The novel uses an interesting narrative structure, with the first person perspective jumping back and forth between Jake and Sawyer’s journal (which he kept pre-school shooting). Look, I love Get Out, but this book was nothing like it! Lol

Mary: I think you’re absolutely right that it’s an easy comparison, and I also hope that someday (soon) we won’t be able to make that easy comparison. So yeah, in other words, no, no I didn’t think this book had anything to do with Get Out. So what I’m hoping is that eventually there will be so many stories centering people of color that we won’t make these “easy” comparisons anymore.

And recently, I’ve seen Lovecraft Country and Candyman added to that comparison list. Even if the stories have nothing in common with Jordan Peele’s film beyond that. The book jacket compares the novel to Get Out, which.I didn’t really see! Do you think this novel earns its comparisons?Įmily: I feel like a lot of things get compared to Get Out if they’re a horror story with a Black protagonist. Mary: I picked this book because I think we always need to have more POC in the horror genre, and the cover of The Taking of Jake Livingston is absolutely gorgeous (Designed by Jessica Jenkins, with cover art by Corey Brickley). We’re going to spoil stuff from here on out! CW: This book discusses suicide, sexuality, and sexual abuse. This novel is about coping with personal trauma, finding yourself, and learning how to make the most of what you’ve got. He’s made peace with his life as a medium, but when the ghost of Sawyer Doon, a school shooter, begins following him around town, things get dicey fast. The novel follows Jake, a high school student blessed (or cursed?) with the ability to see spirits.

Hello, YA Book Club-ers! It’s time for some back-to-school reading! This month, we’ve tackled The Taking of Jake Livingston by Ryan Douglass.

The take of jake livingston