EXPOSED

A too-obvious cautionary tale about Internet predators. Chan is determined to put her past behind her, and she believes the best way to do that is to find a new boyfriend, preferably someone sensitive, cute and, if possible, far away. Still reeling from a bad breakup, she wants nothing more than someone nice. A hard-nosed coach, an overbearing mother, an overly permissive father and a sister who is growing up too quickly all combine to keep Chan spinning. Paul, her online crush, is about the only easy thing in her life. Late-night chat sessions lure Chan into telling Paul all he needs to know to prey on her and her eight-year-old sister, Lauren. While the “ripped from the headlines” message is clear, it sometimes takes center stage to the detriment of the story. Chan is realistic and sympathetic, but her naïveté becomes both tiresome and unbelievable. Readers may well be frustrated by the uneven plot and the familiarity of the story. (Fiction. 14 & up)