Takedown

by Joyce Sweeney

Quentin Charles Dorn, a murderer on the run from the authorities, crashes thirteen-year-old Joe Anderson's pizza party and takes him and his friends as hostages.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction

202 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2004

About the author

Joyce Sweeney captured the attention of the YA book world when her novel Center Line was chosen as the winner of the first Delacorte Press Prize for an Outstanding First Young Adult Novel in 1984. Since that auspicious beginning she has continued to publish appealing novels for teens on a variety of topics, among them friendships, family relationships, and self-discovery. Four of those novels have been named Best Books for Young Adults, four have been Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, and Booklist included Players among its Top Ten Sports Books in 2002.

Reviews

[Connor Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Connor Neil 3rd Period
I thought the book was an exciting book that always kept you entertained through out the book. It was one that had mystery and left you gessing at what would happen next after you read. This book reminded me of my life by having ordinary high school kids who like to hangout and have fun. This book made me think of another book I read because its full of excitement, mystery, and action. It aslo reminds of the movie batman because a villian is terrorizing a city that they know who it is but they just cant catch him. It also reminds me of what I saw in the news about a killer in califorinia who took forever to capture but was finnaly caught and put to justice. I thought it was exciting when in the book the kids where about to leave the house and escape the murder but when they started to move through the dark garage the lights came on and the killer was standing right there waiting for them. I felt nervous when the killer held the gun to joe's head and said "What did you say to me" because I thought he was going to kill Joe. In this book Joe is good at showing bravery because he finnally stands up to the killer in the book. It all starts when joe is having a party at his house with his friends. He calls and orders a pizza for him and friends to eat. Then when the pizza man arrives joe opens the door and it's Dorn the killer who has been terrorizing Ft. Lauderdale Florida for the past month. He charges in and takes Joe and his friends as Hostages and threatens to kill them if they try to leave or try to call the cops. Now Joe must find a way to escape his own home and keep him and his friends alive.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

From School Library Journal:
Grade 6-9 - Joe is hosting a party in honor of his favorite weekly wrestling show when a college student-turned-murderer crashes the get-together and holds the 13-year-olds hostage. As the terrifying ordeal continues, Joe thinks back about how he met each friend, their history together, and problems they are facing in their lives. Their troubles allow for some character development, but they also bog down the story. While some parts of the plot are implausible, Sweeney's use of simple language, in combination with the suspense of the tense hostage situation and the wrestling theme, will draw reluctant readers and fans of sports entertainment. - Jessi Platt

[Williem Bolynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book. i could imagine myself in it while i was reading it.

[RPBYS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for boys ages 11-14 (good for upper middle grade and lower young adult readers). Suspenseful plot and great characters.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of a crazy book about a young teenager who gets taken hostage. The main character is believable although their are some pretty unbelievable aspects to the story. I enjoyed it.

[Christy Eads winn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young adult book that my 11 year old son read and begged me to read. It was pretty good and kept my interest.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a several years ago and the beginning is kind of slow but it picks up through out the rest of the book and ends up being a pretty good book