Customer Reviews

Sheep's Clothing

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book addresses one of the topics scary for every parent. I kept thinking about my children, my parenting, and what I would do if my child started behaving in a way that raised those red flags. I also thought it was important to show that the worst can happen even if the child seems to be turning it around and improving--and the author did this. If I have one complaint, it's that Jess's recovery after the fact was glossed over to the point that it felt too easy. What happened to her is not something that can be overcome in months; it takes years. We could call her one of the "lucky" ones, but at the same time that's the main part that just didn't strike me as real enough.

I also liked how the author portrayed the family as loving, but imperfect. Even though while reading it I was almost screaming "but she didn't mean that" and "why are you being so stubborn" they did eventually get around to communicating.

Internet predators (and other predators) don't spare anyone. This family was church-going and caring and stable, for the most part, yet the evil penetrated their protective shell and almost destroyed them. I appreciated the author's tips at the end of the book that addressed education as a way of arming our children against predators rather than trying to shield them. As parents, we should of course do all we can to ensure our children are in a safe environment, and that should not exclude their time spent online.

I absolutely loved this book!!!! Josi did an outstanding job of bringing the evils of internet predators to light. Jess is having problems with self-esteem and not feeling of importance, even when her best friend seems to be ignoring her and she seems to be left out with all the demands placed on her by her parents, so she starts looking into chat rooms and message boards, where she comes to find a friend who is lying around to deceive her. As we have a 22 year old son into porn, we've had to use filters to see where he's been on our computer, but a few years ago, Bob designed and built an electronic device that will safeguard your home and children from the negative aspects of the internet. We can just turn off the phone with a key and our son cannot access our computer when we're not home. We've got to be very vigilant with our children around the internet, esp with our children getting more tech saavy each day. I feel every parent and teen should read this very gripping eye-opener of a novel. Josi does such a great job with these timely issues.

She does a perfect job of addressing a scary but important issue. It was very well written and she obviously did her research and effectively portrayed the situation. I learned a lot about the threats of the internet that I will definitely apply in my life. Telling the story from several different perspectives really made the novel so much more interesting and effective. Even though the book was mostly about internet predators, I think it also demonstrates the challenges of an average Mormon family really well. Even families that appear perfect to others, and that don't have any serious problems, still struggle. Even in a good marriage there is conflict and disagreement. Hearing the views from the wife, husband, and child really helped me to understand each person's perspective. I was both entertained and enlightened as I read this book!

Sheep's_Clothing is one of those books that everyone needs to read. Josi Kilpack does a great job of entertaining us, while informing on the very real dangers of Internet predators. If your children have access to the Internet, you need to read this book. If those children are over the age of 12, they need to read this book.

I liked the Prologue, which sets the tone and foreshadows events to come. I liked the way Josi started each chapter with e-mails between Jess, Emily and Colt. It was unnerving to see how subtle, yet manipulative those e-mails were--how the predator coaxed identifying information from Jess, alienating and isolating her from her parents and friends, and finally, convincing her to break all the rules and meet in real life.

The scenes with Jess seemed realistic and right on with the way teens think and feel. I could really empathize with her. The concept and plot are great. The characterizations are well developed.

I liked the ending. Josi found a delicate balance between reality (the usual result) and a happy ending (unlikely). She handled the inevitable result of kidnapping by a predator very well and believably--adults will know exactly what happened to this girl, but we aren't forced to read a blow-by-blow description of it, and I very much appreciate that.

I think this is an important read on a timely topic and so I say once again: If your children have access to the Internet, YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK. If those children are over the age of 12, THEY NEED TO READ THIS BOOK.