Stephanie’s father was killed in a car accident, and she hates that her mother found a boyfriend just a few months after the accident. She hates the new boyfriend, feeling as if he’s mooching off her mom. A serial killer kidnapped two girls who look very similar to her in nearby towns, but she’s sure her town is safe. So, late one evening she declines her best friend’s advice to accompany her home, and sets out on her own. While taking a shortcut across a dark, abandoned field she’s attacked.

When Stephanie wakes she finds herself tied up in an abandoned cabin. She manages to get herself free and sets off into the woods that surround the cabin, desperate to put distance between herself and the serial killer who’d kidnapped her. With no food, water or shelter readily available she dredges up every bit of survival advice she’d learned from her grandfather on past hiking and camping trips. The days pass with no hope of rescue, and Stephanie’s situation is worsened when she steps into a hole and severely twists her ankle.

I liked reading about the things Stephanie learned about survival from her grandfather, and it seemed as if she was an exceptional learner. I also thought the ending was predictable and it felt rushed. Though it felt like I already knew how the story would play out before I even got to the end, I’ll recommend it for reluctant teen readers because it’s interesting and is a quick read.

Recommended for teens ages 13-16, especially reluctant readers.

Book review link: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.com/2019/12/10/taken-by-norah-mcclintock/ ( )

Library Summary: “Two girls have recently disappeared near the town where Stephanie lives. She is concerned but is sure that it could never happen to her. But then it does. Tied up and alone far from home, she manages to escape her captor and run for her life. But she is in the middle of nowhere, with no food, no shelter and no way home. And worst of all, she has run away before, so she is sure that the police will not take her disappearance seriously. She will need to save herself, calling on lessons learned from her grandfather and an inner strength she never thought she had.”

I really liked this book. It wasn’t as good as I thought it would be, but it wasn’t that bad either.

McClintock does a good job at giving us a look inside the teenage mind. Especially since Stephanie a) lost her father and b) is angry that her mom is dating a man that Stephanie doesn’t like. McClintock understands what a teenager in this situation would think and do so well it’s as if she went through it herself.

McClintock was able to write the book so well that I was able to form a picture of what was happening in my mind. I was able to put myself in Stephanie’s shoes. I was able to imagine what I would have felt if I had been in the same situation as Stephanie.

I recommend this to anyone who likes kidnapping stories. ( )

I'll have to admit I didn't finish this book. It just hit to close to a story that was happening in my hometown, a missing child, and I just was't up for it. I did start it and it just creeped me out to much.

Reviewed in CM magazine; September, 2009.

http://umanitoba.ca/cm/vol16/no4/taken.html

References to serial killers, abductions, and missing teens, all in the first few pages, are sure-fire ingredients to hook young adult readers. Even though the author knows just what her readers are looking for - suspense and danger - "Taken" doesn't always deliver. The abduction of Stephanie happens too early in the novel and seems somewhat contrived. As well, readers may feel somewhat misled as the storyline veers more towards a wilderness survival adventure, rather than the original premise of unravelling a criminal case. However, McClintock does manage to tackle several themes related to change that teens will be able to connect with, including the loss of a parent, moving to a new home, and adjusting to new relationships. ( )