STAY

A dissection of an unhealthy, obsessive relationship as seen in its aftermath. Clara catches Christian’s eye from across a crowded gymnasium, and they quickly become an exclusive couple. However, Clara soon realizes that exclusivity can have its downsides, as Christian’s devotion takes a frightening turn and he begins stalking Clara. To protect his daughter and to give her “a place to breathe for a while,” Clara’s father whisks her away to a sleepy coastal town without notifying anyone of their new location. Through chapters that alternate between Clara’s present life at the beach and her rocky relationship with Christian, readers bear witness to Clara’s attempts to confront her fear and grow. Adding layers of depth to this text and its characters are several auxiliary relationships, including a dynamic bond between Clara and her father, that all with time are seamlessly woven together. Quirky footnotes are sprinkled throughout attempting to inject humor and tidbits of background to illuminate Clara’s past; however, they are often disruptive and easily skipped. Despite salty language, sex and violence are not graphically depicted, making this a safe read for younger teens. While her story's not particularly new, Calletti knows her audience and tells it well. (Fiction. 12-15)