I think Nicola Morgan is warning her young readers to be careful with things like Facebook and MySpace. In her book Deathwatch the heroine, Cat, goes on the fictional Phiz against her parents wishes. Don’t they all? And it could end quite badly, couldn’t it? Deathwatch is about stalking, and why it can be worth taking care about what you put on the internet for all to see.
Cat is a capable athlete, who trains a lot. Too much she thinks, and she wants to give some of it up, but her parents don’t agree. Cat doesn’t like insects very much, and her now ex-boyfriend Danny likes insects a lot. And then one day on Phiz, Cat’s computer screen fills up with the picture of a spider. And it won’t go away.
She feels herself being watched wherever she goes. But who is it? Nicola very cleverly lets the reader see the private thoughts of more than one possible culprit, and they all seem obsessed with insects. But which of them is the stalker?
Deathwatch is also about the importance of being like everyone else, whilst making you think about what’s important to you. For Cat the question is whether sport is right for her, even when it’s not what her friends do.
And it’s always worth knowing what your parents are up to.
If insects freak you out, this novel could be worth avoiding. But it will make good reading and offer food for thought for young teens. Those without arachnophobia, that is. In these parts we go both ways.
When I read your post about vetting children´s authors the other day, I thought that rather than change all the adults in the world, it might be an idea to talk to your own children and other young people around them. We can´t prevent children from being curious, but perhaps we can teach them a few precautions.
Hi and thanks for the lovely review! It’s funny (to me) that some adult readers say I’m “warning” kids about the dangers of the internet – I suppose that does come out of the story but there was no message intended – just that that happens to be a *part* of what happens to the girl. I thought it was a small part but I guess I was wrong!
Thanks again, Bookwitch. You going to be in edinburgh during the book festival?
It’s the subconscious at work, Nicola.
Yes, should be there from 19th to 26th.