THE STALKER CHRONICLES

A high-school sophomore learns to manage her tendency to spy on the ones she loves.

Despite the use of the word "stalker," which (even though the author explains it) puts a pathological spin on a character who is essentially just overanxious and far too curious, Moore’s initially hard-to-like protagonist, Cammie Bliss, goes through a believable journey and transformation. Narrating in the first person in an amusing tone that never reaches the level of funny, Cammie knows she goes overboard, but she just can’t seem to control herself. But when Toby, a handsome and interesting new boy moves into town and actually seems to like her, Cammie knows that it’s time to finally get a hold of herself. Her situation is complicated by her challenging home life; during the course of the novel her parents separate, and her father, who has difficulty communicating when the content is emotional, begins to spy on his family. After Cammie’s behavior nearly ruins her nascent romance with Toby—in a misguided and improbable attempt to discover the secret behind his leaving his last school, she goes through his garbage—she works to reform herself.

Notwithstanding the icky subject matter and cringeworthy heroine, the story realistically tracks Cammie’s psychological evolution, earning its feel-good ending.