Because. . .Anonymous

This is a different kind of story. Teenage angst at its healthiest.

Noah and his mom are on the run from his abusive father, but that isn't the worst of his problems. He's being accused of stalking and leaving threatening notes for one of his classmates, Mia. Only, he isn't.

Unfortunately, nobody believes he is innocent.

I like the premise. It is quite intricate. There is a huge cast of characters to choose from, but only a couple of them get enough description to make them tangible enough characters, which, unfrotunately, makes it difficult to invest in them and takes away the mysterious intrigue of trying to figure out who may be the real stalker.

Once the reveal starts unraveling, Sharples sends us into a pleasant surprise. Unfortunately, we are rushed through everything. Indeed, a good core of the novel necessitates a more structured and in-depth grasp on the characters. The story line has so much going on, which is fine, but it feels lacking and disjointed and underdeveloped. And, the fact that Noah's father's role is significant, but gets a fuzzy execution, doesn't help.

I like Noah, though. He is a likeable empathetic character who keeps his cool in the face of the harshest of conditions. His behavior is commendable and he makes a good role model for teens.

Overall, a a better grasp on the characters and a tightening of the plot points would make this story a more engaging read.