Take Me There

Take Me There
written by Susane Colasanti



While Take Me There is written in the same honest tone Colasanti's readers have gotten so used to, there's just something a bit off about the whole thing. Other than Nicole's issue, which isn't revealed until the very end, it's all about the relationships. I don't want to read only about boy trouble! The characters were well-characterized, but they still didn't seem like well-rounded individuals with big concerns, again, with the exception of Nicole at the end of the book. Maybe if Nicole's problem had been the focus from the start, and it had begun with the confession, maybe that would have made a better book. Complaints aside, I am still head-over-heels in love with Colasanti's writing. I love how she can mention casual details (ex: Rhiannon & Nicole having a big fight last year) without massive elaboration, but adding so much to the characterization. Yes, they did have lives before the book, and they will have lives afterward, and this is just one moment, one tiny glimpse into their world, but not the whole story. I love that. Colasanti knows she has smart readers who can create their own characters, so she mentions these little things, not quite details, because they are important tidbits and not just extra nonsense, and she leaves it up to the reader to figure out the details. I'm a bit torn on the multiple points of view. Nicole's story did not really work with the other two until the very end, and I was disappointed by that. Her story bored me; it was underdeveloped and disconnected. On the other hand, I really liked reading James' parts, and Colasanti's take on a boy's thoughts was pretty interesting. The ending was fantastic, I just wish it had happened sooner. Not Colasanti's best work, but I'll take it regardless.

Rating: 4/5