Take The Stairs

by Karen Krossing

A collection of intimate stories that reveal the troubled encounters and secret hopes of thirteen teens who live in “The Building” as they struggle to turn obstacles into opportunities and make their way in the larger world.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Karen Krossing wrote comics and poetry as a kid and dreamed of becoming a published writer. Today, she’s the author of many books for kids and teens, including picture books and novels. She won the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award for Canada in 2015 and 2023 and has been a finalist for the Ontario Library Association White Pine Award and the Joan F. Kaywell Books Save Lives Award, among other honors. She holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts, and she’s on faculty at Whale Rock Workshops.

For more about Karen, visit karenkrossing.com.

Reviews

[Katelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know why I loved this book so much. It has been a while since I read it. I think it could be because I can somewhat relate to to it. I grew up in an apartment building which you could describe as decrepit. A lot of youth lived there and had troubling stories. In the end it was about survival and resilience which we took in stride and embraced it. That's the vibe I got from the book.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of these characters are easier to care about than others, but overall a disjointed work, if not an interesting concept. I also really don't remember the cover art being this bad oh my god.