Shane, Marisa, and Brandi are back and ready for new
adventures at Port City High. Things seem to be going pretty
well for them with new love interests, some good news here
and there, but when Brandi disappears, it will be up to
Marisa and Shane to find out where she is...or where the
body is...
TAKEN is a very different story from what I expected. Going
into it, I thought it would have a Pretty Little Liars type
feel, but I was wrong. TAKEN is a story with mystery,
danger, and a little romance, but told in its own special
way. Marisa, Shane, and Brandi all have distinct
personalities and their own lives. The different scenes with
them dealing with individual problems shape their characters
nicely and provide solid pacing to keep the story going. The
real life issues Shannon Freeman gives her characters are
harsh and frightening, issues that are very real for many
people. The look into lives that are wrapped in those
realities is done very well and insightfully.
The dialogue and the mindset of the characters are less
mature than the characters' problems, however. While it is
a young adult book, the dialogue between the characters is
geared toward the younger end of the age group. It feels
more middle school drama in some of those areas than young
adult/high school level. This does fit with the age of the
girls, but it closes off some of the ability to connect with
the characters for those older than that young end.
Overall, TAKEN is a quick, decent read. I would not group it
in any favorites, but it definitely does have its own high
points to bring to them table with the great scenes of
different lifestyles and lessons. I would recommend it most
to tween or extremely early teens.
Brandi is smart and outgoing, but sometimes insecure and
gullible. Marisa is graceful and articulate, but often too
driven. Shane is a natural leader with a lot of spirit, but
rebellious and headstrong. The girls have been inseparable
since middle school. But now they are playing in the big
leagues, and it's time to grow up and start thinking about
the future. And Port City, Texas, is not all that. High
school drama has a way of solidifying or destroying
friendships. Will they stay tight or get swallowed up by
Port City High? Or will they go from freshman to senior year
and beyond remaining the best of friends?
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