Caught in the Act

by Peter Moore

Meet Ethan Lederer. He's got a great girlfriend, and he's in all honor classes. Life is almost normal until Lydia Krane shows up in chemistry class. She's not really Ethan's type-she's some variety of goth with peculiar markings up and down her arms. But he feels an attraction to her he can't explain. As they get to know each other, Ethan finds himself opening up in ways he never could with his girlfriend or his family. Lydia is so different. She loves theater just like Ethan. They're even going to star together in the school play, a Hollywood version of Macbeth.
But suddenly Lydia changes. Why does she seem so attached and desperate? It doesn't take long for Ethan to realize that Lydia will do anything to keep him, the boy of her dreams.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Realistic Fiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published April 7, 2005

About the author

Peter Moore has been writing fiction since he was eleven years old, and became an amateur lycanthropologist even earlier. Because he studied hard in high school and ate all his vegetables, he was able to attend Vassar College and Columbia University. Though he briefly considered a career in the FBI, America can rest easy: it didn’t work out. Instead, he has worked as a screenwriter, college professor, English teacher, and guidance counselor. He lives with his wife and two kids in Westchester, New York. This is his third book for young adults. He strongly denies all rumors that he is a werewolf. Still, he won’t say where he goes every month during the full moon.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Christopher H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing brain busting book. The ending was incredible and totally not expected. The whole book made you think about what was going on. It was very suspenseful throughout the book. There were parts where I just couldn't put it down even to eat. The beginning of the book was kind of boring but once you get deeper into the book you find the true greatness of it.

This book is about two teenagers falling in what they think is love. The new girl in school is an outcast but the boy doesn't care. He like her right from the start and broke up with his girl friend for her. Then as things get more into their relationship he figures out that she's crazy. He's done nothing except break up with her and she was determined to ruin his life. In the end she gets the help she needs. But does it stop her from trying the ultimate fate for both of them?

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

High School! It's always so much drama, either on or off of the stage. Working in a high school lets me confirm this 100%!!!! Actually, this was a quick read - and the moral is Be Yourself! While trying to be everyone and everything that YOU think others want you to be only makes you lose yourself. Add trying to keep up with good grades, friends and extra-curricular activities causes burn out in the worst way. Add a stalker who is also mentally ill and then you're really in trouble. This would be a good example for tees entering high school to let them know some of the pitfalls that come with learning who you really are.

[Tatiana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every bit of it. It was full of suspense!!!!!1

[N · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book makes me think of Barry Lyga's The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, but without the compassion and insight that Lyga's developed for both the titular characters. So it reads more like a junior verson of Fatal Attraction -- which isn't necessarily a terrible thing, just a different kind of read. I liked it well enough, for what it is.

[C.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it in one night. Something I have done in awhile. I liked how the girl was the crazy stalker this time. so many books where it's about the poor girl and the mean boy. This book showed men and women have to deal with the things that occur in this book.

[Paula Rodriiguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book back in high-school and absolutely loved it. Re-read it now years later and it doesn't have the same creepy effect that it did back then but still great!

[Mariia Bozhko · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(I don't remember the exact dates when I have read this book but this is about right)

[Roselyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me just start off with a: I'm greatly astounded by this book.
At first, you would think it was just some normal story about a sophomore named Ethan. He has a cute girlfriend(Jane); some weird and funny friends; good and evil teachers; and parents who are making you feel and act like you're something you're not.
[MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS]
But then this girl Lydia comes in and as he quoted later on: 'ruined my life.' For me, when the story is still freshening up, I was totally hooked with Krane. She seems like a very nice girl who is very weird as well. I like weirdos. And she seems to truly understand Ethan and all. That made me think that Jane and Jordan Paul are the 'villains' of the story. I was definitely wrong.
Let's skip to the part where Ethan almost died. That's when it all reveals that Lydia somehow attempted to murder Ethan and die with him. Super duper weird and crazy.
I didn't know that there is an illness called Borderlines. That's Lydia's case. I felt deeply sympathetic about her. I mean, trying to be a perfect girlfriend for someone but something on your mind kept telling you to somehow annoy the guy to death just to insist that you won't leave her.
So, in this book, readers will absolutely learn something from it. About life, high school romance and dramas. It's definitely a good story to read and I swear I'm going to read it again in the future.

[Angelina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't recommend this book unless you know what your getting into and want to read a book about a phycopathic dangerous, and manipulative girl. I started reading this book thinking it was going to be a cute romance and maybe the special thing about this new girl was that she'd have powers or be an angel or something but as it turns out.

Summerary: this is about a nice guy that has a pretty predictable life but is stuck in a role that just isn't him but he thinks he has to keep up for appearances sake. No one in his life knows the real him excpet a new girl that meets him at every turn. He leaves his girl

(Spoiler alert) and dates the new girl who starts to show more and more crazy behavior. When he figures out that he's in way over his head he tries to break it off but of course she won't let him. Finally burried in lies and manipulated he comes clean with everyone and the crazy girl makes an attempt to kill him.



(Spoiler over)


It was a messed up book in my opion. I know this stuff really happens but I'm surprized that it would be written for a teen as this is a teen book for teens. I would have stopped reading it but i became so scared for the male character that I had to see him out. But I wished afterwards that I hadn't picked up the book in the first place.

[Courtney Chappell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this book, but I got hooked. I had a feeling Lydia was going to turn out weird, but I never knew how weird. When Ethan walked in the counselors office and saw her sitting there, I knew things were going bad. I didn't like how she blackmailed his teacher or made him get a tattoo. Then, we find out his tattoo says her name! I was so surprised at that. I was happy when Ethan confessed to his teacher with the principal and his parents present and took his consequences willingly. He still got to stay in the play, which was good. Then, at the end, I was confused about him talking about getting stabbed. However, on the next page, I understood fully. Lydia gave him ectasy and stabbed him. His death scene on stage was supposed to in real life too. I am glad that neither one died (as Lydia almost had an OD on stage). I thought he should get his tattoo removed though. I am happy with the ending, his parents are being more accepting of him, Jane was visiting him everyday and Lydia was away at some mental hosipital. This was a fun book and I am glad I read it.

[Brandi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have you ever been in a relationship that started out fairly normal but then erupted into massive drama? That is the story of Ethan Lederer. The book Caught in the Act by Peter Moore follows high school sophomore Ethan. Ethan is a good kid. He's smart, works hard to get good grades, stays out of trouble, has a great girl-friend, Jane, and loves acting. Everything was running smoothly until he met Lydia. Lydia transferred in from another school. She dresses in black and cartoon t-shirts, has writing up and down her arms, and speaks with a different accent everday. Everyone thinks she's bizarre but Ethan decides to give her a chance. Big mistake.

Lydia starts interacting with every aspect of Ethan's life. Teachers start changing his grades. Ethan gets the lead in the play opposite Lydia. His girl-friend Jane breaks up with him. Soon Lydia won't leave Ethan alone. She calls him over 20 times a night and professes her love for him. Ethan can't get away.

Find out what happens when Ethan and Lydia come to blows.

[Minerva · Rating 4 out of 5]

YA Fiction Meets the PG-13 Version of Fatal Attraction. That’s basically what happens to Ethan Lederer, a good kid with a good reputation, when he falls for the new girl all dressed in black. As Ethan puts it, he was doomed from the minute he first laid eyes on Lydia Krane, and it doesn’t take long for him to be captivated by her Carebears t-shirts, Goth clothing, and black dyed hair. But more than that, Lydia understands him in a way no one else does, or so he thinks. She is also the only person who knows his whole smart guy status is a façade built on parental expectations, late night cramming, and cheating when necessary. And then things start getting weird. I don’t want to spoil all the bizarre, psychotic complications in the plot, but let’s just say the whole tattoo thing ranks pretty high on the crazy scale. Great Book!

check out full review at http://athenasbooks.blogspot.com

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is just so 'blah'. Nothing bad about it technically or otherwise. Moore's dialogue was good. But where Red Moon Rising was something good, something that paralleled paranormal with real life in a way reminiscent of Daniel Waters, Caught in the Act was just...meh. We've seen this plotline before. Lydia isn't fleshed out in the way she's messed up. Neither is the protagonist...or any of the side characters. If this story had provided a new twist on the YA girl-gone-bad storyline - with depth, as this version just makes girls seem prone to insanity - or a new twist on the YA theater storyline, I would have been happier, but it was just too much of the same with a few things that bugged me. Some may like it more, but it's not really worth seeking out.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

CREEPY. REALLY CREEPY.

But really good.

I read in one afternoon, and I was totally hooked from beginning to end. And the end is...it was unbefreakinglievable. So intense, so fast-paced, so creepy, so unexpected. My GOD. Wow. Yeah. I read it more than a year ago, and I still remember how intense the end was. I think I had a nightmare about it the night I read it.

So yeah. It's really good.

Good day everyone!

[Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is priceless. Suspense throughout, and a potent ending make this book unforgettable. When it ended I was upset, I wanted the suspense to continue. Some people consider it a rip-off of Romeo and Juliet, but never fear. Romeo and Juliet is nothing compared to this :)

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Macbeth is taken to a whole new level when it's lived through teenagers. A boy makes the mistake of falling in love with the wrong girl, he ends up having to fight for his grade, his innocence, and his life.

[nightlyreadingheather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. I liked the relationship between the main character, Ethan and his siter, although, I do not think normal siblings act like that with each other. I liked the storyline, but it tended to get boring and repeat itself.

[Amanda B · Rating 4 out of 5]

High school drama, literally and figuratively.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ethan is charming and a good boy, but he meets a bad girl, and he has to find his way back home. I like the way the story is written. Teens like this book as well.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book randomly in a really amazing used book store-it was only .75 cents so I thought what the hay!

[Hannah Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was good, but kinda creepy.

[Jahnavi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was great... though mature, it was a great tale of love, passion, acting, and revenge.

[Starry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly interesting. I didn't expect her to have the... issue... she does, but eh. That's just me. Maybe others saw it coming..?

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a great thriller filled w/ mystery

[Ailene · Rating 2 out of 5]

that was a weird story......

[Kassandra Roque · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was ok untill the end. I thought i was just another YA book with all that stuff. But this girl is FREAKING CRAZY.


VERY Good. I would said yes to reading this.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one freaky book...

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

great

[Trinity · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was AWESOME!!!!!!

[Breezy · Rating 2 out of 5]

,