Two girls have recently disappeared near the town where Stephanie lives. She is concerned but is sure that it could never happen to her. But then it does. Tied up and alone far from home, she manages to escape her captor and run for her life. But she is in the middle of nowhere, with no food, no shelter and no way home. And worst of all, she has run away before, so she is sure that the police will not take her disappearance seriously. She will need to save herself, calling on lessons learned from her grandfather and an inner strength she never thought she had.
"Well-written for the targeted audience. It was simple, yet gripping."
– For the Love of All That Is Written blog
"Taken is an engrossing study of the humbling effects of solitude, and it offers an unflinching depiction of the unforgiving and often brutal realities of the natural world."
– Quill & Quire
"[Stephanie's] harrowing journey back to safety propels this plot-driven, fast-paced tale forward... Told in the first person, this suspenseful survival story is sure to have strong appeal."
– Kirkus Reviews
"Riveting, and never becomes too harrowing."
– Booklist
"Award-winning novelist McClintock adds another well-paced tale for adolescent readers to her impressive collection… A story about an engaging and smart protagonist facing seemingly insurmountable odds and surviving should appeal to early teen readers accustomed to tidy television-style adventures neatly packaged and resolved. Highly Recommended."
– CM Magazine
"[A] fast-moving thriller…McClintock's dialogue feels genuine, though readers spend the majority of the novel in Stephanie's head, as she uses clear thinking and a substantial reserve of inner strength to find her way home."
– Publishers Weekly Online
"McClintock does an admirable job of weaving suspenseful elements together while tantalizing the reader with seemingly disconnected snippets of information…I definitely recommend this novel. It is well-written and it proceeds at a pace appropriate to the development of tension necessary to carry it along."
– Resource Links
"McClintock has written yet another thought-provoking book. The emotions and struggles that Stephanie works through make you feel like you are there."
– What If? Magazine
"The plot is fast-paced and the heroine is likeable...This survival story is a page-turner."
– Tri State Young Adult Book Review Committee
"A fast-paced story told in the first person...The character is compelling and the descriptions are great—you can practically taste the grubs. The cover is eye-catching as well. This is sure to be a hit with teen readers."
– Puget Sound Council
Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Quick Picks | 2010 | Commended
Resource Links, The Year's Best Books | 2009 | Commended
American Library Association (ALA) Popular Paperback for Young Adults | 2012 | Commended
Manitoba Young Readers' Choice Award (MYRCA) | 2011 | Winner
CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens | 2011 | Commended
