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The Taking of Jake Livingston

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The Taking of Jake Livingston

By: Ryan Douglass
Narrated by: Kevin R. Free, Michael Crouch
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INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Survival is not a guarantee in this chilling horror novel where a teenage medium doesn’t know which is worse . . . confronting a school-shooter-turned-vengeful-ghost or enduring his racist high school.

“Spine-chilling YA horror.”—The Boston Globe

“A teenage version of Get Out . . . Douglass looks at race and trauma and death with a comical and horror-esque twist.”—The Root

Living in two worlds is exhausting and no one knows this better than sixteen-year-old Jake Livingston. His working-class, diverse neighborhood is a far cry from the world of St. Clair Prep, where he is one of the only Black students, constantly at the mercy of racist teachers and peers who don’t understand him. But when his neighbor—a survivor of a grisly school shooting—is murdered and the bloody initials of the now-dead shooter, Sawyer Doon, are left on the entryway wall of Jake’s home, Jake is forced to confront another world he wishes he could escape—the world of the dead.

As a medium, Jake sees ghosts around him all the time. Most are harmless. Stuck in their death loops as they relive their deaths over and over again, they rarely interact with people. And while for most of his life Jake has avoided them, this time there is no running away. Sawyer was a troubled teen who shot and killed six kids at a local high school before taking his own life. Now he’s a powerful, vengeful ghost, and he has plans for his afterlife—plans that include Jake. When Sawyer begins stalking him, high school becomes a different kind of survival game—one Jake is not sure he can win. Difficult Situations Horror Literature & Fiction Racism & Discrimination Haunted Scary Discrimination Ghost African American Horror
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This young adult novel is a standout, offering a fresh and compelling story. The pacing keeps you engaged from start to finish. It thoughtfully addresses important social issues like racism, homophobia, and gun violence, presenting a variety of perspectives. I found the ending satisfying and well-tied. Overall, this is one of the best YA books I’ve read this year, with an interesting concept and excellent execution.

A good Listen

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I loved the way the story split across two perspectives, the distinct voices of both Jake and Sawyer made them feel distinctive and the relationships Jake and Sawyer had with not only their peers and family but with the reader felt believable and intimate 💖💕

Gripping and Fun!

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A fabtsically gripping YA thriller about a boy called Jake, who as a medium becomes haunted by the sprint of a high school shooter.
Expertly performed in multiple POV this story touches on issues surrounding, homophones, racism, mental health and the teen experience.

a not to me missed ya thriller

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