Take Me There

Author: Carolee Dean

Genre: Young Adult - Fiction

Publication Date: July 20, 2010

Age Range: Young Adult

Pages: 320

Date Scoot Read: September 2010

Source: Paperback

Scoot's Rating: 8 - Really Good!

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Sometimes sexy, sometimes sad, and always intense, Take Me There is a dark and surprising novel about a boy on the run who's headed nowhere fast.

Dylan has a bad-boy past and a criminal record. He knows that rich, beautiful Jess is way too good for him—but she has always been the one person who sees through his tough exterior and straight to his heart, and he has been hopelessly in love with her from the first time they met. He would change his life for a chance with her.

But trouble follows Dylan wherever he goes, and a deadly mistake soon forces him to hit the road and leave his dreams behind. He’s on the run and in search of answers—answers to questions he wishes he’d never asked. 

Scoot's Review:

I enjoyed this book a lot, but I will warn you that it is not all fluff and happily-ever-afters.  This story follows Dylan, a troubled teen, as he struggles to come to terms with his family history and his own past mistakes.  A lot of his mistakes are being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but he still has to live with the consequences.   The book has the feel of a ‘race against time’ that you quickly get swept right into, until the gut-wrenching climax.  It is easy to feel a connection to Dylan and you hate to watch him constantly struggle as one thing after another brings him down.  The romance element of the book was well written, but often took the back burner to the main plot line.  Dylan’s poetry included in the novel was touching and a great supportive element before each chapter. Reading this story made me want to stand up, do some research, and start a literacy movement... or at least SOME kind of movement.  I found the story touching and heartbreaking.  I would recommend this book for only older teens or adults since there are scenes of underage drinking, drug references (implied past usage), and references to sex.