Take Me There by Susane Colasanti

From the Publisher

In one short week . . . three lives change.

Rhiannon is devastated after the breakup with her boyfriend and wants him back. Nicole's ex is still in the picture, but she can't help having a new crush. James and Rhiannon are just friends, though he may try to take it to the next level. Will their desire to take a mean girl down a notch bring these three friends what they want . . . and more?

Set during one life-altering week and told in three realistic perspectives, this engaging, witty novel by the author of When It Happens shows the ups and downs of love, friendship—and karma.

VOYA

Rhiannon has just been dumped by her boyfriend and desperately wants him back. Nicole is struggling with her past, crushing on her math teacher, and trying to remember why she broke up with her boyfriend, Danny. James and Rhiannon are only good friends-or are they? At first glance, this book looks like any other teen relationship novel, but the story goes beyond and the characters slightly past the surface into a week full of both routine and transformation in the lives of three teenagers, their families, and friends. This story of romance and friendship, new love and old wounds is told in three distinct voices, gracefully woven together. Colasanti ably captures the teenage voice through language that is real and not forced. Her easy writing style will speak to teen readers. This book is a quick read but not empty fluff. Although predictable, the different threads are nonetheless satisfying, with a mix of self-discovery, self-deprecation, humor, and teenage angst. Teens will relate to the circumstances and connect with the realistic, sympathetic characters. Parents and teachers mostly remain in the shadows, but their presence-or absence-is felt in the lives of the characters. Likewise other secondary characters and story lines are less developed, but they still add to the overall picture. Some name dropping and popular culture references may limit the shelf life, but readers who enjoyed Colasanti's When It Happens (Viking, 2006/VOYA June 2006) will not be disappointed. Reviewer: Cheryl French

School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up

This tale has likable and realistic teen characters. It takes place over an event-filled week, with Rhiannon, Nicole, and James telling the same story from their individual perspectives. Rhiannon is devastated by her recent breakup with Steve. Nicole has broken up with Danny for no apparent reason, and he is determined to win her back. James, who has always been Rhiannon's best friend, is finding his feelings for her undergoing a dramatic change. Many humorous events occur, including Rhiannon's surefire plan to get Steve back that backfires. Readers will be intrigued by how the same incidents can be seen in so many different lights. They may also gain perspective on how one action can have very different consequences for people. The story also addresses several difficult and all-too-common problems that many teens face. Nicole realizes that Sheila is being physically abused by her boyfriend and is able to get her some professional help. Nicole has her own dark secret-her father is sexually abusing her. It's through her interactions with her friends that she is finally able to acknowledge the abuse and start to get on with her life. Teens who are dealing with their own problems will benefit from the hopeful resolution of this story. While this book's main appeal will be with girls, guys will enjoy hearing the male perspective.-Sheilah Kosco, Bastrop Public Library, TX

Kirkus Reviews

The voices of three friends at a Manhattan magnet school give different viewpoints about a May week in this enjoyable, if predictable, novel. Rhiannon, organized and controlling, tries to win back the boyfriend who abruptly ended their romance. Her best friend James, who unconvincingly denies his unrequited love of Rhiannon, finally admits it to himself and risks letting her know. On the surface, Nicole's biggest problem is that she broke up with her boyfriend, but readers will quickly realize she has been the victim of incest. In a related subplot, a minor character, Sheila, is being physically abused by her boyfriend. Each narrator gives a different take on some of the same scenes, not all of which merit retellings, so the plot drags occasionally. Colasanti deals plausibly with everyday problems of romance and school, and her slang-heavy narratives create sympathetic characters. But the incest and abuse elements feel contrived, with seemingly quick fixes near the end that don't do justice to the difficulties faced in real life. (Fiction. YA)

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