Stalker (Paperback)

~ Hazel Edwards (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up-Lilly is stoked to have scored an all-night volunteer slot on her university's FM station, spinning cutting-edge tunes, chatting live with local night owls, and dishing out exclusive pop gossip until a regular caller begins harassing her during both on- and off-air hours. The Australian author drew from her personal experience in community radio, which included receiving hate mail from an obsessed listener. By alternating narrative points of view between stalkee and stalker, she attempts to present a fast-paced and compelling thriller that is also psychologically instructive. Unfortunately, the meatless characterizations on both sides of the crime make it difficult to connect with the story emotionally, and, while the breathless pacing may appeal to readers unconcerned with juicier literary subtleties, others may wind up feeling they've been dragged over the story rather than properly sucked into it. Teens otherwise attracted to the novel's high-interest plot may be deterred by some of the idioms that are sometimes rendered further puzzling by compounding uniquely Australian usage with esoteric broadcast terminology. Despite its shortcomings, Stalker is a realistic novel that might have a place in collections in need of a fictional treatment of this very real and often misunderstood brand of crime.--Jeffrey Hastings, Highlander Way Middle School, Howell, MI
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Product Description

Lily is being stalked. As the midnight-to-dawn presenter on 3BC-FM, she attracts many followers, but this one is obsessive and dangerous. When the stalker moves in closer, Lily needs help.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 175 pages
• Publisher: Lothian Books; 1st edition (2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0734401035
• ISBN-13: 978-0734401038
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,090,329 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Walker to Another Book, Stalker is Not Worth a Look, November 22, 2004

By	James N Simpson (Gold Coast, QLD Australia) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This is the story of a college girl named Lily who volunteers for the midnight shift at a low budget public radio station that has few listeners. Her voice attracts interest from someone who is actually listening and becomes obsessed, but is disappointed the real thing doesn't match what had been imagined by the voice. This stalker decides to have some fun and teach Lily a lesson for being so misleading and ungrateful for the celebrity status the stalker has generously given her by the stalking actions.

I thought this book was pretty average. No literary events occur within that are memorable. Look elsewhere for a quality stalking novel.

5.0 out of 5 stars Radio Station, August 24, 2002

A Kid's Review

I like 'Stalker' because I learnt a lot about how a radio station works. I also liked the idea of having the stalker's view as well as having what Lily did in the story.

I kept reading to the end in one go because it had lots of suspense.

5.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Stalker, July 27, 2001

A Kid's Review

...

Prolific author Hazel Edwards immediately catches the interest of the reader in her latest offering 'Stalker' with her easy readable style and her choice of subject. Lily is just a normal teenager with a job at the local radio station until a fan turns fanatical. After having her car, house and entire life invaded, Lily becomes filled with fear. Edwards draws us in with her appealing style and cleverly manipulates us through the confusing chronology of events, into wanting to read on. Through a number of skilful passages, the stalker speaks to us and this allows the reader to build up a mental image of the person who is terrifying Lily. It is at the climax that Edwards brilliantly shatters our image, taking this enjoyable book to another level, as it challenges us to reassess obsession and stereotypes.