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Katie.com: My Story Review
In Katie.com, Tarbox, now eighteen, tells her story-an eye-opening tale of one teenager's descent into the seductive world of the Internet. Tarbox's harrowing experience with her online boyfriend would affect her life for years to come and result in her becoming the first "unnamed minor" to test a federal law enacted to protect kids from online sexual predators. User Submitted Katie.com: My Story ReviewsAugust 25, 2008 Most of the story is about HER, and not her experience... I think that this book could have been a great cautionary tale for teenagers that are too into chat rooms, and meeting people online. Even though it's more accepted now, people still need to take precautions (watch: To Catch A Predator) Back in 1995, when chat rooms were first introduced, even I used to stay on for hours, "chatting" with whomever came across my path. The unfortunate part is the fact that this book is not written well. It took a couple of chapters to get to the part where she first met "Mark." Even though she seemed very grown up for 13, I think that a lot of the details could be tied into one chapter. She went on and on about how the area in which she lived is very into appearances, and everyone had a lot of money. Okay, we get it. I think if you are going to write something in a memoir, it should have some connection to the story. I didn't really care that she was trying to figure out what her Christmas presents were or the very detailed information about her swimming on the team. I just didn't think that she was a very good writer. Even still, this is a very important book to be out there. Some reviewers have said that if she just didn't go to meet him, she would be fine, and someone else said, "She wasn't even raped." I think that people need to be educated on that topic and what it is. She was touched where she didn't want to be, she was manipulated by a man more than three times her senior, and I do feel sorry for her, and everyone else that this has happened to. October 21, 2007 Interesting Book Some have been critical of the author, but keep in mind, she was only a teenager, and it is told from her perspective. I enjoyed the story, and it is a quick read. August 6, 2007 Fair Plot: 14 year old chats with older guy on AOL...they meet in person. Pros: Engaging, quick read, no big words, appeals to teens, adults, parents. The mother and stepfather come off as jerks, and I love reading about messed up folks Cons: Ending wasn't enough of a "conclusion" for me, I would've liked to know more and was kind of let down. Other Thoughts: Although the title did catch my eye, it is essentially a lie as no .com figures into the story and the book isn't about a specific web site. The book reads like it was written by a teenager. Granted it was written by a teenager but the writing made me very aware of this fact. While not badly written, the prose is unimpressive January 28, 2007 Nah This book was poorly written and plain old boring. It's like just sitting there going through a teen girls email inbox. I could do that for free. None of the characters are likeable and you really can't feel sorry for the protagonist. August 25, 2006 Don't support this greedy publisher's tricks Regardless of the content of this book, the publisher Penguin has deliberately 'hijacked' the katie.com domain from its legitimate UK owner - Mrs Katie Jones. They have ruined her small online business by deliberately naming the book and an ensuing TV program "Katie.com" even though they knew the domain belonged to someone else. So a hard-pressed mother gets thousands of often unpleasant emails, while the 'heroine' of the book enjoys TV celebrity. Please don't support this type of greedy commercial behaviour. Buy another book. April 5, 2006 Katie.com Katie.com was a very good book in my opinion. I think that Katherine Tarbox was very brave for writing about the troubles she experienced when she was younger. I don't know many people that would be brave enough to do that. Me, personally, I would be too afraid. She took on her situation full speed ahead. Instead of dwelling in the past she moved on. She moved on to become a wonderful author and possibly a role model for young girls everywhere. Yes it is bad that she had to experience such a truamatic event, but in a way it just made her a stronger individual. She can know look back at what happened to herself and think, "I've been through that. I made it and just look at me now." Seriously though, many people would just stay in a little whole and not come out for the rest of their lives. Those people are not cowards, they are just afraid that they will be judged for their actions. Katie was judged yes, but she proved to those people judging her that she wasn't afraid of them or the person that helped bring her up to point of her life. March 1, 2006 Katie.com I know there are a lot of negative comments about this book, but I personally loved it. I went on a once in a lifetime trip to Antarctica and instead of watching the scenery, I read this book. Its a very touching book, and I recommend it to ages 13 and up. It teaches you how to be safe on the internet, and not to trust people so easily. January 15, 2006 Terrible story, terrible characters, terribly written Can't feel too sorry for a spoiled, superficial teenager who could have avoided the whole thing by using some common sense. I didn't feel sympathetic for Katie at all while reading this book. The book was a long, drawn-out sob story. I could go on and on about how much I despised it. Trust me - Katie.com is not worth your time or money. You'll regret buying it. December 9, 2005 Katie.Com Katie.Com is a magnificent book to read because there's issues that are present in our world today and could even be occurring in our own homes. Katherine Tarbox, also known as Katie, a thirteen-year-old who just wants to live a normal young teenage life. It's another new school year and the pressures are high. Not only does she have to deal with homework and other academics, but also extra curriculum such as swimming, which also has become her passion. Now the topic of boys has started to work its way into Katie's presence. Katie sees kids all around her in relationships and curiosity flows through Katie's mind. She soon longs for a special someone to be by her side. Someone to talk to, someone who understands her, and maybe even shares the same interests. Katie wants to discover and experience this deep feeling towards another individual just as her friends are doing. In the month of September 1995, Katie meets Mark. Mark is someone who shares the same interests as Katie and he ends up winning a part of Katie's heart after a smooth six months of getting to know each other. But what Katie doesn't know is that Mark's not all what he says he is. Something so outrageous, so dramatic happens which changes the next two years of Katie's life. I strongly recommend to people that they read this book. The youth especially and adults as well because I feel a lot can be learned. We read about how little things such as the computer and the Internet can ruin a person's life. Even though we're not affected by it as much, we still feel sympathy for the actions taking place. Katie.Com is a good source for us to get associated with and maybe we'll be able to go out into the public and speak upon such violence, like described in the book. One thing in particular that I liked about the book is that Katie stayed strong and calm throughout the period of her struggle. At times she felt as if the world was being too harsh on the situation, but she learned to look at it in a different light that made her think again. Lastly, Katie also had a good heart; even through all Mark had done and put her through she maintained her faith. She even still had the kindness in her heart to want to forgive him because she felt that he was innocent and he did deserve a second chance and needed to be forgiven. All in all, Katie had a good heard and it shined throughout the story, Katie's story. September 8, 2005 Net Stalker - Predator Ensnared in the InterNET In 1995, Katie Tarbox, then 13 discovered the then burgeoning world of the Internet. Her older sister Abby, then 17 and home from boarding school brought with her a fully loaded computer. Katie thrilled to the online world of cyber conversation. It was in late 1995 that she met a cyber hawk/stalker who called himself Mark. Mark's influence was insidious; he seduces and lures Katie with blandishments and a seeming interest in her life and activities. An accomplished pianist and nationally recognized swimmer from her school swim meets, Katie warms to the idea of someone taking an interest in her. Her mother is more or less immersed in her job and her stepfather is not as involved with her life as one might think. Her youngest sister Carrie, 4 years younger than Katie is the only one of the sisters who is the stepfather's natural daughter. Katie provides a rich description of her town; her school and the friends she has made. Her writing is clear, direct and mature and her assessment of the decisions she makes sounds startlingly adult, especially so when one considers how young she is. One unfortunate decision was when she agreed to meet Mark when he offered to fly from California to Texas to see her at a school swim meet. He lures her with promises to come to his room where he seduces her. Luckily, sexual contact was warded off when Katie's mother, coaches and hotel security come to the man's room after Katie's roommate wisely tipped them off. Sadly, Katie receives public censure for agreeing to meet Mark. It was upsetting when her stepfather said that Katie "ruined a man's [Mark's] life." Not true. Mark ruined his life by lying; by seducing young people, both girls and boys into taking trips with him in return for sexual favors. After enduring some disastrous enforced therapy with therapists who were not well matched for her, Katie enrolls in a boarding school in a neighboring state. That turned out to be a good move - her roommate was sympathetic to Katie's after-effects and agreed not to talk to any press should they arrive on campus. Katie faces her cyber stalker and her case became a landmark case in child safety and the Internet. Katie met her stalker during the infancy of the Internet and it is through her tireless efforts; her family's support; her real friends including her very astute sounding roommate Penn as well as the agent from heaven, Agent Barndollar who not only successfully have "Mark" convicted, but who have helped pave the way for a safer internet. At the close of the book, Katie offers suggestions to help keep the Internet safe/safer for minors and provides related several web sites. For more Katie.com: My Story reviews click here.
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