When I first started reading Take Me There by Susane Colasanti, I thought maybe I’d stepped into the middle of something. Like maybe I was reading a sequel. So I stopped and went back to her first book, When It Happens. Which, it turned out, had nothing to do with her new book, but was a delight to read anyway.
After I finished When It Happens, I immediately returned to Take Me There, this time realizing that Susane was bringing us into the middle of a story on purpose. This is something you should know, so that you aren’t confused when you pick up the book yourself. Because you are so going to.
Susane’s novel about a group of kids at a Manhattan high school is told from three different perspectives: there’s Rhiannon, who has just been dumped by a guy she thought loved her; James, Rhiannon’s best friend since forever; and Nicole, newer to the crowd but essential just the same.
Each of the three voices is distinct, but they don’t clash. They work together. And in each section, we find out something new about a situation we’ve already read about from another perspective. It’s a creative format, and Susane does a great job making sure it all meshes.
As for the storyline … well, I don’t want to tell you too much. Just that it starts with Rhiannon in tears over a guy. Sounds typical, but what happens as the book progresses isn’t typical. There’s so much more to the story, there are so many more stories to the story, and it’s just plain good reading.
If, after you finish Take Me There, you are still in need of a Susane Colasanti fix, I highly recommend When It Happens. Now, get thee to a bookstore already! Sheesh.
Buy Take Me There
Your reviews are very persuasive. I had my eye on these two for awhile. I like the idea of multiple points of views, that always gets me to read a book.
I’ve been reading the Twilight series, so long! I’m hoping now that I’m almost done with those I’ll get to whip through some books that are less than 300 pages!
Fantastic review!
I loved this book as well.
Now I’m off to check out the rest of your site and favorite it, hehe.
i picked up When It Happens tonight. I’m going to throw it onto my freaking huge tbr stack, I’m thinking it’s going to land somewhere near the top though!
Whee! I really, really enjoyed that book. It’s just … sweet. Come back and tell me what you thought of it when you’re finished, yes?
Sounds good, probably in a few months.. (i really hope not though) just have so much to read!
Alea, dearest, just do what I do: read every minute of every hour of every day. You can eventually learn to read while eating, bathing, brushing your teeth, shopping, walking, doing dishes, vacuuming, watching television, and even responding to e-mails. I swear. The only thing you can never really learn to do is read while driving a car or practicing yoga, as I’ve said before. Hmm. Maybe you could learn those skills, but I’m not going to risk it myself.
Anyway, what are you reading now? Spill! I want to hear what’s on your list.
Haha. I wish I could get away with reading at work, that’s where all my time goes! I do read on the bus about an hour a day which is good. Right now I’m reading A New Dawn, that anthology of essays about the Twilight series. And then I was going to read How to Be Useful: A beginner’s guide to not hating work. If any arc’s show up those. And then I haven’t planned it out after that, maybe Evernight or Airhead or Suite Scarlett or When it Happens. Got lots to pick from!
i just finished reading take me there and i enjoyed it very much but i feel like its not finished yet is there some sort of sequel to it or maybe one coming out
I haven’t read this book yet but I am planing to. I read when it happens and I absaloutley loved it and I reallyyyyyy hope that a sequel comes out! I want to know how things work out for sara and tobey. but I since reading the reviews i’ll have to go to the library and pick this one up.
thank you to the author for writing when it happens.
(and all your other books)
I truly love them!!!