The Taker

THE TAKER by J. M. Steele
Category: Contemporary
Age Recommendation: Grades 9+
Release Date: 9/1/06
Publisher: Hyperion
Reviewed by: Safia Abdul
Rating: 5 Stars

Carly Biel's story is one that struggles between right and wrong. Carly is a good student and a likable character in this novel,
but she has one flaw--test-taking. After bombing the SATs the first time around, Carly has one more chance to do better.
Only one more chance to fulfill her (and her father's) dream of attending Princeton, where her boyfriend will be. Study really,
really hard...right? But this route is becoming increasingly frustrating for Carly and not even tutoring from Ronald Gross
(school genius) can help her get her score as high as she needs it to be. There is another option, however--one that is only
supposed to be a rumor--and Carly goes for it: making a deal with "The Taker" for her SATs to be aced in exchange for
"something". Who the "The Taker" is and what "something" he wants, Carly has no clue--but she's already in head-over-
heels.

THE TAKER is a hugely relatable novel. Because of pressure for good grades, many teens have at one time or another
thought about cheating, or have cheated on a test or assignment. This is an intricate novel that explores that decision and its
consequences. For Carly, there is no turning back. Read the book to find out what happens!