Always Here for You

Holly is lonely. Her best friend, Amy, has moved abroad and is caught up in her new life. Her parents are preoccupied with ‘Gran’s Crisis’ and Holly often finds herself alone. Turning to social media, Holly meets Jay online. He is also 14 and is caring, funny - everything Holly needs at the moment. Holly has heard the horror stories and knows that she has to be careful, but as things get worse, she turns more and more to Jay for support. But is he what he seems?

‘Always Here for You’ is a tense story about a very real danger. Holly is aware of the dangers of meeting strangers online and still she falls victim to the grooming of a manipulative stranger. She comes from a loving, stable home and yet, circumstances have combined to leave her vulnerable and feeling she has no one to turn to- perfect prey.

The story is pacy and successfully builds tension as Holly becomes more and more invested in her ‘relationship’. The aftermath is equally well handled, underlining the dangers and showing that the impact of grooming can be long lasting. Although this is aimed at a teen audience, it is a message which needs to be heard far and wide. Holly is aware of the dangers and still becomes ensnared- it’s a message which needs repeating again and again.

‘Always Here for You’ is a frighteningly realistic portrayal of the dangers of on-line grooming. Needs reading.

Always Here for You

Miriam Halahmy

 ZunTold    ISBN:  978-1916204218