LitPick Review
"Watching July" by Christine Hart is a mix of teenage angst, thrilling mystery, and supernatural sci-fi. When July's lesbian mother is killed in a hit-and-run incident, July [with her other mother's partner] move to where her mother used to work as a shrink and bring the family on vacation. Sad and lonely, July writes in her diary, eventually manages to make friends, and even snags a hot boyfriend. However, she is perturbed by odd sensations she feels in her rural home that make her think she is being followed. Drama escalates when July's boyfriend becomes controlling and jealous.
Opinion:
This book feels a bit like "The Lovely Bones," but it has enough differences to not seem like a direct copy. The author has some predictable moments, but others are truly twists (e.g.- who July's mother's real killer is, who is following July, etc). In terms of lessons, it's great that July's gorgeous boyfriend is seen as obsessive. Usually, culture paints the good-looking as virtuous, and it is essential for teen girls to learn that appearances do not always reflect character. In terms of detail, there are no explicit details of relations, but the author hints at events that make this not suitable for very young readers.
