Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Girl, Stolen by April Henry


Sixteen year-old Cheyenne Wilder is sleeping in the back of a car while her mom fills her prescription at the pharmacy. Before Cheyenne realizes what's happening, their car is being stolen--with her inside! Griffin hadn’t meant to kidnap Cheyenne, all he needed to do was steal a car for the others. But once Griffin's dad finds out that Cheyenne’s father is the president of a powerful corporation, everything changes—now there’s a reason to keep her. What Griffin doesn’t know is that Cheyenne is not only sick with pneumonia, she is blind. How will Cheyenne survive this nightmare, and if she does, at what price?

My take: This is a very suspenseful read.  Written for tween-agers, it's a pretty quick read yet the author develops major characters comprehensively.  Cheyenne's story is shared throughout the book and includes amazing insights into a blind person's life.  Very well researched and describes aspects of life without sight I'd never considered.  She also describes how a cane is used (sweeping) and how to discern surfaces by sound, and the immeasurable worth of a dog.

Although the reader feels sympathy for Griffin, the author establishes Cheyenne's strong and indomitable spirit.  Rather than tell the ending, I want to switch gears completely and discuss a movie called "Ever After" and featured Drew Barrymore. Don't worry.  It's relevant.

The movie is Cinderella only different.  There is an evil stepmother, evil stepsister, and bullied stepsister.  There is also a prince who falls in love with darling Drew Barrymore.  Then evil stepmother runs out of money and ends up selling Drew Barrymore to a really rotten guy who seriously and creepily obsesses about Drew.  Prince Charming figures out where to find darling Drew and comes to save her from the despicable guy who has her chained up and doing all of his cooking and cleaning.  As Prince Charming approaches the mansion, darling Drew is just leaving.  He announces that he has come to save her.

She gives him a sidelong glance and replies, "I saved myself."

1 comment:

CountessLaurie said...

I do like that movie. So, should I read the book? Yea or nay?