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libwinnie's review
3.0
This is one awesome book, except when it's not. The plot, the pace, the characters (yes, even the characters) drew me in and kept me hooked. The racial diversity of the characters, though, feels very gratuitous, forced and artificial. As does the near-future technology.
cherreadssharereads's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed this one a ton. Lots of depth and the suspense of who created the video was huge. The friendships explored in book really plucked some heart strings. The plot and premise are hugely relevant especially as AI ramps up and we are trying to figure out how to set up boundaries to contain video editing. Also I wonder why Wang hasn’t written another book!
madelynminnaar's review
challenging
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
sebinsangel's review
1.0
I just can't get in to this book, so many things just don't seem right or appropriate
unielesta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
silencia167's review
5.0
Read my review on my blog, The Reality of Books: https://therealityofbooks.wordpress.com/2017/06/16/the-takedown-by-corrie-wang/
raeanne's review
4.0
➜Immediately engaging.
➜ Impressive weaving with all the different players and problems
➜ Did see one thing coming from like page 22, but I'm pretty sure that was intentional...
➜Hooked me and I didn't want to put it down.
➜ Adorable and unique romance.
➜ Great cast of characters.
➜ Didn't get annoyed with her narration or attitude at all. In fact, I'm glad I read this book from the popular girl's POV. I haven't ended up like her mom but I know plenty of adults who fit the bill and think they could benefit from reading more YA like this.
➜ Not sure how I feel about the ending.
➜ Impressive weaving with all the different players and problems
➜ Did see one thing coming from like page 22, but I'm pretty sure that was intentional...
➜Hooked me and I didn't want to put it down.
➜ Adorable and unique romance.
➜ Great cast of characters.
➜ Didn't get annoyed with her narration or attitude at all. In fact, I'm glad I read this book from the popular girl's POV. I haven't ended up like her mom but I know plenty of adults who fit the bill and think they could benefit from reading more YA like this.
➜ Not sure how I feel about the ending.
juliayoung's review
3.0
It was... decent. I liked the focus on modern day issues while still being interesting. I liked the unapolagetic-ness of it. I appreciated the fact that she was a debate captain ;). I didn’t like the text speak (I understood while it was done though). I also felt like there could’ve been more... impact. It wasn’t very emotionally engaging.
theshenners's review
1.0
Although the premise was attention-grabbing, I went into this one feeling cautious because it's not #ownvoices (the author is white and married to a Chinese American), and I DNF'd a few chapters in because of all the red flags. I posted excerpts+commentary here.
michelle_pink_polka_dot's review
5.0
ALL THE STARS!!!! This is a “me” book!! I loved the mystery mixed in with allllll the drama. I loved the future world and technology— and even the made-up lingo that the characters speak. Love, love, love this book.
You know how every now and again you start reading a book, and right from the start you can tell it is a "you" book?? Those reading moments are so special, and if you're anything like me, they only come along once in a while. This book was a breath of fresh air for me. Sure, I've read books recently that I've really loved, but none of them were completely perfect for me. This one was!!
THE TAKEDOWN was a cross of BEFORE I FALL with THE THOUSANDTH FLOOR. It was high school dynamics/drama and a mystery set in a future world-- and I think the futuristic part of this book was my favorite part. I loved reading about the technology and the way New York changed. I even loved the slang that the future teens used (I usually hate made up slang, but I thought it worked here).
Kyla is just a typical straight A, popular girl until a sex video of her and a teacher is put on her school's website!! Except IT ISN'T HER!! It looks like her, exactly like her, but she swears it isn't her. Proving it will also force Kyla to find out exactly WHO hates her enough to make such a sophisticated fake. Is it a friend? A known enemy? Someone lurking in the shadows? And how can she make anyone believe her while the video views climb higher and higher?
It was page-turning going on the journey with Kyla. Her friends are all suspects, her enemies are many, and the futuristic technology made everything so invasive and creepy!! I just loved the hell out of this story.
Kyla Cheng was the perfect main character to carry a book like this. She's a little naive, a little bit innocent, but also completely responsible for some bad behavior and unlikable in her own ways. I am nothing like Kyla as a person, she's very type A and not a risk taker, but I totally found myself relating to her and wanting her to persevere. I know that's good writing because type A goody-goodies are usually not my jam.
My fave parts: The family and friend dynamics. I really liked how close Kyla's family was, but that she was still feeling a disconnect from her mom and how that was effecting her despite everything she had going on. Kyla's friends were horrible but also not?? Thats where I was getting the BEFORE I FALL vibes. And the love interest was cute, but also a little too good to be true in my opinion.
OVERALL: YES!! 1 million times YES!!! I could read a book like this every day of the year and never get bored. It's hard to even think of who to recommend this to because it was such a ME book, but I think all YA fans should like this.
My Blog:
Pink Polka Dot Books
You know how every now and again you start reading a book, and right from the start you can tell it is a "you" book?? Those reading moments are so special, and if you're anything like me, they only come along once in a while. This book was a breath of fresh air for me. Sure, I've read books recently that I've really loved, but none of them were completely perfect for me. This one was!!
THE TAKEDOWN was a cross of BEFORE I FALL with THE THOUSANDTH FLOOR. It was high school dynamics/drama and a mystery set in a future world-- and I think the futuristic part of this book was my favorite part. I loved reading about the technology and the way New York changed. I even loved the slang that the future teens used (I usually hate made up slang, but I thought it worked here).
Kyla is just a typical straight A, popular girl until a sex video of her and a teacher is put on her school's website!! Except IT ISN'T HER!! It looks like her, exactly like her, but she swears it isn't her. Proving it will also force Kyla to find out exactly WHO hates her enough to make such a sophisticated fake. Is it a friend? A known enemy? Someone lurking in the shadows? And how can she make anyone believe her while the video views climb higher and higher?
It was page-turning going on the journey with Kyla. Her friends are all suspects, her enemies are many, and the futuristic technology made everything so invasive and creepy!! I just loved the hell out of this story.
Kyla Cheng was the perfect main character to carry a book like this. She's a little naive, a little bit innocent, but also completely responsible for some bad behavior and unlikable in her own ways. I am nothing like Kyla as a person, she's very type A and not a risk taker, but I totally found myself relating to her and wanting her to persevere. I know that's good writing because type A goody-goodies are usually not my jam.
My fave parts: The family and friend dynamics. I really liked how close Kyla's family was, but that she was still feeling a disconnect from her mom and how that was effecting her despite everything she had going on. Kyla's friends were horrible but also not?? Thats where I was getting the BEFORE I FALL vibes. And the love interest was cute, but also a little too good to be true in my opinion.
OVERALL: YES!! 1 million times YES!!! I could read a book like this every day of the year and never get bored. It's hard to even think of who to recommend this to because it was such a ME book, but I think all YA fans should like this.
My Blog:
Pink Polka Dot Books