvy readers but is nonetheless chilling. Grades 9-12. --Krista Hutley
About the Author
Choker is Elizabeth Woods' debut novel. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.
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Customer Reviews
“ And at the same time, Cara feels bad in some ways because things start to go wrong around her and with other people, but she still is like "Look at me! I'm happy!" ”
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Liz Tea
Format:Hardcover
Maybe I've watched too many horror movies, but I predicted the ending to Choker within the first couple of pages. It particularly reminded me of one of my favorite Japanese horror movies, A Tale of Two Sisters. Just replace a sister with a best friend, add in a love interest, and some school, and bam! You've got Choker. Just not as creepy or gruesome. If only the movie cover looked like the book. I'm such a [...]for a pretty cover and some chapter art.
Did that mean I enjoyed the book any less? Not really, surprisingly. Elizabeth Woods does a wonderful job capturing the feel of being the high school loner, and the tension is almost palpable at times. I had a hard time putting this down once I finally started reading it. The characters all fulfill the roles they need to perfectly. Ethan, the love interest, draws your sympathy for just being such a good guy. Alexis is the total high school prom queen [...]everyone runs into. Zoe is, of course, creepy. And Cara. Well, Cara is a little difficult to understand on one read through.
One small thing that annoyed me in Choker were specific references, such as "iTunes" and "Kristen Stewart" and "Oprah". Unless I'm reading historical fiction and it's all about specific details, I really tend to feel like it dates a book like this, and adds in some unnecessary things. It's like me saying I'm sitting here writing this in my Hello Kitty nerd pj's, listening to the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows soundtrack, and watching the newest episode of What Not to Wear. When, instead, I could just say I'm sitting here in my pj's, listening to some music with the tv on in the background. Maybe it doesn't bother other people, but I personally don't like reading about brand names and current celebrities in my books.
Even from the prologue, I knew something was up with Zoe. It really set the whole tone for the book. She's extremely manipulative and possessive, and seems to crave being a little too close for Cara's comfort. Her moods are all over the place, and all Cara seems to want to do is please her and keep her happy. While Cara's instant submissiveness was annoying, I did find myself cheering her on, and trying to push her, when she finally had the guts to confront Zoe about anything. Zoe just gave me the shivers, and her physical description got grosser and grosser as it goes on. You have to stay holed up in a room all day and you don't take a shower for days? I don't get it. But, I understood it as basically watching Zoe decay in front of our eyes, while remaining alive, so maybe I'll forgive the lack of hygiene.
I also have to say the scenes of animal cruelty really got to me. It's probably one of the reasons I just couldn't find it in me to rate this any higher. The nightmare about the dog literally made me feel sick to my stomach, not to mention what happens to the cat at the end. Again, it's probably just me, but I had a hard time stomaching it.
I did feel, a lot of the time, that I was almost reading a book adaptation of a movie. This was an unusually short book for me, so that could be part of the reason. The end just kind of came out of left field, even though I was pretty sure I knew what was going to happen. I rarely reread a book I would only rate as average, but I think I may have to. I want to see if there were any hints dropped about the end. I love scattered, subtle hints that don't come right out and tell you what's happening, but definitely make you nod and go `Oh, yeah' after it's all over. I'm worried that maybe something so quintessential to a good, thorough, fulfilling "horror" was left out, and I'm feeling the need to double check.
On an uber-spoilery point, what is up with her parents?! You have a psychotic daughter, and yet you don't check to make sure she's taking her medication, you're hardly around, and you let her stop seeing a psychiatrist? What kind of parenting is that? Seriously, her parents just pissed me off.
Predictable, if you've ever watched a horror movie. However, Elizabeth Wood's writing makes this a quick, tense read. It'll definitely make you want to reread it as soon as it's over. It has some minor flaws, but they can all probably be forgiven by most readers. It's hard to put down, and will make you want to stay up all night to finish it.
(originally posted @ The Tealeaf Review)
Did that mean I enjoyed the book any less? Not really, surprisingly. Elizabeth Woods does a wonderful job capturing the feel of being the high school loner, and the tension is almost palpable at times. I had a hard time putting this down once I finally started reading it. The characters all fulfill the roles they need to perfectly. Ethan, the love interest, draws your sympathy for just being such a good guy. Alexis is the total high school prom queen [...]everyone runs into. Zoe is, of course, creepy. And Cara. Well, Cara is a little difficult to understand on one read through.
One small thing that annoyed me in Choker were specific references, such as "iTunes" and "Kristen Stewart" and "Oprah". Unless I'm reading historical fiction and it's all about specific details, I really tend to feel like it dates a book like this, and adds in some unnecessary things. It's like me saying I'm sitting here writing this in my Hello Kitty nerd pj's, listening to the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows soundtrack, and watching the newest episode of What Not to Wear. When, instead, I could just say I'm sitting here in my pj's, listening to some music with the tv on in the background. Maybe it doesn't bother other people, but I personally don't like reading about brand names and current celebrities in my books.
Even from the prologue, I knew something was up with Zoe. It really set the whole tone for the book. She's extremely manipulative and possessive, and seems to crave being a little too close for Cara's comfort. Her moods are all over the place, and all Cara seems to want to do is please her and keep her happy. While Cara's instant submissiveness was annoying, I did find myself cheering her on, and trying to push her, when she finally had the guts to confront Zoe about anything. Zoe just gave me the shivers, and her physical description got grosser and grosser as it goes on. You have to stay holed up in a room all day and you don't take a shower for days? I don't get it. But, I understood it as basically watching Zoe decay in front of our eyes, while remaining alive, so maybe I'll forgive the lack of hygiene.
I also have to say the scenes of animal cruelty really got to me. It's probably one of the reasons I just couldn't find it in me to rate this any higher. The nightmare about the dog literally made me feel sick to my stomach, not to mention what happens to the cat at the end. Again, it's probably just me, but I had a hard time stomaching it.
I did feel, a lot of the time, that I was almost reading a book adaptation of a movie. This was an unusually short book for me, so that could be part of the reason. The end just kind of came out of left field, even though I was pretty sure I knew what was going to happen. I rarely reread a book I would only rate as average, but I think I may have to. I want to see if there were any hints dropped about the end. I love scattered, subtle hints that don't come right out and tell you what's happening, but definitely make you nod and go `Oh, yeah' after it's all over. I'm worried that maybe something so quintessential to a good, thorough, fulfilling "horror" was left out, and I'm feeling the need to double check.
On an uber-spoilery point, what is up with her parents?! You have a psychotic daughter, and yet you don't check to make sure she's taking her medication, you're hardly around, and you let her stop seeing a psychiatrist? What kind of parenting is that? Seriously, her parents just pissed me off.
Predictable, if you've ever watched a horror movie. However, Elizabeth Wood's writing makes this a quick, tense read. It'll definitely make you want to reread it as soon as it's over. It has some minor flaws, but they can all probably be forgiven by most readers. It's hard to put down, and will make you want to stay up all night to finish it.
(originally posted @ The Tealeaf Review)
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Yea! A book to recommend to my teens who do *NOT* want a vampire or supernatural book. Cara and what her life is like at school provide the story's basic structure. Unfortunately, Cara also happens to be one of those kids that just really doesn't seem to fit into school life very well. A lot of what happens to Cara is outside her ability to control (she is bullied and tormented) but just as sadly, it often seems that Cara's lack of confidence and social skills make he so ill-at-ease with daily situations it's like she becomes her own worst enemy. Story is written so that you *think* Cara's life is going one way...but be prepared for a nice, juicy twist. If you're a reader that just loves a surprise, this is NOT a book to read the ending pages first. On the other hand, if you are a reader who likes to see how an author puts things together in an interesting way and knowing the ending won't spoil the pleasure of the book, by all means...see if you can figure out what's what.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By T. Hoang
Format:Hardcover
3.5 stars
If one of Stephen King's books had a baby with one of Sarah Dessen's, the result would be Choker. I know what you're thinking, "but the cover is so nice!" Yes, but take a closer look. It's still a little creepy, especially if you flip it over and take a look at the back. The quote on the back is "What are best friends for?". Apparently more than just sleepovers and shopping dates.
Choker is part mystery, part thriller, and all high school drama. One thing I enjoyed about the book is the detail the author uses when describing each character. Cara (being the social outcast) has many awkward and humiliating moments, and I cringed at all of them. Luckily, those awkward moments don't last too long. She soon changes when her childhood best friend runsaway from home and decides to stay with her. It was nice to see Cara transform because of Zoe. Zoe gave her confidence and wasn't scare to criticize if necessary. But then things take a turn for the creepy. One second, they have this nice friendship I could totally relate to, then the next, Zoe comes up with some incredibly disturbing idea or thought that gave me the heebie jeebies. I'm shuddering now just thinking about them. While their friendship wasn't exactly good nor bad, I will say it is unique.
For those who must have at least a teaspoon of romance in their reads (I know I'm one of those people!), there's Ethan. Out of all the characters, Ethan was my favorite. I loved his kindness and caring heart. His encounters with Cara were so sweet and genuine. I mean, this kid practically had me at hello. At times, I felt so bad for this him. There's a lot going on, and he's pretty much caught up in the middle. Not exactly the place you want your only swoon-worthy candidate to be.
Though I did enjoy the storyline and the writing, I pretty much figured out what was going on 100 pages in. I think if I was younger, I wouldn't have figured it out so quickly. After all, this was written for the 14 and up crowd, and I haven't been 14 in ages. Even so, I was still curious as to how the story unfolds. Just because you know what's going on doesn't mean you know how it's going to end. And that ending? Wow.
While some may figure out the ending and some won't, I still think this is an enjoyable read. It's different than most YA books out there, and I completely appreciate that.
If one of Stephen King's books had a baby with one of Sarah Dessen's, the result would be Choker. I know what you're thinking, "but the cover is so nice!" Yes, but take a closer look. It's still a little creepy, especially if you flip it over and take a look at the back. The quote on the back is "What are best friends for?". Apparently more than just sleepovers and shopping dates.
Choker is part mystery, part thriller, and all high school drama. One thing I enjoyed about the book is the detail the author uses when describing each character. Cara (being the social outcast) has many awkward and humiliating moments, and I cringed at all of them. Luckily, those awkward moments don't last too long. She soon changes when her childhood best friend runsaway from home and decides to stay with her. It was nice to see Cara transform because of Zoe. Zoe gave her confidence and wasn't scare to criticize if necessary. But then things take a turn for the creepy. One second, they have this nice friendship I could totally relate to, then the next, Zoe comes up with some incredibly disturbing idea or thought that gave me the heebie jeebies. I'm shuddering now just thinking about them. While their friendship wasn't exactly good nor bad, I will say it is unique.
For those who must have at least a teaspoon of romance in their reads (I know I'm one of those people!), there's Ethan. Out of all the characters, Ethan was my favorite. I loved his kindness and caring heart. His encounters with Cara were so sweet and genuine. I mean, this kid practically had me at hello. At times, I felt so bad for this him. There's a lot going on, and he's pretty much caught up in the middle. Not exactly the place you want your only swoon-worthy candidate to be.
Though I did enjoy the storyline and the writing, I pretty much figured out what was going on 100 pages in. I think if I was younger, I wouldn't have figured it out so quickly. After all, this was written for the 14 and up crowd, and I haven't been 14 in ages. Even so, I was still curious as to how the story unfolds. Just because you know what's going on doesn't mean you know how it's going to end. And that ending? Wow.
While some may figure out the ending and some won't, I still think this is an enjoyable read. It's different than most YA books out there, and I completely appreciate that.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Fun but predictable.
Not bad overall. There are a few inconsistencies in the book and several large plot issues that made the whole thing less enjoyable. A good read for an undemanding reader.
Published 1 month ago by Rebecca Maynard
4.0 out of 5 stars
Dark and Unnerving
Let's talk a bit about how covers can be duplicitous. Here we have a pretty pink cover, white winter trees, a long stemmed rose and some lovely handwriting. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Catie Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Havent read it
It was bought as a gift for my son and he hasnt read it yet but the shiipping was fast.
Published 2 months ago by Michele
3.0 out of 5 stars
Creepy fun, but has some serious logic problems
Cara Lange is an awkward 16-year-old girl is a loner with no real friends, not even on her track team. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Baron Von Cool
2.0 out of 5 stars
Choker
I found this book to be predictable. The characters are cliche....typical popular mean girl and typical depressed-OMG no one likes me-I like the hottest guy in school girl. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Leilany Vazquez Portalatin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Choker
Such an awesome book. You can put it down once you start reading it! The ending will keep you on pins and needle a the entire time. Love this book!
Published 4 months ago by Molly Robidoux
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic YA mystery!
Cover
I like this cover, but it's not one of my favorites. I love the trees and plant life involved, but it could have used more oomph in my opinion. Read more
I like this cover, but it's not one of my favorites. I love the trees and plant life involved, but it could have used more oomph in my opinion. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Compelled By Words
5.0 out of 5 stars
Whoa!
** spoiler alert ** This book was WOW. I finished it several hours ago and I'm still stunned that I never saw the end coming.
At first I was bored... Read more
At first I was bored... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Angieleigh
1.0 out of 5 stars
Choker
Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. That's really all I have to say. That, and I nearly was sick from how disturbed I was at this book. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Thalia Anderson
3.0 out of 5 stars
An average read with a killer twist!
This is a really tough one to review. On one hand, I had issues with the book but the shocking ending is making me question everything I read. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Lisa
