The Taking of Jake Livingston, Ryan Douglass
The Taking of Jake Livingston, Ryan Douglass
List: $25.99 | Sale: $18.20
Club: $12.99

The Taking of Jake Livingston

Author: Ryan Douglass

Narrator: Kevin R. Free, Michael Crouch

Unabridged: 7 hr 30 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/13/2021


Synopsis

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.

About The Author

Ryan Douglass is a queer horror author and freelance writer from Atlanta, Georgia. His work on media representation has appeared in HuffPost, Atlanta Black Star, LGBTQ Nation, and the National Council of Teachers of English, among others. He received his BA in theater studies from Hofstra University and is currently a nomad floating across the United States. The Taking of Jake Livingston is his first novel.


Reviews

Goodreads review by myo

this book was short but very good with the pacing, i enjoyed how it dealt with black queer trauma and microaggressions when it comes to going to predominantly white schools. can’t wait to see what the author writes next.......more

Goodreads review by Nilufer

Jake Livingston’s story reminded me of Jamie Conklin, also black teenager, raised by single mother ( without rebellious brother) who can see ghosts and try so hard to keep it as secret. But this one is focused on micro aggressions and black queer drama with more Get out meets Dear White People vibes......more

Goodreads review by aly

[2.5/5] I haven't read any horror books for some time now (I think the last time was from Madeleine Roux) so this feels like a breath of fresh air but I don't think I find myself enjoying this one as much. Let's just go on with what I like about the book first: The pretty cover. It gives me a whole Fr......more

Goodreads review by Gina

Thanks to the publisher and edelweiss for an early copy!! I’m heartbreakingly unimpressed with this story. Let me begin by saying I’m forever grateful for the recent uptick in stories about Black boys, especially Black queer boys, just being boys. The heavy racism topic stories need to be told, of c......more


Quotes

A ALA Rainbow Book List Pick • A Tor Young Adult Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Best Book Pick • A 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

“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

“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.”—BCCB

“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