The Bully and the Kidnapper
The whole girl falling in love with a bully thing? Not happening in real life. And if it did, that person needs serious help. Like, psychiatric evaluation, group therapy, and filing a restraining order against said bully kind of help.
I mean, the author gives you this vivid description of a bruised face, purpled eyes, split lips and totally broken psyche. The author basically paints a picture for me that reminds me of those cop shots of battered women. Three chapters later and BAM! Sparks fly and everything’s hunky-dory. They’re suddenly couple of the year and the guy’s calling her his princess.
That’s actually a syndrome, not Stockholm. Stockholm is for kidnapping, which is also prevalent on here. I know that most of these are specific to the whole band fandom thing, and I cringe to think of what the bands would think if they read some of this messed up mind-vomit. Probably they would vomit, or just start hating their fans internally.
I just want to say that if I offended anyone, I truly am sorry. I fully realize that physical harassment, kidnapping and some of the other things I mentioned are serious crimes and leave life-long emotional and physical scars on the victims. I am not treating these topics lightly. The writers of these stories are treating these topics lightly. That’s something they seriously shouldn’t do with a target readership of preteen girls.
I get it that preteen girls aren’t stupid, because I was one a couple of years ago. Preteen girls realize a lot of stuff, but when you write these crazy stories, there’s a little hope that pops up. Maybe the dangerous guy with tattoos hanging out in the biker bar is just looking for a bit of affection because he didn’t get it from his parents. Maybe the cute stranger offering to give you a lift is your soul mate. Maybe, maybe, maybe. But probably not. These authors are making light of serious situations.
Here’s what I say, being the absolute prude that I am. If you’re a young girl travelling alone, carry pepper spray. Learn self-defense. Make sure you have a good healthy scream if you don’t know self-defense. Carry a phone at all times. Let your parents or at least friends know where you’re going.
Because when most girls get kidnapped, they don’t end up married or in love. In a happier world they’re rescued, treated for their wounds, and go back to the safety of their families. Even in that happier world they’re traumatized and often end up going to therapy for years. In the real world, sometimes what happens is something we’d all rather not think about.
