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
