Taken

Twenty-four hours: that’s all it takes for someone to be taken, a plan to be drawn out and carefully executed, and for the person to be returned safely to their family. So why, in Charity Meyers’ case, aren’t things going so swimmingly?

The year is 2035. Kidnapping is now a major industry in the United States. Wealthy children live in gated communities and are escorted to and from school by armed guards. Nothing dangerous is ever supposed to happen, which is why, when Charity wakes up on New Year’s morning strapped to a stretched in an immobile ambulance, she’s completely calm. Kids in her neighborhood are well trained in kidnapping protocol - Do not panic. Do not try to escape. Wait for your parents to deliver the ransom and you’ll be set free.

If this were like any other kidnapping, Charity would be perfectly fine. Yet as the hours go by, she becomes aware that nothing is going as planned. She watches as plans go awry and more than one person who is close to her dies - or so she’s led to believe. And finally, when Charity thinks things couldn’t get any worse, the biggest secret of all is revealed - one that will forever alter the course of her life and the lives of those around her.

Taken is wildly funny and entertaining, yet still delivers some important life lessons. The story is a bit slow to start off with, but once things get going, you won’t be able to put it down. Edward Bloor has certainly delivered another astounding addition to his repertoire.