Praise for The Taking of Jake Livingston: A 2022 ALA Rainbow Book List Pick A 2021 Tor.com Young Adult Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Best Book Pick A 2021 Black Caucus American Library Association Best of the Best Booklist Pick “ Spine-chilling YA horror .” — The Boston Globe “This book is absolutely incredible, chilling, and a must-read .” — BuzzFeed ★ “ An exceptional blend of genres —horror; mystery, thriller and contemporary—that brilliantly captures how Jake, a Black gay teen medium, copes with the varying kinds of violence threatening him. . . Douglass creates a clever and effective parallel between what Jake can’t control—racism and how his body is perceived, a toxic father, an irresponsible brother, his mother’s expectations—and his fight against Sawyer. The story builds to a rewardingly chilling and sentimental climax, as Jake must look deep within himself for the power to break the cycles of harm entrapping him. . . An extraordinarily crafted exploration of agency during Black gay teenhood.” — Shelf Awareness, starred review “A teenage version of Get Out , and you will not be disappointed. . . Douglass looks at race and trauma and death with a comical and horror-esque twist .” — The Root “ Crucial social commentary and insight into the ways discrimination can isolate and depress young adults. Lush and emotive prose chronicles Jake’s journey… Spooky; atmospheric, and layered .”— Kirkus Reviews “There are many layers to navigate in this fast-paced trip to and from the world of the dead, including identity, violent and sexual traumas, and the stigma of mental illness, all with a supernatural and often gory twist. . . Ultimately, this is a satisfying addition to the supernatural horror section.” — The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books “YA readers looking for thrills and chills this summer will find them here.” — Brightly “ Captures the pain of navigating teenagerhood when no one around you sees the world the way you do…A quick, worthwhile read that manages to pack a lot of dark themes into a tight space.” — The Young Folks “ Chilling; edgy . . . spooky and layered . . .A wonderful genre-meld…This is an excellent debut .” — Cinelinx “This YA debut from Ryan Douglass is a mix of genres— horror; mystery, thriller, and contemporary–that explores how a Black gay teen medium copes with the various kinds of violence that threaten him.” — Culturess “ Racial and sexuality themes undercut this gripping novel where a teen is haunted by the repercussions of his own sixth sense.” — Cultured Vultures “A unique and terrifying world built on tension and ghosts.” — The Seattle Times “ Tackl[ing] mental illness, rejection, and loneliness . . . this novel takes a hard look at brutality in many forms, racism, homophobia, and consequences of the choices that we make.” — School Library Journal, review of the audiobook
ISBN: 978-1-984812-53-7
