A review by jiji_
The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I have to start with the content warnings because they feature so heavily: school shooting and death, child sexual abuse, self hatred, homophobia and racism. If you can take these themes on, then this is a decent read. It's a true YA, borderline middle reader with mature themes. There are definitely some truly horror-esque moments, but you'll need some suspension of disbelief for the kind of fantasy elements. While these topics are difficult to read and stomach, they're still so important. I wouldn't recommend this to middle grade or teens without some real debriefing with a parent or teacher. As an adult, give it a go for some genuine moments of creepiness and story telling!
Graphic: Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Incest, Homophobia, Racism, Sexual assault, Death, Murder, Child death, and Child abuse