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Description edit see section history

Zara collects phobias the way other high school girls collect lipsticks. Little wonder, since life’s been pretty rough so far. Her father left, her stepfather just died, and her mother’s pretty much checked out. Now Zara’s living with her grandmother in sleepy, cold Maine so that she stays... read more

Summary edit see section history

Zara White suspects there's a freaky guy semi-stalking her. She's also obsessed with phobias. And it's true, she hasn't exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But exiling her to shivery Maine to live with her grandmother? That seems a bit extreme. The move is supposed to help her stay... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Zara White suspects there's a freaky guy semi-stalking her. She's also obsessed with phobias. And it's true, she hasn't exactly been herself since her stepfather died. But exiling her to shivery Maine to live with her grandmother? That seems a bit extreme. The move is supposed to help her stay sane...but Zara's pretty sure her mom just can't deal with her right now.

She couldn't be more wrong. Turns out the semi-stalker is not a figment of Zara's overactive imagination. In fact, he's still following her, leaving behind an eerie trail of gold dust. There's something not right - not human - in this sleepy Maine town, and all signs point to Zara.

In this creepy, compelling breakout novel, Carrie Jones delivers romance, suspense, and a creature you never thought you"d have to fear.

Characters edit see section history

  • Zara White: A young teen has been sent away to her grandma's house because she's only carrying out life's actions but not really living after her father dies.
  • Betty White: Zara's step-grandmother, lives in Maine. Even though she is a "step" the love is biological.
  • Nick Colt: Cute guy, tries to protect everyone. Goes to school with Zara.
  • Ian: Goes to school with Zara. Is in a ton of clubs. Classic over-achiever.
  • Issie: Hyper-active girl who jumps a lot and goes to Zara's new school, quickly becomes friends with Zara.
  • Devyn: Is in a wheelchair, boy at Zara's new school, quickly become friends with Zara. He has a crush on Issie.
  • Megan Crowley: A girl at Zara's new school who hates her. Zara and Megan's have never liked each other.
  • Mrs. Nix: Works at Zara's school as the secretary. A nice woman
  • Jay Dahlberg: He is a skater at Zara's school.
  • Brian Beardsley: In the beginning of the novel you find out that he has vanished.
  • Coach Walsh: P.E. Coach that wants Zara on the cross-country team.
  • Paul Rasku: Attends Zara's school and is known for making pumpkin bombs.
  • Matthew White: Zara's step-father that dies in the beginning of the book leaving her empty. They loved each other like they were real father/daughter.
Show all 13 characters
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “I collect fears like other people collect stamps, which makes me sound like more of a freak than I really am. But I'm into it. The fear thing. Phobias.”
    Zara White
  • “Plus, life is all suppose to be about making love, not war. My dad listened to John Lennon; I know this stuff.”
    Zara White
  • “"I will not be violent. I will not be violent. I am peaceful and good. I am peaceful and good. I do not want to give anyone the finger."”
    Zara White

Setting & Locations edit see section history

Moder Maine in winter.

Organizations edit see section history

  • Amnesty International: Zara is obsessed with Amnesty International. She writes International Rights reports.

First Sentence edit see section history

Everybody has fears, right?

Table of Contents edit see section history

1. Phobophobia, fear of phobias
2. Mnemphobia, fear of memories
3. Didaskaleinophobia, fear of going to school
4. Sitophobia, fear of eating
5. Amaxophobia, fear of riding in a car
6. Couplogagophobia, fear of being the third wheel
7. Philophobia, fear of love
8. Scotophobia, the fear of darkness
9. Philophobia, fear of falling in love or being in love
10. Malaxophobia, fear of love play
11. Autophobia, fear of being alone
12. Phonophobia, fear of noises or voices
13. Teratophobia, fear of monsters or deformed people
14. Hormephobia, fear of shock
15. Algophobia, fear of pain
16. Pogonophobia, fear of facial hair, mostly beards
17. Pixiophobia, fear of pixies
18. Vitricophobia, fear of a stepfather
19. Necrophobia, fear of death
20. Agateophobia, fear of insanity
21. Merinthophobia, fear of being bound or tied up
22. Nyctohylophobia, fear of dark wooden areas or of forest at night
23. Nosocomephobia, fear of hospitals
24. Kinetophobia or Kinesophobia, fear of movement or motion
25. Noctiphobia, fear of the night
26. Asthenophobia, fear of fainting or weakness
27. Atychiphobia, fear of failure

Glossary edit see section history

  • Caille Daouine: Formal name of the pixies
  • pict-sidhe: pixie is devried from this term. One is said to have sidhe blood if they have any pixie in them.
  • Forest People: another reference to pixies

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

  • Pixies: blue creatures with sharp teeth.
  • String: The string which she tied around her finger after her dad died slowly gets caught, and eventually falls off, and represents her moving on and no longer being a recluse.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 1 of 4 in Need. (standard series)

Followed by Captivate.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Carrie Jones (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Country: United States
Publication Date: December 23, 2008
ISBN: 1599903385
Page Count: 320

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Young Adults

Recommended for age +14.

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • Captivate
  • Wings
  • Hush, Hush
  • Evermore
  • Wicked Lovely
  • Twilight
  • Tithe
  • Entice
  • The Abandoned Edge of Avalon

Books Cited by This Book edit see section history

   
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