Review: Gothic Lolita

Gothic Lolita
Dakota Lane
2008; Atheneum (Simon & Schuster); 978-1-4169-1396-2 (hardcover)

Summary: Chelsea and Miya have so much in common, in spite of being separated by thousands of miles. They're both half-Japanese with a little brother. They're both fans of the Gothic Lolita look, combining ruffles and parasols with black and boots. And they're each utterly devoted to the manga Shonen Rainbow Warrior. They found each other through their blogs, and spent years following each other's lives. But then, one day, Chelsea stopped posting. Why did she stop? Why does Miya keep checking Chelsea's blog? Will they ever reconnect?

In a dreamy book, interspersed with photographs and subtitled "A Mystical Thriller," Dakota Lane explores how the Internet can create connections between people with similar interests. Originally drawn together by their interest in a style, Chelsea and Miya slowly reveal some of their secrets--but not the ones that show how truly linked they are. As the two separate plotlines come together, the magic of their shared story becomes clear to the reader. Fans of Francesca Lia Block will definitely snap up this slim book, as well as those teens who are intrigued by all things Japanese.