The Taking of Jake Livingston

This is an amazing, fresh YA book (although I will say it is not for younger YA readers). I read the whole book in one sitting, mainly because I loved it so much but also because the book isn't that long. It is very well paced and I was hooked right up until the last sentence.It handles a lot of social issues really well - racism, homophobia, gun violence, etc. - and it offers an interesting range of perspectives.I've seen people say that there were loose ends at the end of the book, but I honestly didn't think there was. I thought everything tied up very well and left the reader with a satisfying ending.No doubt one of my favourite YA books of this year. A very interesting concept that was executed extremely well.

I read this one a couple of months back and it’s been on my mind ever since. On the surface this book is about sixteen year old Jake Livingston one of the few Black students at St Clair Prep, who sees ghosts around him stuck in their death loops. But underneath is a story of racism, abuse, mental health, homophobia with LGBTQ+ and POC gay African American representation. There is also a mystery element to the book whereby a ghost called Sawyer Doon, a shooter from another school a few years before, begins to haunt Jake. But why?! And then there’s the romance with the arrival of another Black student—the handsome Allister—and for the first time, romance is on the horizon for Jake.This book got me thinking in a good way. I think the great thing about this book is that as a reader we can all take a bit of what we want and need from it. Different aspects may appeal to different people. Unusually for me I enjoyed the contemporary feel of the story more than the paranormal. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the spookiness, but for me this kind of took a back seat as I just became enthralled in Jakes life so much and was rooting for him all the way!The atmosphere that is created in such a short book is hauntingly beautiful.I’m excited to read what Ryan Douglass writes next!

Great read nothing bad to review on! Don’t have to be a teenager to read this book if you like to try something different go for it as I did I’m a 25 years + reader.

I really enjoyed reading this. It was so refreshing to read a book about a Black gay teenager and the struggles that come with it. I wish I had this book when growing up. I loved the paranormal aspects of the book and how it tied into Jake's coming of age story.

I like reading this book.