Reviews with content warning for Kidnapping - Stolen

Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

52 reviews

jedore's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

"It's hard to hate someone once you understand them.”

This is a gripping tale of survival and resilience. Gemma, a teenage girl, is abducted from the Bangkok international airport and held captive in the unforgiving Australian outback. The novel explores themes of isolation, fear, and the human spirit.

I seriously struggled with the developing romantic dynamic between Gemma and her captor, Ty. The author's choice to romanticize their relationship rather than addressing it as a complex and harmful psychological response to trauma was very unsettling. This portrayal can be misleading, particularly for younger readers leading to the glamorization of "trauma bonding."

That said, I was relieved that Christopher did not have Gemma become entirely submissive. Her unwavering determination to escape kept me engaged and hopeful.

While the subject matter is undoubtedly heavy and a bit contentious, it's refreshing to see authors of young adult fiction exploring complex issues with depth.

This is a provocative and thought-provoking read. While the romanticization of the captor-victim relationship is a significant flaw in my opinion, the novel's exploration of survival, resilience, and the human psyche is commendable.

Content Warnings

xwritingstoriesx's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Content Warnings

bookcoffeegirl's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.0

Content Warnings

wildadventures's review against another edition

Go to review page

medium-paced

3.5

Content Warnings

bookishchaos's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

This was very different, especially the format. I was extremely invested at first, but the absurdity of this book made me lower my ratings. Our main character is one dimensional and we don't feel very connected to her at all. Our kidnapper is this horrible, deranged weirdo that the book tries to play off as a "misunderstood, gentle soul". I know we're reading the book as a letter and it's all from her perspective, but it's still frustrating to read.

Not to mention that she had several chances at escaping or unaliving him but she just didn't.

Overall, it was okay, I'm just not sure how I feel about it tbh.

Content Warnings