A review by justjacq
The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Woof. This was heavy. I enjoyed it as much as one can enjoy a story surrounding some pretty heavy topics. Jake is a gay, black medium being haunted by a white boy who killed multiple people in a school shooting, then killed himself. Definitely go into this one knowing the potential content warnings - suicide, school shootings, rape, racism, bullying, depression, mental health, etc. I think it's timely and emotional. Some of the story lacked world-buliding or more descriptive details, so at times, I felt like I didn't quite understand Jake's life and his environment as a medium. But the moral and the characters were great - I was rooting for Jake, and I felt love for his family and friends. The last quarter of the book really got me in the feels, and I was crossing my fingers for a happy ending. It was scary, spooky, and jarring at times. It was unique, and I'm glad I took the time to read it.