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What was missing in Vanessa's childhood that made her such easy pickings? I kept waiting for some psychological explanation from her therapist. Vanessa was an only child and, except for a mother who was annoyingly intrusive and sometimes critical, there was no abuse, nothing to make her crave such intense "adoration," no explanation for her being so easily manipulated.

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Kathryn Cope I felt that the lack of any other great trauma in Vanessa's life (other than falling out with her best friend) is sort of the point. There's nothing in her background that marks her out as a victim or makes her especially vulnerable. She's insecure, self-absorbed and searching for an identity beyond the limits of her family - but what teenager isn't? To me, this made the whole scenario more disturbing as potentially she could be any 14-year-old girl.

Susan Grebe I don’t think it was Vanessa’s childhood that caused her to be vulnerable to Strane. I think Strane was a predator and that there were certain things about Vanessa that made her his “ideal prey”. #1: She was an outsider at the school because she was a scholarship student. Her freshman roommate, Jenny, on the other hand, had a father who was on the Board of the school, so it's unlikely he would have gone after her.
#2. She didn’t have any friends that she could talk to about what was going on with Strane. #3 She was not, in teenage terms, considered conventionally pretty and she didn’t think of herself as attractive, so she was particularly vulnerable to a man who said she was beautiful .

Alessandra Jaeger I think the point is that there was nothing "missing", nothing specifically wrong with her, he was a manipulative pedophile who knew how to test the waters before making a real move. Teenagers crave attention and validation, and can't fully understand the concept of abuse.

Kathryn Nothing was wrong with her childhood or upbringing. Most young teenage girls want attention and adoration from people outside their families. It's common for girls that age to form crushes on older teachers. Most of my friends and I when that age did. But these crushes did not really involve sex because, other then the mechanics, we didn't know all that sex involved. With girls, sex is inextricably tied up with all kinds of emotions they do not yet know how to process or understand. Eventually, we grew up and formed real relationships with people closer to our ages and with similar experiences.

Obviously, not all young teenage girls are as naive as I and my friends were. Many are sexually abused as children and that colors all of their relationships going forward. Or their parents allowed them to become sexualized at too young an age. These things did not apply to Vanessa.I

I also think Vanessa was probably not ready for actual sex from the beginning. She knew practically nothing about it. She wanted the adoration because it validated her attractiveness, her clothing, her intelligence, her literary aspirations, etc. Jacob knew what buttons to push because he was not just an older man and her teacher but a dyed in the wool pedophile. Vanessa never enjoyed the actual sex with Jacob. She was in love with the idea of someone loving her.

I don't think this could happen to just any young teenage girl, at least not to the extent that it happened to Vanessa but maybe I'm too far away from those years now. Ultimately, Vanessa became, or always was, seriously psychologically disturbed. Yes, Jacob greatly contributed to that but she never grew beyond how she was at 14 or 15. That's her greatest tragedy.

Beth I do not think anything was missing. The point is, any teen her age can be so disturbingly manipulated on an ongoing basis. This is precisely what makes this story so highly disturbing. The other disturbing aspect of this story is that her mother knew what was happening and did nothing to support her daughter or report this man to the authorities. There in lies the complicity and tragedy.

Becky Bone not everyone who is abused has to have had something happen in their childhood. Not every abuse victim comes from a broken home. There are all kinds of vulnerabilities to children/teens at that age.

Strane groomed her and targeted her because he saw her to be a loner, had no real friends at the school, knew he could use that to his advantage. She's at an impressionable age and looking for somewhere she could fit in, get some attention.

Corina I understand why you'd ask this question, I was wondering this too, at times. But by the end I understood that there was a kind of vacuum between Vanessa and her parents, the missing of some critical intimacy and connectedness, that left her craving attention and thus easy prey for Strane. You could call it benign neglect; there was nothing so dramatic as abuse in her background, but neglect can be just as profound if not more so than abuse (at least in abuse a child may feel that they are getting some kind of attention, even if painful or twisted).

Kathryn Cope I felt that the lack of any other great trauma in Vanessa's life (other than falling out with her best friend) is sort of the point. There's nothing in her background that marks her out as a victim or makes her especially vulnerable. She's insecure, self-absorbed and searching for an identity beyond the limits of her family - but what teenager isn't? To me, this made the whole scenario more disturbing as potentially she could be any 14-year-old girl.

Georgia I don't think it needed to have anything to do with her upbringing. She seemed to be a broody and lonely teenager, plus she'd had a falling out with her only real friend at the school. She was bookish and Strane showed an interest in her work, too, which drew her in.

Emma This is actually a very obvious question if you know anything about neurodivergence. Vanessa is very clearly undiagnosed ADHD to anyone with knowledge of the topic (it's textbook enough that I would be shocked if Russell didn't do this on purpose), and this exact scenario is a very real danger for young, neurodivergent women, especially those without a diagnosis (which is most, because neurodivergent women aren't usually diagnosed until adulthood). Being a socially awkward outsider, difficulty reading others' intentions, intense emotions and impulsivity are all traits that make people in this group targets for predators. Multiple recent studies have found that ND girls are three times more likely to experience sexual abuse before they turn 18 than NT girls.

Hanne She was lonely and isolated, which is very common for kids who end up abused. It was also apparent that her parents weren't too close with her and didn't know much about what was going on in her life. I did interpret it as a sort of neglect that allowed the situation to end up as bad as it did. Obviously the fault is always on the predator/abuser, but there are certain characteristics that make some youth more vulnerable to being abused.

Yolanda I mean, someone doesn’t always have to have some traumatic history that leads to them getting sexually abused. It’s the case a lot of the time, but not always. I got the sense from my reading that Vanessa was a lonely person, and felt kind of neglected by her parents. Yeah she had food and shelter, her parents treated her nice, they loved her, and supported her decisions. But it seemed like she craved and needed more from them emotionally, and she filled that void with Strane. And teen girls in general are often vulnerable and trying to figure themselves out and self conscious, and Strane took advantage of all that. That’s what makes the book even more dark, just knowing how easy this could happen to, and has happened to, so many young girls.

Natalie I finished this book a few day ago. I was sort of surprised to see peoles reaction In regards to her lack of trama/drama in her earlier childhood, I think it was by (author) desingn. Any young woman is vunrable to the maschinations of a much older man. The one thing I did pick up is there is a scene with her mother prior to the start of the hard core abuse where she is laying on the couch with her mom and her mome insists wedging her feet beneath her butt on,another, where Vanessa indicates that she feels sad/uncomfortable when thinking of he mom smelling her scraf while she is away. These are physical boundreis. In a small way it shows the mom not respecting physical boundries with her daugher. It may not be a huge thing but the aurthro took the time to include these scenes. Prehaps, for Vanessa, some one pushing past your physical boundries as expression of love is normal. Also she was diffrent then the other kids at Browick, she was the only member of her faimly to attend the shcool where as her Jenny had faimly connections. Strange was not going to screw around with a kid whose faimly was well connected to Browick. This woudl be a huge obstacle if/ when things went south with the student he was abusing. She was his perfect vivctim.

Artifex Teenagers can feel lonely, misunderstood, so when an adult pays attention to them, it makes them feel special, like they matter, like adults. It was obvious that Vanessa's parents, especially the mother, didn't really listen to her, so she turned to someone who would. Predators know this and that's why they take advantage. That's the whole point of "grooming." It's brainwashing and manipulation, and no teenager has the life experience to know that that is what's happening.

Kathryn Cope I felt that the lack of any other great trauma in Vanessa's life (other than falling out with her best friend) is sort of the point. There's nothing in her background that marks her out as a victim or makes her especially vulnerable. She's insecure, self-absorbed and searching for an identity beyond the limits of her family - but what teenager isn't? To me, this made the whole scenario more disturbing as potentially she could be any 14-year-old girl.

Ricky Strane could also have been testing the waters. Makes compliments to a handful of teenagers and waits to see which one flinches. The story is told from Vanessa's perspective, so she might not have noticed the early advances that were "casting a net".

This story is eerily similar to an English teacher I had in high school (now in prison). Everything from rumors dating back at least a decade before my time and to marrying someone from my graduating year... just a few months after graduation. The predatory nature is well-described in this novel.

But as for doubts about Vanessa's life. Whether she felt lonely? Whether she had a traumatic moment that made her prey? I think the novel points to how predators will test the waters and find an opportunity.

Sick stuff. But an intriguing read. I'm recommending this to all of my HS friends because of the teacher recognition. But I will recommend this to everyone else I know.

Lindsay Stephens Really? Why are you blaming her for being a victim? Why not the man who preyed upon her. What was wrong or missing in his childhood that caused him to abuse a child?

Kathleen She had very few friends, was a loaner, seen as somewhat of an oddball - that is so destructive of a young teen. Makes them vulnerable to anyone who offers acceptance.

Debra Schnitzer Two teachers said her writing was exceptional. She did not seem to relate to people her own age. She also seems to have a obsessive personality. Jenny had to distant herself from Vanessa because she was obsessed with her. She appears to not receive much affection from her parents. This would make her gravitate toward anyone who pays her attention. As a loner and insecure it makes her a perfect candidate for someone like Strane.

Eli So only girls with bad childhoods are abused? Okay, got it.

Britton While I agree that there wasn't any huge trauma that affected Vanessa. I find a lot of people are missing the clear signs of emotional neglect from her parents. They love her, for sure, but they don't know how to talk to her. Her dad's so conflict avoidant, he tucks tail and runs when things look even a little tough. Her mom tries, but she also doesn't know how to talk to her daughter, and even though she deduces what truly happened between Strane and Vanessa, she does nothing. So there were some issues there, even if they aren't as apparent at first glance.

Also as many of the answers here posit, she was lonely and craved affection, Strane took advantage of that.

Kelsey I personally feel like it was her continual response of "I have no friends" or pushing away the friends that were trying to look out for her. I'm sure Strane witnessed this and knew she would have no friends to confide in.

Michelle Lynn I think he may have picked up on the fact that didn't have many friends at this boarding school and preyed on her loneliness. He definitely used her interest in the subject he was teaching to lure her in. I have actually heard (real, not fictional) stories that have happened that way; one of which happened at my friend's school with the band director and a flute player - being able to find a person's passion, telling them how gifted and talented they are, showing them special attention. He (Strane) was definitely very good at how he went about things, and "testing the waters and his boundaries."

Muriel (The Purple Bookwyrm) *Edited* I also thought there was a lot missing in her characterization overall, and I now think that Ms. Russell's character work wasn't all that good. Sure, there were bread crumbs here and there, but eh, it was mostly disappointing. Vanessa feels pretty empty as a character, and most of time I felt Ms. Russell was telling us, now showing us, who she was supposed to be. I speak from experience here: my being in a very similar abusive relationship, between the ages of 13 and 20, didn't "erase" my personality. And there were definitely elements to my previous life history that made me, in hindsight, particularly vulnerable to being groomed.

sababy Nothing was missing in Vanessa's childhood, as you mentioned she was not a child of neglect nor abuse.

I believe she was an insecure teenage girl that fell prey upon the hands of a disgusting master child predator, manipulator, and pedophile. Strane obviously knew she was a young girl seeking validation, and took great advantage of that.

Mara Brewster I think loneliness was largely explained. Loneliness is a precursor for depression and anxiety as well as substance use (which Vanessa also struggled with). I think it is important to acknowledge that anyone can be targeted-regardless of background experience with abuse or neglect. Her parents were also to blame though. It is neglectful parenting to assume that when allegations of sexual assault occur- it is the fault of the child. It is neglectful to not follow up, if anything her mother and father should have more intrusive. It is there fault as much as Stranes. As well as Vanessa was naturally and anxious girl as well. That is evident when she is first seen at Borwick in the story. She has no friends, she is a loner, she says she sees everything, but no one sees her. That loneliness in middle adolescence is especially impactful to development, and her lack of made her desperate for admiration.

Elaine Your usage of the term "easy pickings" makes me extremely uncomfortable.

Jane Hoffman Vanessa was Special.. and special people are vulnerable by nature. Think of the phrase, "there is a fine line between genius and mental illness".
Always hard to fit in anywhere when you are that far from the norm.
Just a thought.

Taylor Nicole Because *anyone* can be the victim of abuse.

Audrey Orenstein Strane saw her as new the school, unfriended, and someone who we respond well to attention. As an only child, and as (her mother makes note of) not particularly social, she will respond easily to any social attention.

Fiona Joffroy I wondered the same thing at times, however, I do believe the book reveals this is her childhood. There is a session with her therapist in which Ruby attempts to get Vanessa to remember her childhood and life before Strane. Vanessa can't. Throughout the book, they actually do not reveal much about her childhood or time before Strane. While she may be a teenager, she still is a child, she is forming her identity. I definitely think her already-existing insecurities made her a particular target, but those insecurities were not necessarily caused by her childhood. Rather, she happened to be quiet and did not have many friends at Browick. I think the concept of being a teenage girl is reiterated throughout the novel. Teenage girls are crazy, unreliable, and unbelievable. Teenage girls travel in packs with their friends. Vanessa did not have this protection so to say from friendships, She was lonely and felt unrecognized, invisible. Her relationship with Strane is the defining moment in her childhood that makes her more susceptible to toxic and abusive relationships- romantic, friendships, with herself, her family.

Shanie I don't think she was easy picking, Strane definitely has his ways of luring her into what he wants. However, I do believe Vanessa's relationship with her mom contributes some aspects to it. Vanessa is missing love and attention from her family. Thus, Strane being attracted to her was a new perspective for her, and she seems proud that he can kneel down on his feet for her. Also, her mom always tells her what to do and what not to do. I feel like this is her way of exploring herself.

Sania Khan what you think is the cause of the sexual development of a pedophile in Jacob strane? sexual aberration? as in Lolita, Humberts premature sexual affair with his GF, who dies at an early age, and that becomes the reason for his interest in Lolita when he sees her. what is stranes trauma or the missing thing that resulted in him being a pedophile?

Stephanie This is a story of a predators track on a teenage girl. I am not sure that I want to continue this story.

Shawna I haven't read this book, I'm just reading the ratings etc and stumbled on this question. Was her father in her life much? That could very well be a reason for being vulnerable to something like this.

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My Dark Vanessa

by Kate Elizabeth Russell (Goodreads Author)

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