Reviews with content warning for Racial slurs - The Taking of Jake Livingston

Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass

40 reviews

gellyreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Sawyer as a character is conflicting, but I liked the way this book set up the characters, powers, and world.

Content Warnings

writingcaia's review

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Besides the sometimes hard to follow supernatural scenes in the realm of souls, demons and astral projections, this was a very dark, intense and interesting YA horror tale.
In truth, this could have been told as a normal YA coming out and coming of age contemporary story, with a bit more trauma maybe, but the author chose well to explore the themes of abuse, neglect, bullying, school shootings (gun violence), racism, mental health and coming out as gay with a horror story.
The book shifts between two POVs, that of Sawyer, the white, blond, gay boy, abused by all, with a severe psychosis bordering on sociopathy and the main character’s POV, Jake, one of the only Black students at a white Christian school where his brother is the known bad boy all girls fall for and he’s the loser spaced out most of the time because he’s a medium, thus is haunted at all times by ghosts and more, which is how he meets Sawyer.
Give it a go, it’s definitely worth it if the themes interest you and you like funky visual, supernatural horror.

Content Warnings

directorpurry's review

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Content Warnings

elysianbud's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The entire second half of the book was just the author ripping my heart out of my chest while I sobbed violently. I've literally just finished it and I think I have a headache from dehydration...

Great characters and good plot. Love to see assholes get their due. Author sets atmosphere brilliantly.

(Also the cover for this is gorgeous!)

Content Warnings

asinglebird's review

Go to review page

challenging dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

pineapple_queen's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-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? It's complicated

Content Warnings

discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

This was super creepy; definitely recommend for fans of paranormal thrillers.

One thing I think the author did really well, was depict the parallel between Jake’s helplessness as he’s being stalked and harassed by a paranormal entity; and his helplessness as he endures the racism of his fellow classmates/teachers in his all-white school. In both cases he’s being worn down over time, knowing there’s no one who hears him or would believe him.

I struggled a little in the second half as the action became more focused within the astral plane and the fighting is done between spirits wielding ectoplasmic smoke, etc., just because the language gets sort-of nebulous and I had trouble tracking what was going on. But I don’t think that’s a weakness of the writing so much as a limitation of my imagination.

This is a great spooky season read, but definitely check trigger warnings as this story heavily features depictions and discussions of gun violence and school shootings.

Content Warnings