Taken is a gripping YA survival thriller that feels brutally real from page one. David Massey brings his journalism and storytelling background into every moment from the tension of the open sea to the psychological intensity of being captured deep in the jungle. The teen characters are brave, flawed, and achingly human, and the story explores trauma, courage, and moral choices without ever losing its emotional punch. A tense, urgent, beautifully written novel that stays with you long after the final chapter.