Knowing Me, Knowing You

Some really serious issues are woven into this teenage novel, including pregnancy resulting from a one night stand, adoption, deception, internet grooming via Facebook, kidnap and gay marriage. The central character, Channy, who grows up feeling that she is something of a misfit in her family, discovers by chance that her Dad is not her biological father. This unleashes a series of events which lead to her kidnap as she embarks on a dangerous internet quest to discover her real father.

Humour is a backdrop for every scene of the book (even Channy’s kidnap) from her cringingly embarrassing parents who are half of an Abba tribute band, via the occupational hazard of teenage zits to a doggedly committed boyfriend who won’t stay dumped, no matter how hard Channy tries. Eventually, all the strands of the narrative combine to produce a happy ending, but not before Channy learns a great deal about internet safety, family love and relationships.

The book is entertaining, with a lot to laugh about. However, the ease with which Channy was traced on Facebook and the amount of information that her fictional abductor obtained are the result of the author’s factual research. She chose a person at random, following friend’s links to build a profile. So the novel is a pertinent warning to set security levels appropriately. It requires a mature teenage reader to perceive the seriousness of the issues beneath the humour.