The Taking of Jake Livingston

Jake Livingston is a 16-year-old medium who can see ghosts replaying their deaths on a continuous loop. As one of the few Black students at St. Clair Prep, he faces both racism from his peers and the constant intrusion of spirits into his daily life. The ghost of Sawyer Doon, a teenage school shooter who took his own life, begins to stalk Jake with increasing intensity. Jake must confront this malevolent spirit while navigating his complex relationship with his family and a potential new romance at school. The narrative combines supernatural horror with coming-of-age elements as Jake learns to harness his abilities and stand up for himself. Through both real-world and paranormal threats, he searches for ways to protect himself and those he cares about. This YA horror novel explores themes of isolation, identity, and power through the lens of a queer Black teenager's experience with both earthly and supernatural forms of oppression. The story raises questions about cycles of violence and the weight of carrying others' trauma.

Readers describe this book as a fresh take on ghost stories that centers queer Black teen experiences and mental health themes. The horror elements and atmospheric writing create tension, with many noting they finished it in one sitting. Liked: - LGBTQ+ representation in horror genre - Portrayal of racism and microaggressions in private schools - Fast-paced narrative style - Complex sibling relationships Disliked: - Pacing issues in middle sections - Some plot threads left unresolved - Romance subplot feels underdeveloped - Violence level too intense for some YA readers Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (11,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (500+ ratings) BookTok: Frequent mentions, #JakeLivingston has 2M+ views "Perfect blend of social commentary and supernatural horror" - Goodreads reviewer "The ending felt rushed after such careful build-up" - Amazon review "Captures the isolation of being the only Black kid in class" - StoryGraph user

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🌟 Author Ryan Douglass began writing The Taking of Jake Livingston at age 22, drawing from his own experiences as a queer Black teen in predominantly white spaces. 🏆 The novel was one of Publishers Weekly's "Best Books of 2021" and made several LGBTQ+ young adult reading lists. 📚 The book blends multiple genres, including horror, paranormal fiction, and contemporary social issues, creating a unique "Get Out meets Hereditary" atmosphere. 👻 The ghost story elements were inspired by the author's childhood fear of spirits and sleep paralysis experiences. 🎯 Douglass specifically wrote the book to address the lack of Black male protagonists in young adult horror, particularly those dealing with both supernatural and real-world threats.