Book Review: Exposed by Susan Vaught

Exposed by Susan Vaught
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Release Date: Available Now
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Pages: 336
Received From: Publisher

Summary: Chan Shealy’s got most things going right in her life—straight A’s, a shot at the regional majorette championships in baton twirling, and the best best friend a girl could wish for. But after the football quarterback spreads a vicious lie about her, and the whole school decides she’s too trashy for words, Chan begins to wonder if the only place she’ll find love is online. She’s careful. She follows all her parents’ rules, mostly anyway. A girl’s got to trust herself at a certain point, right? But what if your gut is telling you something that you’re just not hearing… until it’s too late? From the moment Chan logs on and meets Paul, until the truth begins to show through, Susan Vaught sends readers on a fast-paced and gripping ride. Even when you know something bad will happen, you still might not see it coming…

My Review: Exposed was a suspenseful and powerful read. The danger in finding "love" online is not a joke. This book is a great example of innocent girls who fall victim to predators. We never really know who is lurking behind the computer screen unless proper precautions are taken. Chan, the main character, seemed lost and broken. After being dumped, her ex not only spread horrible lies but also caused her heartache in the process. I felt so bad for her, I couldn't help but connect with her emotions. I really liked her attitude and her strong willed personality was admirable. Living in a house with a mother who was devoted to politics, a father who was overweight and at risk of health problems and a little spoiled sister was rough. However, that is no excuse for the bad decisions she made later on. Her mother and father were very serious about parental controls on the internet but she found a way to break the rules.

With all the stress in school and bad luck with guys, she escaped to chatrooms. Chan was over serious relationships and wanted someone to be there for her. She found that in Paul, a guy online she knew nothing about. Seeing him in a webcam and sneaking around all hours of the night to talk to him became an addiction to her. She literally could not function on her schoolwork because he was on her mind. Chan eventually gave in to exposing herself in various ways to this stranger. I couldn't believe this was the same girl I met in the beginning. I was shocked and disappointed in her actions. The parents tried to set boundaries for there kids but there's always a way to fall through the cracks. Now, the ending had such a crazy twist! It seriously prepared me for when I have kids one day. I will literally watch every move they make on the internet until their grown. Overall, an insightful read on a serious matter.

My Rating:
Author's Info:

Susan Vaught is the author of many award-winning books including Stormwitch, Trigger and Big Fat Manifesto. She is a practicing neuropsychologist and lives in Tennessee.

For more info on Susan, visit her site:
Website: http://www.susanvaught.com/
Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/230018.Susan_Vaught

Other books by Susan:
Big Fat Manifesto

Trigger

Stormwitch

Fat Tuesday