What do you think?
Rate this book
Dear Jo: The story of losing Leah ... and searching for hope.
Maxine and her best friend Leah used to have so much fun chatting with boys online. Their other friends were jealous of their new relationships, and their parents were oblivious to all the love notes being emailed back and forth. So what if Max and Leah lied about their ages and where they lived ... it was just a website ... just for fun. But when Leah disappeared, Max realized that they weren't the only ones telling lies online. Now Max must help the police find her friend and catch an internet predator ... a predator who had come dangerously close to Max. Through her daily journal entries, Max shares the horrible feeling of betrayal, the crushing loss of Leah, and the struggle to move on after all that has happened.
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2007
About the author
Christina Kilbourne
16 books110 followersChristina Kilbourne is an award-winning young adult author who handles complex subjects with sensitivity and tact while covering issues of critical significance to youth.
Her novel, Dear Jo, was the recipient of three Canadian young reader’s choice awards in British Columbia (Red Cedar), Saskatchewan (Snow Willow) and Manitoba (MYRCA). It was also shortlisted for a young reader’s choice award in New York (New York State Charlotte Award). She is a four-time recipient of an Ontario Arts Council Works in Progress Grant.
Christina Kilbourne was born in Southwestern, Ontario, then moved and spent her elementary and high school years in Muskoka, a resort area two hours north of Toronto, Canada.
She graduated with an Honours BA in English Literature and Anthropology from the University of Western Ontario and completed her Masters degree in Creative Writing and English Literature at the University of Windsor, Ontario.
Upon graduating Christina travelled across Africa, Mexico, Central, South America, Australia and parts of the South Pacific. She lived two years in New Zealand.
She writes adult, young adult and middle grade fiction and has had her work translated into Slovenian, Portuguese, Ukrainian and Spanish.
Christina currently lives with her husband and two children near Bracebridge, Canada. She is a member of the Writer’s Union of Canada.
Her novel, Dear Jo, was the recipient of three Canadian young reader’s choice awards in British Columbia (Red Cedar), Saskatchewan (Snow Willow) and Manitoba (MYRCA). It was also shortlisted for a young reader’s choice award in New York (New York State Charlotte Award). She is a four-time recipient of an Ontario Arts Council Works in Progress Grant.
Christina Kilbourne was born in Southwestern, Ontario, then moved and spent her elementary and high school years in Muskoka, a resort area two hours north of Toronto, Canada.
She graduated with an Honours BA in English Literature and Anthropology from the University of Western Ontario and completed her Masters degree in Creative Writing and English Literature at the University of Windsor, Ontario.
Upon graduating Christina travelled across Africa, Mexico, Central, South America, Australia and parts of the South Pacific. She lived two years in New Zealand.
She writes adult, young adult and middle grade fiction and has had her work translated into Slovenian, Portuguese, Ukrainian and Spanish.
Christina currently lives with her husband and two children near Bracebridge, Canada. She is a member of the Writer’s Union of Canada.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
September 29, 2010
this is one of my favourite books. its sad mysterious and a bit scary
188 pages
188 pages
September 29, 2010
"Dear Jo"
I choosed this book because the cover said "losing Leah... and searching for hope." Which got me thinking about what the book could of been about. The main character is Maxine Marie Lemay she is a 12 year old girl. Her best best is Leah also a 12 year old girl. They live in a small town called Port Hope. Leah's parents are more down to earth with her, they let her have more freedom for an example they let her have internet. In opposite Max parents are more strict with her they dont let her have a computer yet until she is older. Leah and Max were surfing through the web one night and they had discover a site called Habbo Hotel which is like an chat site, you can listen to music and follow your favorite singer. Leah and Max were both fans of avril so they decide to enter a chat room of avril discusing about her. That night they met a really cool guy named "2funE" they both decide to talk to him that night. 2funE had given his email address to them that night. They both kept in touch with him writing emails back and fourth. 2funE didnt know he was talking to two girls that night. Later on the book 2funE and Max seem to really get close. Max thought that 2funE really did understand her. She trusted 2funE more than her parents. Between Leah and 2funE realtionship wass getting even more closer one day Leah didnt go to school to meet up with 2funE. Max had no clue of what was going on she didnt even know they sent emails back and fourth. Max had thought that Leah had met a different guy online. Later when she got home from school Max parents had told her that Leah was missing. Max felt bad and started to cry that night thinking of what could of happen to her. Between Max and 2funE there wasnt going on much 2funE had stop writing back to Max. Max had felt bad, she thought that 2funE didnt like her anymore. 2funE after a few months had finally answer back Max. He ask her if they could meet soon at the mall. Max was scared she would of get kidnapped by him like leah did. she started to catch up the what had happen she knew that leah went missing because of 2funE. Max had got investegate and had a detective lucas a guy who was helping on finding leah had ask Max to meet up with the guy so they could of trap him and put him behind bars. Max parents at first didnt want to they were scared something would of happen to her. That day they did turn out to catch the 2funE guy he turn out to be an old guy. Max had felt like an hero that day. But still sad that Leah was dead because of him. Max had really trusted these guy. I really liked these book because it felt like i was Max safing the day. The way the book was wrote it felt like i was in the scene.
I choosed this book because the cover said "losing Leah... and searching for hope." Which got me thinking about what the book could of been about. The main character is Maxine Marie Lemay she is a 12 year old girl. Her best best is Leah also a 12 year old girl. They live in a small town called Port Hope. Leah's parents are more down to earth with her, they let her have more freedom for an example they let her have internet. In opposite Max parents are more strict with her they dont let her have a computer yet until she is older. Leah and Max were surfing through the web one night and they had discover a site called Habbo Hotel which is like an chat site, you can listen to music and follow your favorite singer. Leah and Max were both fans of avril so they decide to enter a chat room of avril discusing about her. That night they met a really cool guy named "2funE" they both decide to talk to him that night. 2funE had given his email address to them that night. They both kept in touch with him writing emails back and fourth. 2funE didnt know he was talking to two girls that night. Later on the book 2funE and Max seem to really get close. Max thought that 2funE really did understand her. She trusted 2funE more than her parents. Between Leah and 2funE realtionship wass getting even more closer one day Leah didnt go to school to meet up with 2funE. Max had no clue of what was going on she didnt even know they sent emails back and fourth. Max had thought that Leah had met a different guy online. Later when she got home from school Max parents had told her that Leah was missing. Max felt bad and started to cry that night thinking of what could of happen to her. Between Max and 2funE there wasnt going on much 2funE had stop writing back to Max. Max had felt bad, she thought that 2funE didnt like her anymore. 2funE after a few months had finally answer back Max. He ask her if they could meet soon at the mall. Max was scared she would of get kidnapped by him like leah did. she started to catch up the what had happen she knew that leah went missing because of 2funE. Max had got investegate and had a detective lucas a guy who was helping on finding leah had ask Max to meet up with the guy so they could of trap him and put him behind bars. Max parents at first didnt want to they were scared something would of happen to her. That day they did turn out to catch the 2funE guy he turn out to be an old guy. Max had felt like an hero that day. But still sad that Leah was dead because of him. Max had really trusted these guy. I really liked these book because it felt like i was Max safing the day. The way the book was wrote it felt like i was in the scene.
April 25, 2011
Dear Jo, I chose this book because i had a friend tell me it was really good and then i read the back cover and i thought it looked really intresting to read so i checked it out the setting takes place in Port hope What happens is that her and her bestfriend leah go on this website called habbo and they meet this guy and they start emailing him together but then just max is emaling 2funE and leah starts emailing Muscleboy and they start talking to this guys and then one day when max gets home from school her moms crying because leahs missing because she went and met up with muscle boy and he took her and shes been missing for a couple months and max is torn bye it her therpist has her keep of diary but she likes to call it a journal aka Jo so she can write in her journal on how she feels while leahs missing she writes a whole lot in her journal mostly about leah and how shes sad and terrified and wondering where shes at and then what she finds out is horrible news and she has no hope but Max helps catch the guy who hurt leah in the end the guy goes to jail and maxs life goes back to normal she hasnt completeley forgotten about leah she still thinks about leah on and off but shes glad the guy who hurt leah went to jail and max was going to burn her journal but shes decicded shes not going to burn her journal because her journals full of everythign that happen with leah and even though its sad book i really liked it i thought it was really goood i read it every night before i went to sleep and couldnt stop id stay up really late to finish a chapter cuz i wanna know what was happing it was a reallly amazing boook i really wanna read it again but we cant read bookes over again well i loved this book and it was amazing and sad and dpresssing but whatever.
February 12, 2008
OMG! This story is sooooooooo sad!!! I can never imagine something like that happening to me!!!!! My mom made me read this, and at first I didn't like it, and I thought that it was depressing, but I just finished it and it is soooooooooooo good! I suggest anyone who has a myspace to read this book to teach you a lesson!!!
January 3, 2017
It's very intense
March 27, 2014
Maxine has always followed the rules. She got good grades, obeyed her overprotective parents, and had lots of friends. Maxine’s parents always told Maxine that the Internet was dangerous and that’s why her family doesn’t have Internet at home. But when her beautiful friend, Leah, who is an only child and gets whatever she wants finds out about Internet she shares it with Maxine. Maxine knows the dangers of going into online chat rooms, talking to people you don’t know, and people not always telling the truth of who they really are but that doesn’t stop her and Leah.
Maxine and Leah create accounts and start meeting boys online. Maxine and Leah share their relationship stories with one another and are blindsided by how smooth these two boys are. Maxine and Leah get really close with the boys and they feel like they understand them more than their parents do. But one night when the girls go out to a movie Leah starts acting weird… What’s going on with her? Is her relationship not going well? Leah is stand offish and snappy all night and when they drop her off at her house she smiles a weird smile and shuts the door.
The next afternoon Maxine comes home from school to her mother crying. Maxine wonders what is going on. Her mother tells Maxine that Leah has gone missing and they have no clue where she is. Maxine tells her parents the whole story about the boys online and the detective says Maxine must help them find Leah before it’s too late.
Watch Maxine go through a dark, confusing, and depressing time as she tries to cope with "losing Leah... and searching for hope.” as Maxine unfolds the faint clues and footsteps Leah left behind.
The book “Dear Jo” by Christina Kilbourne is a Realistic Fiction book showing teens what the Internet dangers really are. I recommend this book to young adults who can handle real world dangers and understand the reality of being a teen on the Internet.
Maxine and Leah create accounts and start meeting boys online. Maxine and Leah share their relationship stories with one another and are blindsided by how smooth these two boys are. Maxine and Leah get really close with the boys and they feel like they understand them more than their parents do. But one night when the girls go out to a movie Leah starts acting weird… What’s going on with her? Is her relationship not going well? Leah is stand offish and snappy all night and when they drop her off at her house she smiles a weird smile and shuts the door.
The next afternoon Maxine comes home from school to her mother crying. Maxine wonders what is going on. Her mother tells Maxine that Leah has gone missing and they have no clue where she is. Maxine tells her parents the whole story about the boys online and the detective says Maxine must help them find Leah before it’s too late.
Watch Maxine go through a dark, confusing, and depressing time as she tries to cope with "losing Leah... and searching for hope.” as Maxine unfolds the faint clues and footsteps Leah left behind.
The book “Dear Jo” by Christina Kilbourne is a Realistic Fiction book showing teens what the Internet dangers really are. I recommend this book to young adults who can handle real world dangers and understand the reality of being a teen on the Internet.
May 4, 2008
Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com
Two friends are swept into a world that they never knew could hurt them in many ways and make them regret their actions.
Maxine has always been the good girl with the overprotective parents and the annoying siblings. She doesn't know why her parents are so restrictive on things such as the Internet. Then there is Leah, the only child who is beautiful and who usually gets whatever she wants. So when she gets the Internet she decides to share it with Maxine.
The Internet seems pretty safe to them, like the parts where they are able to talk in forums and log onto the hangouts where everyone at school goes to. But when they meet a guy who sweeps them off their feet, they decide that in order for them to keep talking to him they must lie about their age and anything else that would jeopardize the relationship.
Each girl begins to talk to different guys, writing to them every day; Maxine by relaying the messages to Leah through the phone and at school, and Leah, who does it secretly. The relationships begin to deepen as the guys begin to charm the girls. For Maxine, her mistakes are caught in time -- but for Leah, it was too late.
DEAR JO begins six months after Leah goes missing and Maxine, who is not only vulnerable but didn't even know that her best friend's "relationship" with her guy was getting so serious, is trying not to lose hope that one day her friend will return.
Written in diary/journal entries, DEAR JO is compelling and intriguing and focuses on an issue that most of us do not think of as serious. Christina Kilbourne writes a novel that will leave anyone who discovers it speechless.
Two friends are swept into a world that they never knew could hurt them in many ways and make them regret their actions.
Maxine has always been the good girl with the overprotective parents and the annoying siblings. She doesn't know why her parents are so restrictive on things such as the Internet. Then there is Leah, the only child who is beautiful and who usually gets whatever she wants. So when she gets the Internet she decides to share it with Maxine.
The Internet seems pretty safe to them, like the parts where they are able to talk in forums and log onto the hangouts where everyone at school goes to. But when they meet a guy who sweeps them off their feet, they decide that in order for them to keep talking to him they must lie about their age and anything else that would jeopardize the relationship.
Each girl begins to talk to different guys, writing to them every day; Maxine by relaying the messages to Leah through the phone and at school, and Leah, who does it secretly. The relationships begin to deepen as the guys begin to charm the girls. For Maxine, her mistakes are caught in time -- but for Leah, it was too late.
DEAR JO begins six months after Leah goes missing and Maxine, who is not only vulnerable but didn't even know that her best friend's "relationship" with her guy was getting so serious, is trying not to lose hope that one day her friend will return.
Written in diary/journal entries, DEAR JO is compelling and intriguing and focuses on an issue that most of us do not think of as serious. Christina Kilbourne writes a novel that will leave anyone who discovers it speechless.
January 21, 2013
Dear Jo is the diary of a girl called Maxine. Max and her best friend Leah used to love chatting on the internet. While using the internet, they get know a user called '2FunE'. As time passes by, sending emails to 2FunE became a part of daily life for the two girls. Shortly after they started chatting with 2FunE, Leah also began to get involved with another user named ‘muscle boy’. One day, Max heard shocking news from her parents that Leah was missing. Max knew that Leah went to meet muscle boy, however, there were more shocking facts about muscle boy. Muscle boy was the same person as 2FunE. This journal is written 6 months after Max heard the news. The book records the harsh life of Max and the progress of catching the criminal.
I liked how the book was written in a diary form, as the first person point of view made me feel empathy for the main character Max. The diary style portrayed Max's erratic emotional states vividly. In addition, the style describes this 'thrilling' storyline in a slow and calm pace of plot development. The book catches the reader’s attention in the beginning, by revealing little information, and delaying the climax till the end.
I recommend this book to teenagers who do not know about the dangers of the internet. Unlike books that are mainly educational, this book is both entertaining and thought provoking, because it is written from a teenager's point of view. It is well written since it shows the details of a teenage girl’s unstable emotional changes realistically. I recommend this book to ages 11 and above.
I liked how the book was written in a diary form, as the first person point of view made me feel empathy for the main character Max. The diary style portrayed Max's erratic emotional states vividly. In addition, the style describes this 'thrilling' storyline in a slow and calm pace of plot development. The book catches the reader’s attention in the beginning, by revealing little information, and delaying the climax till the end.
I recommend this book to teenagers who do not know about the dangers of the internet. Unlike books that are mainly educational, this book is both entertaining and thought provoking, because it is written from a teenager's point of view. It is well written since it shows the details of a teenage girl’s unstable emotional changes realistically. I recommend this book to ages 11 and above.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2010
Well this book is about at 12 year old girl and her parents are sauch drags becuase they are trying to keep her safe. some all these differnt dangers and she finds out how scary and hurt full the internet can be.
Her and her friend leah found out this music chat room and meet people. This 0ne user name stuck out becuase he related to them he likes the same music and everything he just came out the be the perfect internet boyfrind but months later when both of the girls have one they began getting caught of in ther own internet world. months later after talking to there internet boyfriends Max's bestfriend leah becuase to act very odd and she was still talking to mucleboy (her boyfriends username) and being very secrective toward her and then next thing you know she turns up missing....
This book was very good i couldnt wait to find out what was going to happen in this book! i felt like i was watching a movie that was very good. For sure this book will knock some sence into many of the people that get caught up in the internet and will let you know how scary it can be and how it can mess up your life. over all i would say this book was for sure one of the good ones..
Her and her friend leah found out this music chat room and meet people. This 0ne user name stuck out becuase he related to them he likes the same music and everything he just came out the be the perfect internet boyfrind but months later when both of the girls have one they began getting caught of in ther own internet world. months later after talking to there internet boyfriends Max's bestfriend leah becuase to act very odd and she was still talking to mucleboy (her boyfriends username) and being very secrective toward her and then next thing you know she turns up missing....
This book was very good i couldnt wait to find out what was going to happen in this book! i felt like i was watching a movie that was very good. For sure this book will knock some sence into many of the people that get caught up in the internet and will let you know how scary it can be and how it can mess up your life. over all i would say this book was for sure one of the good ones..
November 22, 2010
The story is really sad but it is really good.
January 22, 2011
I thought it gave a really good message, not to goof around with the internet.It was great!
October 25, 2015
This book was an unforgettable book. It had many features that most books do not have and I love how it shows the perspective of a kid, not an adult.
Read
June 6, 2019I think the theme of this book is to never give up because even though the main character Max had her sad moments she always found hope.
March 4, 2019
Decent teen book
February 1, 2021
I remember clear as day, the day I went to my school library, during our weekly take out book day, and I found this book. I remember how odd it looked to me, because I didn't bother to read the back of it, or bother to do any research on the book. I did however had a clue that it had something to do with the internet, and that it mean't the theme was internet safety. I remember reading this book as much as I could while I was supposed to be in class, paying attention. Honestly back then I had no problems reading books while I was supposed to be paying attention to the teacher, mostly because I was really good at multitasking, which mean't when the teacher called on me to give him a full explanation of what he just said, I could do it, while even reading my book.
Now, though being in High School, it's a little more embarrassing. Especially with a lot more students there with you, staring at you, and hoping you don't know the answer. Plus its just rude. I wouldn't do it now. Read books on my own time, I thought.
But this book is perfect for internet safety. Being able to teach your child about internet safety is very, very, important. Not everyone knows that, and can make themselves a victim without even realizing it.
It is also a nice way of showing kids and teenagers that it is okay to write down you feelings in a journal, or any sort of piece of paper, and that it is not embarrassing or childlike. I write in a journal, and you know what I've never felt so relaxed.
There is also very nice family stuff in this book. The main character has a nice relationship with her brother, but only when she loses her friend, Leah, does she finally open up to her mother. Don't wait to open up to your parents, it's hard, but you'll be glad you did. Its for your protection and safety.
- Be careful while on the internet, everyone! :)
Now, though being in High School, it's a little more embarrassing. Especially with a lot more students there with you, staring at you, and hoping you don't know the answer. Plus its just rude. I wouldn't do it now. Read books on my own time, I thought.
But this book is perfect for internet safety. Being able to teach your child about internet safety is very, very, important. Not everyone knows that, and can make themselves a victim without even realizing it.
It is also a nice way of showing kids and teenagers that it is okay to write down you feelings in a journal, or any sort of piece of paper, and that it is not embarrassing or childlike. I write in a journal, and you know what I've never felt so relaxed.
There is also very nice family stuff in this book. The main character has a nice relationship with her brother, but only when she loses her friend, Leah, does she finally open up to her mother. Don't wait to open up to your parents, it's hard, but you'll be glad you did. Its for your protection and safety.
- Be careful while on the internet, everyone! :)
November 14, 2007
This was a gripping book about two 12-year-old girls who go against their parents' advice and get into online relationships with, unbeknownst to them, the same man, who is pretending to be a teen. One of the two girls arranges to clandestinely meet her online BF, and is never seen again until her body is found a few months later. The novel is told in the form of journal (the "Jo" of the title) entries by the girl who didn't get abducted and kidnapped. She eventually participates in a sting operation to catch the guy.
The message in the book is clear-- listen to your parents, and be very, very careful of online relationships, because not everyone tells the truth. The journal entries detail the range of emotions the surviving girl feels: anger, grief, depression, fear that he'll somehow find her and abduct her from her home, shame for not listening to her parents, survivor's guilt (why me?), frustration (wanting to DO something). Her parents, friends, teachers, and counselor all try to help in various ways. Closure in the form of catching the guy brings some relief, enough to allow her begin to function normally again.
I highly recommend this for middle school, and even high school, readers. I certainly intend to purchase it for my library!
The message in the book is clear-- listen to your parents, and be very, very careful of online relationships, because not everyone tells the truth. The journal entries detail the range of emotions the surviving girl feels: anger, grief, depression, fear that he'll somehow find her and abduct her from her home, shame for not listening to her parents, survivor's guilt (why me?), frustration (wanting to DO something). Her parents, friends, teachers, and counselor all try to help in various ways. Closure in the form of catching the guy brings some relief, enough to allow her begin to function normally again.
I highly recommend this for middle school, and even high school, readers. I certainly intend to purchase it for my library!
August 15, 2012
WOOOOW SUCH A GOOD BOOK!!!
I love the diary thing she did. pretty kewl.
so this book is pretty much about a girls bestfriend that got kidnapped and killed by a guy that pretended to be a 16 year old guy thats just on the computer to 'talk' (haha no. hes like a 30 year old man who killed her best friend...)
So the main character (I dont know the name of) is talking to a guy on the internet and he wants to meet her. At first she thinks hes a 16 year old guy but then she thinks about it so the FBI and the police get involved with it. so they make a plan to meet the guy at the mall and pertend that your meeting him and hanging out with him but the FBI'S are there so they catch the guy who was going to meet the girl. and as you know that guy killed her bestfriend. . . that would of happend to her.
I think teenages or tweenies should read this book! and DONT MEET UP WITH STARANGERS YOU DONT KNOW ON THE INTERNET!!! and dont give out info either!!!
over all it was a good book and i very much enjoyed it!
I love the diary thing she did. pretty kewl.
so this book is pretty much about a girls bestfriend that got kidnapped and killed by a guy that pretended to be a 16 year old guy thats just on the computer to 'talk' (haha no. hes like a 30 year old man who killed her best friend...)
So the main character (I dont know the name of) is talking to a guy on the internet and he wants to meet her. At first she thinks hes a 16 year old guy but then she thinks about it so the FBI and the police get involved with it. so they make a plan to meet the guy at the mall and pertend that your meeting him and hanging out with him but the FBI'S are there so they catch the guy who was going to meet the girl. and as you know that guy killed her bestfriend. . . that would of happend to her.
I think teenages or tweenies should read this book! and DONT MEET UP WITH STARANGERS YOU DONT KNOW ON THE INTERNET!!! and dont give out info either!!!
over all it was a good book and i very much enjoyed it!
February 13, 2009
I picked up this book at the library today and finished it tonight. It was an interesting quick read. It is about internet stalkers and how they prey on young girls. It is written in diary form. It is about a young girl and her friend who harmlessly start chatting online to so-called boys and they develop into deep relationships. Her friend turns up missing and they later find her body. She was killed by their online boyfriend.
I found it disturbing how innocent kids get mixed up into something so dangerous and they don't even realize what they are doing. As it is mentioned in the book, chat rooms and such are big lies because over the internet it is just words, you never see the real person behind those words. And that is where it can be deadly. So if anyone is interested how easy it is for our kids to get mixed up into this, you should read this. It is informative.
I found it disturbing how innocent kids get mixed up into something so dangerous and they don't even realize what they are doing. As it is mentioned in the book, chat rooms and such are big lies because over the internet it is just words, you never see the real person behind those words. And that is where it can be deadly. So if anyone is interested how easy it is for our kids to get mixed up into this, you should read this. It is informative.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2013
Dear Jo is a book that will stay with you long after you finish the last page. This haunting story of a cyber-abduction is just as "current, important, insightful, gripping, (and even suitable for tweens)" as Martin Avery praises.
The innocent perspective from which this book is written is a striking contrast to the dark subject matter of the book. Yet Maxine's tender young voice is exactly the narrator needed to express this book in the best way possible. With her diary, Maxine pens her shock, confusion, grief, and pain in such a way that the reader is shocked, confused, saddened, and pained right along with her.
This book is short enough, restrained enough, and easy enough to be good for pre-teen readers, yet complex enough to appeal to a wide range of ages.
I recommend this book for young person in the 21st century. The messages in the story are just too important to ignore.
The innocent perspective from which this book is written is a striking contrast to the dark subject matter of the book. Yet Maxine's tender young voice is exactly the narrator needed to express this book in the best way possible. With her diary, Maxine pens her shock, confusion, grief, and pain in such a way that the reader is shocked, confused, saddened, and pained right along with her.
This book is short enough, restrained enough, and easy enough to be good for pre-teen readers, yet complex enough to appeal to a wide range of ages.
I recommend this book for young person in the 21st century. The messages in the story are just too important to ignore.
May 20, 2010
This is such an important and timely book. It's written in journal form as one teen deals with the disappearance of her friend after the two struck up an online friendship with the same boy. The boy turns out to be an online predator and things turn out terribly. I plan on reccomending this one to all of my students. The journal style is very engaging and I think that along with the plot line will hold their attention long enough to get this book's important message across. I wish this one was more well-known - my guess is the Canadian publication lead to it's lack of popularity. It should be on all middle school and high school library shelves.
September 8, 2015
Great fast reading novel. It would be perfect as a companion novel to a grade 6-7 Internet safety topic, especially since the age of the main characters would be similar. The only thing about this novel is that it is a little dated. Written in 2007, 12-13 year olds would have loved this content that was filled with hints of MSN, Habbo, Short-text, Movies and artists... now in 2015 it would be a little dated and some students may roll their eyes at the mention of Avril Lavigne or MSN. It would be great to re-print the book with the slight changes needed to make it more current or for a teacher to take the time to insert more current references that would attract the 12-13s of 2015.
June 10, 2017
This book is perfect for anyone with teenagers/ preteens and are worried about internet predators.
Dear Jo takes you into the life of 12 year old Maxine, and how she is coping with the loss of her best friend Leah. Leah went missing after meeting up with a "friend" from the internet one night, and is not found.
Maxine works with the police to find Leah and catch her kidnapper, as the book goes on you are opened to the horrors of the internet and outcome of making friends on it.
Dear Jo, is a journal based book with Maxine being the voice, I strongly encourage parents to open up this book and read it
Dear Jo takes you into the life of 12 year old Maxine, and how she is coping with the loss of her best friend Leah. Leah went missing after meeting up with a "friend" from the internet one night, and is not found.
Maxine works with the police to find Leah and catch her kidnapper, as the book goes on you are opened to the horrors of the internet and outcome of making friends on it.
Dear Jo, is a journal based book with Maxine being the voice, I strongly encourage parents to open up this book and read it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 10, 2014
I loved this book I gave it a 4 out of 5 because it is thrilling and keeps you on the edge of your seat because you want to find out what’s going to happen next. This book is about two girls named Maxine and Leah they meet this boy on an online chat room and when they finally decided to meet it went bad.
I liked this book because the way it was written was really cool. It was written like a diary, explaining Leah's day and what happened so there wasn't much dialog it was almost like she was reading her diary to u witch I thought was cool.
I liked this book because the way it was written was really cool. It was written like a diary, explaining Leah's day and what happened so there wasn't much dialog it was almost like she was reading her diary to u witch I thought was cool.
March 18, 2016
Dear Jo is about a young girl who has lost her best friend. Her friend was kidnapped, and later found dead. She and her other friends are devastated, but she mostly is. Her parents are making her go to a therapist, who is having her keep a journal where she tells her story about her friend. When her friend is found dead detectives are put on the case to figure out who killed her. They don't have enough information and they need her to help with the case because they think they were both talking to the same person online when she went missing after they had plans to meet.
July 26, 2017
This would be an excellent book to read with an older primary class. It's the story of how a young girl is taken in by an online 'friend' seen through the eyes of her classmate and close friend who is also keen to make friends online. There is no explicit violence but the message about taking care online is clear. It is a gripping story, though, not just a moral tale, and the characters and their relationships ring true, particularly the main character of Maxine and her interaction with her school friends and family.
August 1, 2012
Definitely a cautionary tale to try to help young teens - even preteens - see the potential dangers of cyberspace. Written as journal entries from a 12 year old, the storyline may be difficult for some readers to follow as the narrator writes in her journal both what is happening now and remembers what happened with Leah along with flashbacks to their childhood days. While a young reader might enjoy it, the way the police use the main character is completely and utterly unbelievable.
August 19, 2014
I read this 15 years ago and I wanted to look back on the themes and see how it holds up.
Honestly, pretty good.
Is as flawless as I remembered it being? No.
But does it still make me emotional reading it? Yeah.
Especially now that our world is becoming so much more focused on technology, I think this is a book that everyone should read. Adults should read this. With kids going online younger now, this also could be incredibly helpful for them too.
Honestly, pretty good.
Is as flawless as I remembered it being? No.
But does it still make me emotional reading it? Yeah.
Especially now that our world is becoming so much more focused on technology, I think this is a book that everyone should read. Adults should read this. With kids going online younger now, this also could be incredibly helpful for them too.
March 16, 2015
this is such a good book, but what a sad storyline, when it said 'they found her body' i burst out crying. I kept reading though, and when they caught the bad guy, I was so happy, then right after, Max remembers when Leah trudged through snow and snuck into her house just so she'd be the first to say happy birthday, I started crying then too. I really great book that (some what scarily) teaches Tweens/teens to be very careful on the Internet
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
January 10, 2012 I think this book was very good and i felt like it was kind of used to send a message across to kids our age that we should be internet safe, but yet it was also a very captivating book and i didn't want to stop reading it when i was told to stop reading it cause it was very interesting and mysterious.
August 31, 2013
I struggled with this book at first. I didn't think Kilbourne talked like a pre-teen, but as the story got moving, I enjoyed it more. I think this book has an important message. I liked Max's strength, and I loved her little sister, Molly. Kilbourne got Molly right. I still wish Goodreads would let us give half stars because I would give this book another 1/2 a star.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews