Don't confuse James Howe's book, The Watcher,
with a recent teen horror flick by the same name or with a novelization
of the "Roswell" TV show which also has this title.
(In fact, there are several novels called The Watcher;
we've reviewed the one by Margaret Buffie
in Cyberteens also.) James Howe's tale is a richly layered story,
told from various characters' points of view, that keeps you
guessing until the very end.
As Evan and his family are vacationing at a seaside
resort, he and his younger sister, Callie, begin to realize
that their parents' marriage is falling apart, although, to
outsiders, they appear to be an ideal family. Margaret is a
lonely girl who watches them play in the sand from her front
steps. Her gaze is so unrelenting that Evan thinks of her as
"The Watcher." Chris, a teenaged lifeguard, also observes
the family from his perch above the beach. He is trying to overcome
feelings of guilt about his brother's accidental death years
before and is planning to escape his unhappy family by moving
to California.
Little by little, we learn about these characters
through their thoughts, and in Margaret's case, her journal.
Her writing is in a sort of code; it's not clear until the end
of the story what her words represent. The mystery which draws
you in and keeps you fascinated is this. How will the lives
of these characters, who never talk to each other, intersect?
When they do, the author does not disappoint--the finale is
worth the wait. The Watcher is a memorable book that
will make you think about the impact we all have on others,
whether we know it or not.
Buy The
Watcher at Amazon.com
