The Stolen is a British paranormal middle-grade novel, with elements of horror and mystery, written by Alex Shearer. It tells the story of Carly, a lonely twelve-year-old who befriends the new girl at school, Meredith, only to learn that Meredith - and her mysterious grandmother - are hiding a huge secret, with which they need Carly's help. It was published in 2002.
Tropes
- Abusive Offspring: Meredith terrorises her elderly grandmother, Grace, who raised her as a parent...by imprisoning "original" Meredith in her body. Except she didn't. Meredith and Grace are working together to trap Connie in Grace's elderly body. Now they've succeeded, though, it seems likely that Meredith will at least stay emotionally abusive, if not worse.
- Ascended Fridge Horror: By way of Foreshadowing.
- Carly says that her mother often doesn't believe what she says, due to her daydreamy tendencies. This helps to confirm that Carly's mother will likely never believe that her daughter was body-snatched into the body of an old woman, and she will die, relatively soon and unhappily.
- Carly's grandmother had dementia before her death. Carly promises that she'll always look after her, reducing her mother to tears. Except Carly isn't in her own body anymore and Grace and Meredith are very cruel and unpleasant.
- Be Careful What You Wish For: Carly persists at befriending Meredith despite Meredith's apparent disinterest and aloofness. It goes badly.
- Cruel Twist Ending: Carly "frees" Grace...only she wasn't Meredith's actual grandmother. They're sisters, and they were manipulating Carly into giving up her own body through astral projection.
- Friendless Background: Carly had no friends before meeting Meredith, who became her Only Friend.
- Redheads Are Uncool: Carly has red hair and is very shy and uncomfortable in her own skin.
