Gr 8 Up—Ezra wakes one morning to find that his sister, Bea, is gone. No longer able to handle the abuse of their
stepfather and the neglect of their mother, Bea leaves home to find their father. Meanwhile, Ezra remains in their abusive household and tries to survive with the support of his boyfriend and his sister's ex-boyfriend. Told through
emails between the two, this tale of siblings dealing with abuse and an unsure future will not disappoint fans of
realistic fiction.

I guess I wish there had been more of a happy ending, but it wasn't a happy story, so it went as well as it could. I disagreed with a lot of Bea's choices, maybe not Ezra's though. That said, I can't blame them for the choices they made. I guess it's hard when things can't be neater or nicer, but they couldn't be. Anyway, it was a good story and kept me reading. ( )

Ezra's older sister Bea leaves their house - running away from their abusive stepdad and their mom, and toward...what? Ezra doesn't know. Bea emails him, but no one else, and their correspondence makes up the book, as she lands in St. Louis, MO, and begins a new life, and Ezra deals with the fallout of her disappearance as well as Darren's continued (and escalated) anger. In Bea's corner: the owner of an Italian food market, the public library, a college student called Patch, and Ezra. In Ezra's corner: Bea's ex-boyfriend Joe, Ezra's boyfriend Terrence, school friend/acquaintance Jessica Wei, and Bea.

With little else to depend on in their lives, Bea and Ezra rely on each other through a series of difficult discoveries; they learn to ask for and receive help, escape their abusive home, and rebuild themselves in light of new knowledge and perspectives.

Quotes

I'm telling him I need his goodness and at the same time I'm saying his goodness disqualifies him from really understanding what my life is like. (Ezra to Bea, 89)

Even as I was saying it, I knew it was the wrong thing. It was mean. Technically right but emotionally wrong. (115)

...don't leave one trap just to fall into another. (133)

Even as I spiraled, the wiser part of me knew to spiral toward you. (147)

The truth is always sadder than lies anyway. (169)

I feel like my whole life I've been playing this game called This Is Not As Bad As That. (191)

"...there's a difference between caring and listening. He doesn't listen." (Patch to Bea, 213)

As upside down as our lives might be right now, Ez? At least we're going something to change it. (214)

If you're used to people being shitty, it's hard to accept niceness. Your instinct is to fuck it up. And run the hell away. (247)

It's easy to start seeing yourself the way others do, to believe the reflection they paint for you... (316) ( )

Okay, first things first, the format of the book. For those of you that don't like stories told through correspondence, it might be the tipping point. I beg of you, GIVE IT A CHANCE nonetheless because it's worth it!

I love that moment when you figure out what a title means, or why it was chosen, or even, as is the case here, the multiple meanings behind it. At face value, it makes sense...a beloved sibling takes off to escape all that is their world WITHOUT the only other person they depend upon. They left them behind, come what may...a situation they never anticipated, and quite frankly weren't ready for. At second glance, it's not so much about the actual physical take of the other person, but of carrying them in their heart, in their thoughts and actions, as they try to unscramble the omelet that is there upside world. I mean, these siblings, this brother and sister, have been through hades, and while yes, they knew some things weren't right, they didn't realize to what extent they extended to until it all came raining down. The downward spiral their lives take is heart stopping, but even in the ultimate darkness there can be hope, and that hope, that spark of what could be, is what carries on in their hearts, making them take those difficult steps forward, reaching for something more. Were there missteps along the way? Absolutely! Were there more shocking revelations to come? Unfortunately. Was there any goodness to come from such a dark tinged tale? Without a doubt.

All in all, it was a remarkable story, both tragic and uplifting, with two lead characters that go through so much, yet ultimately come out stronger on the other side. Should they have had to? No...but what's done and what's right are often two very different things, and people have a way of making what they see their own truth, for better or worse. Good thing these two had each other, even from a distance, because that tether, however tenuous, will become a lifeline they never knew they needed.


*ebook received for review; opinions are my own ( )

David Levithan and Jennifer Niven's new YA novel is Take Me With You When You Go.

Fifteen year old Ezra wakes up one morning to find that his almost eighteen year old sister is gone. Things are bad at their house - Darren is an abusive stepfather and their mother is no better, turning a blind eye. Bea and Ezra have talked about getting out, but how could she leave without him?
The authors have chosen to present the book using an epistolary method, which is one my favourite literary devices. The story unfolds through a series of emails between the siblings. Along with Ezra, the reader learns where Bea has run to, what she is looking for, and what the future might hold for her. And along with Bea, we worry at the escalating situation that Ezra finds himself in.

The missives between the two are hard to read at times. (There are trigger situations) But on the flipside the love between the two is tangible. The two main characters are well drawn and are believable. And sadly, the situations and emotions are also believable. The reader can't help but be behind these two as they try to find a safe place for themselves where they can thrive.

The supporting cast is just as well drawn. There are some wonderful characters such as Ezra's boyfriend, but you won't have any problem hating Darren.

The authors throw in some unexpected turns for Bea and Ezra that kept the story fresh for me. Endings are only perfect in fairy tales. And sadly, life for many young people is anything but. But the ending the authors imagined is just right. This is a story of sibling love, finding your footing and making your own future. ( )