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A review by apollo0325
The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I’m struggling trying to find a comfortable rating for this book, but I can’t see it being above a 3 star for me for a lot of reasons.
I understand (I think) what the author was trying to convey with these parallel stories of two queer teens with how they both deal with their disenfranchisement differently, and I respect the very bold choice to have one of them be a white school shooter. However, I also felt that Sawyer was reduced to “he’s a closeted gay weirdo who gets bullied and abused” and that’s like… it. It also felt we were falling into a dangerous trope of “abused person becomes evil” which I highly dislike. I think we can have a complex villain without resorting to trauma making them a villain. Trauma can be a component, but it shouldn’t be the explanation and Sawyer was definitely the latter.
The characters fell so flat except for maybe Jake (and even then, his character felt so bland), especially the side characters, and for a story that centers us with these two characters, the pacing, writing, and world building do the story an absolute disservice.
The ghost realm fight scenes also felt incredibly cheesy. I nearly DNF’d this book at the first one, but I decided to push through and they simply do not get better. We start talking about energy swords and I was confused. What the hell are we doing here? What are the rules to any of this? We have this sagely character that helps Jake, but nothing is ever explained or explored outside of convenient things happening within the scenes for Jake.
The biggest problem with this book is the pacing. It’s horrific. There’s no tension being built up because things get figured out so quickly. There’s no real sense of urgency, even towards what is supposed to be the climatic end, and everything is just fine by the end. Despite the danger, it really felt like there were no stakes in the game. *Poe Dameron voice* Somehow, Sawyer is defeated.
Anyway, points for something different within YA horror. I’m not the target audience here, but I think this could be valuable to some kids who want to see themselves represented and coming out alive despite a harrowing situation.
I understand (I think) what the author was trying to convey with these parallel stories of two queer teens with how they both deal with their disenfranchisement differently, and I respect the very bold choice to have one of them be a white school shooter. However, I also felt that Sawyer was reduced to “he’s a closeted gay weirdo who gets bullied and abused” and that’s like… it. It also felt we were falling into a dangerous trope of “abused person becomes evil” which I highly dislike. I think we can have a complex villain without resorting to trauma making them a villain. Trauma can be a component, but it shouldn’t be the explanation and Sawyer was definitely the latter.
The characters fell so flat except for maybe Jake (and even then, his character felt so bland), especially the side characters, and for a story that centers us with these two characters, the pacing, writing, and world building do the story an absolute disservice.
The ghost realm fight scenes also felt incredibly cheesy. I nearly DNF’d this book at the first one, but I decided to push through and they simply do not get better. We start talking about energy swords and I was confused. What the hell are we doing here? What are the rules to any of this? We have this sagely character that helps Jake, but nothing is ever explained or explored outside of convenient things happening within the scenes for Jake.
The biggest problem with this book is the pacing. It’s horrific. There’s no tension being built up because things get figured out so quickly. There’s no real sense of urgency, even towards what is supposed to be the climatic end, and everything is just fine by the end. Despite the danger, it really felt like there were no stakes in the game. *Poe Dameron voice* Somehow, Sawyer is defeated.
Anyway, points for something different within YA horror. I’m not the target audience here, but I think this could be valuable to some kids who want to see themselves represented and coming out alive despite a harrowing situation.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Gore, Homophobia, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, and Vomit
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Racial slurs, and Abandonment
Minor: Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault
This book deals with very intense and heavy topics.
SA/rape attempt happens between an adult relative to a minor relative (uncle to nephew)
There are plenty of depictions of death/murder as well as missing limbs, body contortions, blood, and gore. If you’re sensitive to descriptions that revolve around these, proceed with caution.