Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass

87 reviews

pigegesy's review

3.0

I wasn't really feeling a school shooter's perspective. While Jake's comments on experiences of Black kids in predominantly white schools and how they endure so much systematic mistreatments and racial abuse from peers and teachers, bc schools are designed to oppress with what they teach, what they don't but should have, and how they just let microaggressions happen. It was well-done here (my white european arse think). Parts of it reminded me a bit of ,,Ace of Spades" how straightforward, ruthless and no-bullshit-taken it treats the subject. Those were my favourite parts, though the book was taken over by a white boy's cruel but meaningless inner thoughts. Some may say Sawyer has colonised the story that belonged to Jake. Given the ending...

does anyone else interpreted the body possession as a literal take on colonialism and imperialism?

I loved it!! Maybe because I really hate today's state of the world where Black identity is used as a prop for maintaining power structures. Where it so common to endorse systems of oppressions if they are made by diverse leaders. White supremacy is always the wrong choice, no matter which face is representing it. Maybe I just deeply hate liberals and made my own freak interpretation of what the scene meant, but isn't it what art is about? Uhh, about the book, thougg... I disliked one-dimensional characters and the love story with very boring, very forced-to-be-cool love interest, too. But good for them boys,

it actually cured Jake's anxiety

🤍 There were also super YA story devices that were too cheesy and ridiculous for my liking, like

Allister's hacking skills and the breaking in scene

, but well, am I not ridiculous myself blaming YA for being YA? Don't mind me, it's me-problem 😔 Anyway, I gave it 1.5 stars originally, but fuck it, it was actually okay. Up to 3 stars we go! This opinion has no structure and conveyed very little about the book itself, and I don't know how people stay on topic and are actually useful for potential readers. Sorry.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Mass/school shootings

sammy357's review

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Homophobia, Racism, Suicide, and Mass/school shootings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Mental illness

Minor: Sexual assault

maxinekelly's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Car accident

eddieboy's review against another edition

I started reading this on a day where I was rather stressed and sleep deprived, I have a history of mental health problems and I'm queer, probably wasn't the best thing to read in a state where I was more at risk of those kinds of thoughts. It's a good book and it discusses things a lot of books leave out. But I have it as a library book and I'm not sure if I'm ready to face it again really. At least not yet.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Stalking, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Moderate: Gun violence

Minor: Sexual content

elysianbud's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The entire second half of the book was just the author ripping my heart out of my chest while I sobbed violently. I've literally just finished it and I think I have a headache from dehydration...

Great characters and good plot. Love to see assholes get their due. Author sets atmosphere brilliantly. 

(Also the cover for this is gorgeous!)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

almost_me_again's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Mass/school shootings, and Suicide attempt

d0505's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Suicide, Mass/school shootings, and Murder

Minor: Homophobia, Racism, and Car accident

discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This was super creepy; definitely recommend for fans of paranormal thrillers. 

One thing I think the author did really well, was depict the parallel between Jake’s helplessness as he’s being stalked and harassed by a paranormal entity; and his helplessness as he endures the racism of his fellow classmates/teachers in his all-white school. In both cases he’s being worn down over time, knowing there’s no one who hears him or would believe him. 

I struggled a little in the second half as the action became more focused within the astral plane and the fighting is done between spirits wielding ectoplasmic smoke, etc., just because the language gets sort-of nebulous and I had trouble tracking what was going on. But I don’t think that’s a weakness of the writing so much as a limitation of my imagination.

This is a great spooky season read, but definitely check trigger warnings as this story heavily features depictions and discussions of gun violence and school shootings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, Mass/school shootings, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Racial slurs and Car accident

stacy_27_'s review

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I feel like if the book was longer it would have been better. Everything felt rushed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mass/school shootings

Moderate: Mental illness, Racism, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Minor: Rape

allisonsmith120's review

dark medium-paced

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Mass/school shootings, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Vomit, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol