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Take Me With You
Eden, Eli, Marwan, and Ilanka barely know each other beyond having a class or two together. But when they are all summoned via messaging app to an empty classroom after school, they find a small cube sitting on a desk. Its sides light up with rules for them:
'Do not tell anyone about the device. Never leave the device unattended.'
And then, 'Take me with you... or else.'
At first they think it's some kind of prank or a social experiment orchestrated by the school administration. Still, they follow its instructions until the newly-formed group starts to splinter. Nobody has time for these games - their lives are complicated enough. But the device seems increasingly invested in the private details of their lives. And disobeying its rules has scary - even life-threatening--consequences...
'Do not tell anyone about the device. Never leave the device unattended.'
And then, 'Take me with you... or else.'
At first they think it's some kind of prank or a social experiment orchestrated by the school administration. Still, they follow its instructions until the newly-formed group starts to splinter. Nobody has time for these games - their lives are complicated enough. But the device seems increasingly invested in the private details of their lives. And disobeying its rules has scary - even life-threatening--consequences...
384 pages, Hardcover
First published June 23, 2020
66 people are currently reading
1486 people want to read
About the author
Tara Altebrando
13 books373 followersTara Altebrando is the author of numerous books for young adult and middle-grade readers. Her upcoming book, THE LEAVING (Bloomsbury), is a YA thriller that received a starred PW review and is a Junior Library Guild selection. Her other YA novels include ROOMIES, coauthored with Sara Zarr; Dreamland Social Club (A Kirkus Reviews Best Books for Teens), The Best Night of (Your) Pathetic Life, What Happens Here, and The Pursuit of Happiness.
Tara is a Harvard graduate who lives in Queens, NY, with her husband and children.
Tara is a Harvard graduate who lives in Queens, NY, with her husband and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
June 22, 2020
Note to self: if I ever see a strange little box that starts talking to me? Yeah I’m out. And I’m side-eyeing my old Teddy Ruxpin. I see you bro.
Shortest Summary Ever: 4 teens, all different, with no apparent connection are summoned to a classroom one day after school. In the room sits a small black box. It starts delivering messages such as “do not leave the box unattended” and “do not ignore me” ...or else. From there the box, named Aizel, leads each student in different directions into their different and complicated lives...
My thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed the taut suspense and the questions raised about technology and social media. This isn’t Sci-fi... this technology exists now and there are lawsuits pending for such things as the selling of data, spying, hacking etc - and this AI technology is real. That’s the part that makes the hair rise. I applaud the author for this intriguing idea. I’m actually VERY surprised at the low rating but sometimes I hate books others love. 🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
I’ll never look at “learning toys “ the same way and I think that’s the quality in this novel - it’s a “thinker.” Remember The laughable Chucky doll from the 80s? It was laughable because no - nobody will be resurrected in a doll with voodoo. But can something “live” in “the cloud” forever? What IS Aziel? Could something technological become so advanced that it does as it’s programmed - learns for itself until it’s aware of the programming... and then what? Now cue the next 80’s movie - The Terminator and your mind will be in my realm. Fascinating questions all from this book.
Also enjoyed the diverse characters - Marwan, facing xenophobia, Eli - a quiet gamer who is better at his fake game lives than his real one, Eden - overcoming the death of her father, and Ilanka - pretty and social media savvy but mostly lonely.
All my reviews available at scrappymags.com
Genre: Mystery/thriller in the tech world.
Recommend to: Book clubs - some great controversial topics to explore here, my students, and honestly best-seller fans or those looking for a book that brings forward issues. A YA book thoroughly enjoyed by this not-so-young person!
Not recommended to: if you hate technology (though note I’m NOT techy and loved it).
Thank you to the author, Bloomsbury USA and Netgalley for the ARC and my always-honest reviews. Thanks for making me side-eye my old Teddy Ruxpin too.
Shortest Summary Ever: 4 teens, all different, with no apparent connection are summoned to a classroom one day after school. In the room sits a small black box. It starts delivering messages such as “do not leave the box unattended” and “do not ignore me” ...or else. From there the box, named Aizel, leads each student in different directions into their different and complicated lives...
My thoughts: I thoroughly enjoyed the taut suspense and the questions raised about technology and social media. This isn’t Sci-fi... this technology exists now and there are lawsuits pending for such things as the selling of data, spying, hacking etc - and this AI technology is real. That’s the part that makes the hair rise. I applaud the author for this intriguing idea. I’m actually VERY surprised at the low rating but sometimes I hate books others love. 🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
I’ll never look at “learning toys “ the same way and I think that’s the quality in this novel - it’s a “thinker.” Remember The laughable Chucky doll from the 80s? It was laughable because no - nobody will be resurrected in a doll with voodoo. But can something “live” in “the cloud” forever? What IS Aziel? Could something technological become so advanced that it does as it’s programmed - learns for itself until it’s aware of the programming... and then what? Now cue the next 80’s movie - The Terminator and your mind will be in my realm. Fascinating questions all from this book.
Also enjoyed the diverse characters - Marwan, facing xenophobia, Eli - a quiet gamer who is better at his fake game lives than his real one, Eden - overcoming the death of her father, and Ilanka - pretty and social media savvy but mostly lonely.
All my reviews available at scrappymags.com
Genre: Mystery/thriller in the tech world.
Recommend to: Book clubs - some great controversial topics to explore here, my students, and honestly best-seller fans or those looking for a book that brings forward issues. A YA book thoroughly enjoyed by this not-so-young person!
Not recommended to: if you hate technology (though note I’m NOT techy and loved it).
Thank you to the author, Bloomsbury USA and Netgalley for the ARC and my always-honest reviews. Thanks for making me side-eye my old Teddy Ruxpin too.
May 17, 2020
As someone who is not the target audience for this novel, please take my review and thoughts lightly. This book could have been excellent; the ideas were there and the potential was endless. Unfortunately, this story only skimmed the surface of those ideas, and I was really disappointed that we didn't receive the closure expected from this type of book. Overall, just not for me.
June 23, 2020
1/5 stars (maybe 1.5 stars)
“Take Me With You” by Tara Altebrando is a young adult mystery about four teenagers brought together by a simple text message asking to meet with their music teacher in his classroom. The teens soon learn that the message was in fact not sent by their teacher but from an anonymous number through a mysterious device. The device urges them to “take me with you.” Then the story moves along as the teens realize that this device and the rules that accompany it is more than what they thought they were getting themselves into.
This book had a lot of potential yet it lived up to none of it. I love the trope of strangers with seemingly nothing in common getting put together because a situation/event, but I feel as if the story didn’t utilize this trope at all. Usually in thrillers with this plot it’s later revealed what these strangers had in common, but the book never does that. The characters were very one dimensional and almost had no personality. I struggled to find something to relate to, they were all very cliche teens with very cliche teen problems. I thought the device in this book would make the characters engage in dangerous/illegal acts or there was a purpose of the device that the author will delve into, but again that never happened. I felt as if nothing happened in this book even though I know events did take place. There was nothing thrilling or intriguing about this book. I felt myself just wanting it to be over already.
The ending of this book was such a disappointment and very lackluster. The explanation of the device was very much a cop out and in my opinion the author did not do a good job of explaining the purpose of the device and why all of the events with the device took place. The author never went into detail in why the device chose the four teenagers which I think was an important plot line. The book had a very young adult contemporary ending and the tone was very off for a young adult mystery. I left the book thinking “is that it?”
- This book was sent to me for review through netgalley-
“Take Me With You” by Tara Altebrando is a young adult mystery about four teenagers brought together by a simple text message asking to meet with their music teacher in his classroom. The teens soon learn that the message was in fact not sent by their teacher but from an anonymous number through a mysterious device. The device urges them to “take me with you.” Then the story moves along as the teens realize that this device and the rules that accompany it is more than what they thought they were getting themselves into.
This book had a lot of potential yet it lived up to none of it. I love the trope of strangers with seemingly nothing in common getting put together because a situation/event, but I feel as if the story didn’t utilize this trope at all. Usually in thrillers with this plot it’s later revealed what these strangers had in common, but the book never does that. The characters were very one dimensional and almost had no personality. I struggled to find something to relate to, they were all very cliche teens with very cliche teen problems. I thought the device in this book would make the characters engage in dangerous/illegal acts or there was a purpose of the device that the author will delve into, but again that never happened. I felt as if nothing happened in this book even though I know events did take place. There was nothing thrilling or intriguing about this book. I felt myself just wanting it to be over already.
The ending of this book was such a disappointment and very lackluster. The explanation of the device was very much a cop out and in my opinion the author did not do a good job of explaining the purpose of the device and why all of the events with the device took place. The author never went into detail in why the device chose the four teenagers which I think was an important plot line. The book had a very young adult contemporary ending and the tone was very off for a young adult mystery. I left the book thinking “is that it?”
- This book was sent to me for review through netgalley-
June 16, 2020
I was stoked when I got an ARC because I LOVED her previous book The Leaving.
4 unlikely teenagers are messaged to meet in an empty classroom after school. On the desk is a black box that begins to make demands...
Take me with you.
Don’t leave me alone.
Don’t tell anyone.
Can they work together to follow the rules or will they suffer the consequences? Who created the cube and is controlling it?
I loved the story line and how their lives started to interweave with each other. It was hard to stop reading at the end of the chapters because I just wanted to know more and figure out who was behind it all.
The book as a whole was great but the ending was a bit lack luster and disappointing to me.
4 unlikely teenagers are messaged to meet in an empty classroom after school. On the desk is a black box that begins to make demands...
Take me with you.
Don’t leave me alone.
Don’t tell anyone.
Can they work together to follow the rules or will they suffer the consequences? Who created the cube and is controlling it?
I loved the story line and how their lives started to interweave with each other. It was hard to stop reading at the end of the chapters because I just wanted to know more and figure out who was behind it all.
The book as a whole was great but the ending was a bit lack luster and disappointing to me.
June 22, 2020
Solid 4.5 out of 5 stars. I honestly loved this book so much more than I expected! The action starts pretty much immediately, and it had me hooked after the first 10 pages. The author did an amazing job of creating super realistic and believable characters and made the life they were dealing with in Queens feel like something that would be happening right now. The book was spot on in handling some real life issues including hate crimes but also dealt with our reliance on our phone and devices. It made me thing a lot about artificial intelligence and how scary it could actually get the more it is developed! Overall this was an awesome book and such a fun read, and I would definitely pick up more from this author.
June 28, 2020
I loved the premise and the cover and sadly, the story didn’t quite deliver.
The four MCs are all wildly different and I liked that. The POVs did switch often and from that I never felt settled into the story. There are a lot of secondary characters and some of them didn’t seem necessary. If either of those things were intentional to throw off the story, I’m applauding.
Plot wise, it was okay. The start had a decent amount of tension and the build up was promising. As things progressed, I was drawn in and intrigued at where it was going. Annnnnnd then the reveal fell so flat.
Overall, it had a lot of promise, but didn’t work for me...especially the last few chapters.
**Huge thanks to Bloomsbury for providing the arc free of charge**
The four MCs are all wildly different and I liked that. The POVs did switch often and from that I never felt settled into the story. There are a lot of secondary characters and some of them didn’t seem necessary. If either of those things were intentional to throw off the story, I’m applauding.
Plot wise, it was okay. The start had a decent amount of tension and the build up was promising. As things progressed, I was drawn in and intrigued at where it was going. Annnnnnd then the reveal fell so flat.
Overall, it had a lot of promise, but didn’t work for me...especially the last few chapters.
**Huge thanks to Bloomsbury for providing the arc free of charge**
August 12, 2021
Initial reaction: In the middle of a review slump but I think I can write a full review of my thoughts on this tonight. I argue that Altebrando really has great ideas when it comes to thrilling YA novels - "The Leaving" was much the same way in premise. But this book stood in its own way so many times for hitting the stride of a proper YA technothriller. The pacing didn't match up to the momentum this novel promised, along with a few other issues.
Solid 2 stars. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't love it.
Full review:
*exhales slowly* Here we go - I haven't picked up a Tara Altebrando book in quite some time. When I heard about "Take Me With You" in terms of its premise, everything about it sounded like my jam. Mysterious device, four unwitting teens discovering it in the middle of a classroom, them following its firm demands in the middle of their hectic lives...then things taking a turn for the dangerous. Yet in the aftermath of reading this, I feel like I could hand this off to a teen who wants to read a thrilling, high-stakes novel (as advertised) and they could return it back to me saying that it really wasn't a thriller at all.
In which case, they would be very much correct. There's a reason why this book has such a large mixed reception when you actually take the bones of this novel with how its sold. This could have been a good book, could have been excellent from the premise alone.
But...yeah. Let's talk about it and you'll see what I mean.
"Take Me With You" is told between the perspectives of four teens: Eden, Eli, Marwan, and Ilanka. Each of them reside in their own social circles and go about their own lives essentially until they come across a mysterious device in the middle of a classroom after being messaged to meet. The Device promptly instructs "Take me with you...or else" alongside a strict set of rules and regulations. And there begins the story of how the teens end up on the same path. You don't really know what the "...or else" is. Could it be a bomb? (Maybe.) Could it be a game? (Not sure.) You're thrown into the same sense of bewilderment these teens are drawn into regarding what this thing actually is.
As the teens trade off The Device, you're drawn into their individual lives and circumstances, which hold their own complications. Eden's dealing with the aftermath of her father's death and her mother's darting, nervous absences. Eli's circumstances trade between his interest in the technology behind The Device, and his grandfather's ailing health. Marwan has a series of horrible incidents that happen to him and his family, some of which that have ties to the device itself. As for Ilanka, her Russian family has secrets of their own and handling the device places even more complications, especially when it hits close to home.
The first issue I had was how this book chose to present the plot as it was woven. It presents a lot without doing much. While that sounds like a contradiction, it makes sense here. You're reading between four different perspective characters, trying to get to know them in the scope of their daily lives, while also trying to learn about how The Device connects them in a larger tech mystery. I predict that the POV switching might pose some issues for some readers, but it's also the fact that you really don't get into the heart of how the Device poses a threat until a good chunk into the novel. Most of the time before that is the Device having them do tasks without expansion and following the teens in a slice-of-life format. So you're not really following The Device's supposed threat until well into the novel, just four confused teens trying to see where it leads to while trading it off where they can.
It isn't until well into the novel that the Device's hold is actually much more dangerous than any of the teens would have guessed. Some hints are given in a slow burn stretch where the Device enters their lives (i.e. Eli disobeys the device and has his phone locked out, Eden witnesses the Device trying to imitate the voice of her dead father). Some scenes are downright creepy, albeit few. There's a dark, not quite realized undercurrent to all that The Device does, and you get that but also wonder when the payoff will be.
It took about halfway in the novel to get to a point where it actually hooked me with a proper twist, which unfortunately like many conflicts in this novel, the narrative drops and undos the tension with exposition and subsequently pulling back the punch. I don't understand why it did that, it undercut so much of the "thrilling" aspects of this story. Every time you think you're getting to a point where there's a major event that throws the teens off-balance or a significant turning point in the Device's actions or background, it shifts. Granted, there are some really potent notes about technology and how easily accessible our lives are to be viewed or manipulated, but it doesn't dig in beneath a surface level.
Which...leads me to the characters. Oh boy. I cared on a surface level for the main characters' respective problems in this novel, but there are so many stereotypes. So. Many. Stereotypes. Harmful ones that I just shook my head at. Really, for a novel that trades between perspectives, "Take Me With You" could have done the protagonists so much better, given them depth and value outside of blatant clichés. Poor Marwan probably got the worst treatment in this novel with not only being a Egyptian kid whose parents run a store, but he also gets subjected to racial profiling AND violence in this narrative, some of it perpetuated by the Device. And there's not really a big reason to it, just thrown in there to create conflict for him and his family (which...that sucks). And then Ilanka, who has a Russian family who supposedly has a *dark secret* that might have something to do with The Device...I saw that plot thread coming a mile away. It's an old trope and it's lazy. I think the audience this is aimed for probably won't pick up on it, but when I read in one part of the novel that this character said she "could pass for American" even though Russian based families were assumed to be corrupt, I had to go back to that place in my audiobook to think "Did she really just say something like that? WTAH was that about?"
There were so many moments in which the tension was undercut by random narrations like that which were stereotypical and weird when interspersed through the overarching story.
Even when you reach the ending of this novel, it falls short of giving adequate answers for everything it sets up. I will admit there were moments where I felt for the characters for what the Device takes from them, and I cheered when they finally (finally!) decide to take action against the thing commanding them in the middle of the horrible turns. Yet, even when that one dramatic moment comes, it's followed by a long stretch of the characters doing nothing, then being prompted to do something when it seems they didn't take care of things, and then getting a resolution that feels like a kick in the teeth after everything they went through.
I really wanted to love this novel - seriously. But unfortunately it didn't live up to its intriguing promise or execution. I do plan on picking up more of Altebrando's work, but I think like "The Leaving", her previous effort, it left so much more to be desired.
Overall score: 2/5 stars.
Solid 2 stars. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't love it.
Full review:
*exhales slowly* Here we go - I haven't picked up a Tara Altebrando book in quite some time. When I heard about "Take Me With You" in terms of its premise, everything about it sounded like my jam. Mysterious device, four unwitting teens discovering it in the middle of a classroom, them following its firm demands in the middle of their hectic lives...then things taking a turn for the dangerous. Yet in the aftermath of reading this, I feel like I could hand this off to a teen who wants to read a thrilling, high-stakes novel (as advertised) and they could return it back to me saying that it really wasn't a thriller at all.
In which case, they would be very much correct. There's a reason why this book has such a large mixed reception when you actually take the bones of this novel with how its sold. This could have been a good book, could have been excellent from the premise alone.
But...yeah. Let's talk about it and you'll see what I mean.
"Take Me With You" is told between the perspectives of four teens: Eden, Eli, Marwan, and Ilanka. Each of them reside in their own social circles and go about their own lives essentially until they come across a mysterious device in the middle of a classroom after being messaged to meet. The Device promptly instructs "Take me with you...or else" alongside a strict set of rules and regulations. And there begins the story of how the teens end up on the same path. You don't really know what the "...or else" is. Could it be a bomb? (Maybe.) Could it be a game? (Not sure.) You're thrown into the same sense of bewilderment these teens are drawn into regarding what this thing actually is.
As the teens trade off The Device, you're drawn into their individual lives and circumstances, which hold their own complications. Eden's dealing with the aftermath of her father's death and her mother's darting, nervous absences. Eli's circumstances trade between his interest in the technology behind The Device, and his grandfather's ailing health. Marwan has a series of horrible incidents that happen to him and his family, some of which that have ties to the device itself. As for Ilanka, her Russian family has secrets of their own and handling the device places even more complications, especially when it hits close to home.
The first issue I had was how this book chose to present the plot as it was woven. It presents a lot without doing much. While that sounds like a contradiction, it makes sense here. You're reading between four different perspective characters, trying to get to know them in the scope of their daily lives, while also trying to learn about how The Device connects them in a larger tech mystery. I predict that the POV switching might pose some issues for some readers, but it's also the fact that you really don't get into the heart of how the Device poses a threat until a good chunk into the novel. Most of the time before that is the Device having them do tasks without expansion and following the teens in a slice-of-life format. So you're not really following The Device's supposed threat until well into the novel, just four confused teens trying to see where it leads to while trading it off where they can.
It isn't until well into the novel that the Device's hold is actually much more dangerous than any of the teens would have guessed. Some hints are given in a slow burn stretch where the Device enters their lives (i.e. Eli disobeys the device and has his phone locked out, Eden witnesses the Device trying to imitate the voice of her dead father). Some scenes are downright creepy, albeit few. There's a dark, not quite realized undercurrent to all that The Device does, and you get that but also wonder when the payoff will be.
It took about halfway in the novel to get to a point where it actually hooked me with a proper twist, which unfortunately like many conflicts in this novel, the narrative drops and undos the tension with exposition and subsequently pulling back the punch. I don't understand why it did that, it undercut so much of the "thrilling" aspects of this story. Every time you think you're getting to a point where there's a major event that throws the teens off-balance or a significant turning point in the Device's actions or background, it shifts. Granted, there are some really potent notes about technology and how easily accessible our lives are to be viewed or manipulated, but it doesn't dig in beneath a surface level.
Which...leads me to the characters. Oh boy. I cared on a surface level for the main characters' respective problems in this novel, but there are so many stereotypes. So. Many. Stereotypes. Harmful ones that I just shook my head at. Really, for a novel that trades between perspectives, "Take Me With You" could have done the protagonists so much better, given them depth and value outside of blatant clichés. Poor Marwan probably got the worst treatment in this novel with not only being a Egyptian kid whose parents run a store, but he also gets subjected to racial profiling AND violence in this narrative, some of it perpetuated by the Device. And there's not really a big reason to it, just thrown in there to create conflict for him and his family (which...that sucks). And then Ilanka, who has a Russian family who supposedly has a *dark secret* that might have something to do with The Device...I saw that plot thread coming a mile away. It's an old trope and it's lazy. I think the audience this is aimed for probably won't pick up on it, but when I read in one part of the novel that this character said she "could pass for American" even though Russian based families were assumed to be corrupt, I had to go back to that place in my audiobook to think "Did she really just say something like that? WTAH was that about?"
There were so many moments in which the tension was undercut by random narrations like that which were stereotypical and weird when interspersed through the overarching story.
Even when you reach the ending of this novel, it falls short of giving adequate answers for everything it sets up. I will admit there were moments where I felt for the characters for what the Device takes from them, and I cheered when they finally (finally!) decide to take action against the thing commanding them in the middle of the horrible turns. Yet, even when that one dramatic moment comes, it's followed by a long stretch of the characters doing nothing, then being prompted to do something when it seems they didn't take care of things, and then getting a resolution that feels like a kick in the teeth after everything they went through.
I really wanted to love this novel - seriously. But unfortunately it didn't live up to its intriguing promise or execution. I do plan on picking up more of Altebrando's work, but I think like "The Leaving", her previous effort, it left so much more to be desired.
Overall score: 2/5 stars.
September 23, 2020
From the beginning I was hooked and intrigued. I absolutely loved this book !
November 23, 2021
Engaging book
But what kind of ending was that??
But what kind of ending was that??
September 8, 2022
At the beginning, this book really had me hooked. Like I really thought that this was going to be a great thriller/mystery. And it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good.
The book really slowed down as it went on and felt really repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged the whole time. Plus the ending never revealed the answers we were looking for.
The book really slowed down as it went on and felt really repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged the whole time. Plus the ending never revealed the answers we were looking for.
October 15, 2020
anticlimactic AND i didn’t get my endgame 😒
November 23, 2020
So.
I kept in mind the age group when reading this - also trying to see if it was something my own tween would enjoy. It's definitely appropriate for her age, but is also messy, kind of slow, and very unbelievable.
The suspension of disbelief just didn't work.
Our four main characters are okay, though only one really comes to life. Mixed in with the story are heavy-handed messages about racism, peer pressure, death of loved ones, infidelity, etc.
None of the adults act in any way that's believable, nor do most of our teens.
I will let my daughter read this, but I'm not sure the pacing will be enough to keep her interest. Nor am I sure that the overall messy plot will engage.
I did finish it and I think a less mature reader than my own tween might be okay with this, but it lacks...something.
I kept in mind the age group when reading this - also trying to see if it was something my own tween would enjoy. It's definitely appropriate for her age, but is also messy, kind of slow, and very unbelievable.
The suspension of disbelief just didn't work.
Our four main characters are okay, though only one really comes to life. Mixed in with the story are heavy-handed messages about racism, peer pressure, death of loved ones, infidelity, etc.
None of the adults act in any way that's believable, nor do most of our teens.
I will let my daughter read this, but I'm not sure the pacing will be enough to keep her interest. Nor am I sure that the overall messy plot will engage.
I did finish it and I think a less mature reader than my own tween might be okay with this, but it lacks...something.
May 2, 2021
Tara Altebrando books range from enjoyable down to meh for me, but they’re always readable and even when I don’t enjoy the story, I don’t DNF so that’s something.
TAKE ME WITH YOU took me longer to finish than most, because I’m recovery from surgery and concentration is difficult so I took that into account before reviewing. I wasn’t able to put myself in the shoes of any of the teens, I’d never take a strange object because it told me to. The premise left me wondering whether teenagers would follow the instructions of a box, which was a bit distracting.
I got this book for a 1.99 sale on Kindle, so I don’t mind not loving TAKE ME WITH YOU.
TAKE ME WITH YOU took me longer to finish than most, because I’m recovery from surgery and concentration is difficult so I took that into account before reviewing. I wasn’t able to put myself in the shoes of any of the teens, I’d never take a strange object because it told me to. The premise left me wondering whether teenagers would follow the instructions of a box, which was a bit distracting.
I got this book for a 1.99 sale on Kindle, so I don’t mind not loving TAKE ME WITH YOU.
April 13, 2020
Thanks to @taraaltebrando and @bloomsburypublishing for this free book to read and review!
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I’m on the floor in sweatpants and slippers. One kid is doing Epic on the couch and the other one is on @stmath upstairs. Which means I had time to read!!!!!!
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this twisty thriller! Students who love ONE OF US IS LYING will enjoy TAKE ME WITH YOU. Artificial intelligence gone very, very wrong brings 4 relative strangers together. Eli, Eden, Marwan and Ilanka must work together to try and discover what the device wants, where it comes from and how to destroy it. There are rules—never leave the device unattended, tell no one and “take me with you.” If they disobey the rules, there are serious consequences. Things I didn’t love: Ilanka and Eli’s POV aren’t in here until after page 75. Why? Also—the climax is a bit anti-climactic. I did like all 4 characters and their arcs. Overall, this is good and it will be popular!
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Recommended for grades 8+. Out June 23, 2020!
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I’m on the floor in sweatpants and slippers. One kid is doing Epic on the couch and the other one is on @stmath upstairs. Which means I had time to read!!!!!!
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this twisty thriller! Students who love ONE OF US IS LYING will enjoy TAKE ME WITH YOU. Artificial intelligence gone very, very wrong brings 4 relative strangers together. Eli, Eden, Marwan and Ilanka must work together to try and discover what the device wants, where it comes from and how to destroy it. There are rules—never leave the device unattended, tell no one and “take me with you.” If they disobey the rules, there are serious consequences. Things I didn’t love: Ilanka and Eli’s POV aren’t in here until after page 75. Why? Also—the climax is a bit anti-climactic. I did like all 4 characters and their arcs. Overall, this is good and it will be popular!
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Recommended for grades 8+. Out June 23, 2020!
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July 13, 2020
Firstly apologies for any bad typing but I've cut my thumb. It's all wrapped up and hard to type on atouch screen with you thumb out of action.
. I must admit I am surprised how much I enjoyed this. I liked the sound of the blurb but then saw it was a young adult book and I am anything but lol
Anyway, four teens are summoned to the music room after school by their teacher. When they get there he doesn't turn up but they find a small black cube which tells them to take it with them or else. Thus follows further instructions like do not abandon it, do not keep it in a bag for more than an hour, do not get it wet etc. No its not a mogwai... Think more Alexa if she developed self sentience..
The subject reminded me of something that should hav come from the mind of Bentley Little.
The characters were believable and more importantly likeable. I also likedhow each character got a chapter tying up loose ends after the drama was over.
As I say, REALLY enjoyed this and it may only be July but I can guarantee this will. Be up there in my top 5 reads of the year.
Maybe I'm a young adult at heart...
. I must admit I am surprised how much I enjoyed this. I liked the sound of the blurb but then saw it was a young adult book and I am anything but lol
Anyway, four teens are summoned to the music room after school by their teacher. When they get there he doesn't turn up but they find a small black cube which tells them to take it with them or else. Thus follows further instructions like do not abandon it, do not keep it in a bag for more than an hour, do not get it wet etc. No its not a mogwai... Think more Alexa if she developed self sentience..
The subject reminded me of something that should hav come from the mind of Bentley Little.
The characters were believable and more importantly likeable. I also likedhow each character got a chapter tying up loose ends after the drama was over.
As I say, REALLY enjoyed this and it may only be July but I can guarantee this will. Be up there in my top 5 reads of the year.
Maybe I'm a young adult at heart...
June 17, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury imprint for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
The concept of Take Me With You was incredibly intriguing. As soon as I read the synopsis, I knew I needed to get my hands on this book. The story was quick and entertaining, although I felt the ending was lack-luster. I felt like there was so much build up, I would've liked a little more of an exciting ending and answers to some questions I had throughout the book. That being said, it was an entertaining YA thriller. I recommend this book if you love technology-based thrillers.
The concept of Take Me With You was incredibly intriguing. As soon as I read the synopsis, I knew I needed to get my hands on this book. The story was quick and entertaining, although I felt the ending was lack-luster. I felt like there was so much build up, I would've liked a little more of an exciting ending and answers to some questions I had throughout the book. That being said, it was an entertaining YA thriller. I recommend this book if you love technology-based thrillers.
November 1, 2020
Some parts were interesting, but the story became boring pretty quickly so it took forever to finish. I liked how the story was told from 4 POVs, but I would've liked more from some of them than was given. The idea of a device listening to your conversations and all the other things it was capable of doing was frightening. The ending was disappointing, not sure what I was expecting but it wasn't that. This was a new-to-me author and I have to say I'm not any hurry to read another book.
May 15, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Right away we notice the diversity in this book which is great. We have 4 main characters, one of which is from an Egyptian family, another is from a Russian family. I did find that there were some stereotypes in this book (the middle eastern family owns a restaurant and the Russian family is up to some illegal activity). I will let you decide if that bothers you.
It was intriguing trying to figure out what the device wanted. At first I had one idea in place but then realized do to events the device caused that it was most certainly not what I had first thought. In the end I was a little disappointed with the outcome, and it felt like it wasn't really explained well enough. We did get some detail, but I would have liked it if things were made a little more clear.
As for the characters I sympathized most Ilanka, and least with Eli. I'm not sure if Eli was supposed to be an antagonist or not, but honestly I didn't like him much. He reacts so differently to the device than most people would, and those in the book do it makes it hard to connect with him. Overall I'd say with the exception of Eli, all of the characters developed.
The overall plot was interesting, but I felt it could have been more . I found it more frustrating at times rather than tense. I wish more tension was built up and things felt more immediate. It was weird to me how unconcerned the characters felt at times about exposing their data to the device, or how they didn't think it could penetrate other devices in the home (alexa) after what they had seen it do. It just didn't make sense to me. If they were all really afraid of it they wouldn't have taken any chances.
To me this book reads as a "what not to do" with technology. All technology, not just the device. How vulnerable we are when we allow things to listen to us all the time. I liked the premise of the book and did enjoy reading it but I think it missed the mark for a homerun.
Follow me on my blog Tayside Book Blog
Right away we notice the diversity in this book which is great. We have 4 main characters, one of which is from an Egyptian family, another is from a Russian family. I did find that there were some stereotypes in this book (the middle eastern family owns a restaurant and the Russian family is up to some illegal activity). I will let you decide if that bothers you.
It was intriguing trying to figure out what the device wanted. At first I had one idea in place but then realized do to events the device caused that it was most certainly not what I had first thought. In the end I was a little disappointed with the outcome, and it felt like it wasn't really explained well enough. We did get some detail, but I would have liked it if things were made a little more clear.
As for the characters I sympathized most Ilanka, and least with Eli. I'm not sure if Eli was supposed to be an antagonist or not, but honestly I didn't like him much. He reacts so differently to the device than most people would, and those in the book do it makes it hard to connect with him. Overall I'd say with the exception of Eli, all of the characters developed.
The overall plot was interesting, but I felt it could have been more . I found it more frustrating at times rather than tense. I wish more tension was built up and things felt more immediate. It was weird to me how unconcerned the characters felt at times about exposing their data to the device, or how they didn't think it could penetrate other devices in the home (alexa) after what they had seen it do. It just didn't make sense to me. If they were all really afraid of it they wouldn't have taken any chances.
To me this book reads as a "what not to do" with technology. All technology, not just the device. How vulnerable we are when we allow things to listen to us all the time. I liked the premise of the book and did enjoy reading it but I think it missed the mark for a homerun.
Follow me on my blog Tayside Book Blog
May 1, 2020
Actual rating: 3.5 Stars.
First, a big thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for the eARC. I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review. This combination Sci-Fi/Horror novel comes out on June 23, 2020.
The premise? Four high school students who hardly know each other are summoned into a classroom where a small electronic cube is waiting for them. It gives them a few simple rules: do not tell anyone about the device, never leave the device unattended, take me with you...or else. This book was my first foray into the combination of Science Fiction and Horror. I’m not normally a big fan of Mystery/Thriller/Horror novels, but this combination is really doing it for me. While I did feel like this story fell a little flat, I’m now pumped to see what other books I can find with this genre pairing.
This book is compulsively readable. I binge read the last roughly 75% in one afternoon. I was planning on taking several days to read this, but I didn’t want to stop. I had to know what was going on with this AI. And that’s also why I felt this book fell a little flat for me. I felt like the book was open ended and it made me feel a little cheated for getting so invested. In the end, I had questions that I felt like should have been answered.
I did feel like the world and the characters were well rounded. It didn’t seem like the only thing going on in their lives was this device. It was also nice to see how their reactions to each other developed as the device got weirder and weirder. I just needed a little more at the end (I should do a shot every time I think a book “needs more” I swear) to explain it in a believable way instead of leaving me with questions. Still a solid and fun read.
First, a big thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for the eARC. I was given a copy in exchange for an honest review. This combination Sci-Fi/Horror novel comes out on June 23, 2020.
The premise? Four high school students who hardly know each other are summoned into a classroom where a small electronic cube is waiting for them. It gives them a few simple rules: do not tell anyone about the device, never leave the device unattended, take me with you...or else. This book was my first foray into the combination of Science Fiction and Horror. I’m not normally a big fan of Mystery/Thriller/Horror novels, but this combination is really doing it for me. While I did feel like this story fell a little flat, I’m now pumped to see what other books I can find with this genre pairing.
This book is compulsively readable. I binge read the last roughly 75% in one afternoon. I was planning on taking several days to read this, but I didn’t want to stop. I had to know what was going on with this AI. And that’s also why I felt this book fell a little flat for me. I felt like the book was open ended and it made me feel a little cheated for getting so invested. In the end, I had questions that I felt like should have been answered.
I did feel like the world and the characters were well rounded. It didn’t seem like the only thing going on in their lives was this device. It was also nice to see how their reactions to each other developed as the device got weirder and weirder. I just needed a little more at the end (I should do a shot every time I think a book “needs more” I swear) to explain it in a believable way instead of leaving me with questions. Still a solid and fun read.
July 29, 2022
Yet again another disappointment:(
I was so ready for this book! I mean come on! A random device that tells you “follow these rules or else”… what can the “or else” be? Death? A bomb? Gore?
We’re talking about a device that can hack into streetlights and cameras. A device that can hack into phones. A device that can even replicate someone’s voice. Who wouldn’t be interested? A device that can turn invisible. A device that is watching and living to “become” something. It is always listening and watching. And it WILL call you out if you disobey the rules.
It dawned on me that I would have to give it a low rating when I realized it was a mediocre YA thriller that wouldn’t have any gore or super intense moments. Now, I’m not saying I haven’t read any YA thrillers that weren’t gory or some intense suspense moments. Just disappointed, because I have read from this author before and I was VERY intrigued. The only reason I actually finished this, was because it was such an easy read. There were MANY times I had a frown on my face because I hoped that the twist or revenge from the cube would be insane… nope… never happened.
I really had high hopes for this. For those that love Black mirror. This was a book that was recommended that would give you the same feel as the show. Did it give the same feel? Yes. Same energy? Not even close!
As any YA book it did have 2 lessons within. Hate crime and just the overall use of technology. I always love a book dealing with technology especially advanced. You never know, it’s said we will have robots and flying cars in the future. Do I think that’s a good idea? Heck no! We’ve read and seen to many things where they can go wrong! This story had a very intriguing premise but just didn’t hit the spot:(
I was so ready for this book! I mean come on! A random device that tells you “follow these rules or else”… what can the “or else” be? Death? A bomb? Gore?
We’re talking about a device that can hack into streetlights and cameras. A device that can hack into phones. A device that can even replicate someone’s voice. Who wouldn’t be interested? A device that can turn invisible. A device that is watching and living to “become” something. It is always listening and watching. And it WILL call you out if you disobey the rules.
It dawned on me that I would have to give it a low rating when I realized it was a mediocre YA thriller that wouldn’t have any gore or super intense moments. Now, I’m not saying I haven’t read any YA thrillers that weren’t gory or some intense suspense moments. Just disappointed, because I have read from this author before and I was VERY intrigued. The only reason I actually finished this, was because it was such an easy read. There were MANY times I had a frown on my face because I hoped that the twist or revenge from the cube would be insane… nope… never happened.
I really had high hopes for this. For those that love Black mirror. This was a book that was recommended that would give you the same feel as the show. Did it give the same feel? Yes. Same energy? Not even close!
As any YA book it did have 2 lessons within. Hate crime and just the overall use of technology. I always love a book dealing with technology especially advanced. You never know, it’s said we will have robots and flying cars in the future. Do I think that’s a good idea? Heck no! We’ve read and seen to many things where they can go wrong! This story had a very intriguing premise but just didn’t hit the spot:(
August 1, 2020
Language: PG13 (22 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG
Four high school students receive odd messages to meet with the band teacher after school -- but he is nowhere to be found. Instead, they find a black box giving them instructions: do not tell anyone else about it and to take it with them...or else. These students must obey the device and figure out what it wants or find out what “or else” means.
While I was intrigued by the story, I was also confused about what was going on the whole time. I think there are valuable lessons to be learned from these high schoolers about being careful and conservative with technology use, but the mystery still feels unresolved by the end of the book. The mature content rating is for mentions of sex, sexting, and drugs.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
Four high school students receive odd messages to meet with the band teacher after school -- but he is nowhere to be found. Instead, they find a black box giving them instructions: do not tell anyone else about it and to take it with them...or else. These students must obey the device and figure out what it wants or find out what “or else” means.
While I was intrigued by the story, I was also confused about what was going on the whole time. I think there are valuable lessons to be learned from these high schoolers about being careful and conservative with technology use, but the mystery still feels unresolved by the end of the book. The mature content rating is for mentions of sex, sexting, and drugs.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/
June 23, 2020
Thank you to Bloomsbury for sending me an ARC via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 stars.
This was a good read! I enjoyed the story, and I liked the characters. The whole thing with the device was slightly creepy and very uncomfortable especially as things started to progress in the story. I wouldn’t say it was a full-thriller, for me at least, but it was definitely a unique read with well-rounded characters and a plot that had good pacing. Everything made sense when it was explained, and it was explained as the characters figured it out so I had the chance to take guesses at what exactly I thought was going on! (I was wrong. Repeatedly.)
One thing I wasn’t a big fan of was the formatting. I’m not sure if it was because I was reading an eBook version of this ARC, but some of the lines
would be
like this and I
found it to be
really annoying because it
interrupts the flow of the
sentence.
I’m not sure if this was an eBook formatting issue or if it was intentional but it seemed kind out of place. The book also doesn’t have chapters. It switches between the POVs of Eden, Eli, Marwan, and Ilanka, but we stay in third person the whole time. I didn’t mind the POV switches, but it would happen in the middle of a page and again it kind of interrupted the flow.
Overall though I enjoyed reading this book, and if you like some unconventional type thriller books, or if you like stories about creepy AI, then I’d suggest checking this one out.
4/5 stars.
This was a good read! I enjoyed the story, and I liked the characters. The whole thing with the device was slightly creepy and very uncomfortable especially as things started to progress in the story. I wouldn’t say it was a full-thriller, for me at least, but it was definitely a unique read with well-rounded characters and a plot that had good pacing. Everything made sense when it was explained, and it was explained as the characters figured it out so I had the chance to take guesses at what exactly I thought was going on! (I was wrong. Repeatedly.)
One thing I wasn’t a big fan of was the formatting. I’m not sure if it was because I was reading an eBook version of this ARC, but some of the lines
would be
like this and I
found it to be
really annoying because it
interrupts the flow of the
sentence.
I’m not sure if this was an eBook formatting issue or if it was intentional but it seemed kind out of place. The book also doesn’t have chapters. It switches between the POVs of Eden, Eli, Marwan, and Ilanka, but we stay in third person the whole time. I didn’t mind the POV switches, but it would happen in the middle of a page and again it kind of interrupted the flow.
Overall though I enjoyed reading this book, and if you like some unconventional type thriller books, or if you like stories about creepy AI, then I’d suggest checking this one out.
July 24, 2024
*4.5
This was so much fun! I reread this book today and basically finished it in one sitting. I could not put it down. I love the premise of this book and it is such a fun and interesting mystery. I also loved the character development and how the author discussed what the characters were struggling with behind the scenes.
This was so much fun! I reread this book today and basically finished it in one sitting. I could not put it down. I love the premise of this book and it is such a fun and interesting mystery. I also loved the character development and how the author discussed what the characters were struggling with behind the scenes.
March 23, 2021
Honestly, I was expecting so much more. I didn't get it though, sadly.
Oh, and the ending? Yeah... Very bland and- I don't know, it had a great concept and all but the direction of the idea was just ugh.
Oh, and the ending? Yeah... Very bland and- I don't know, it had a great concept and all but the direction of the idea was just ugh.
August 8, 2020
4.50 I really enjoy this author’s books, especially the pacing
October 28, 2020
Great book, loved the story and these characters, though it did feel a bit unfinished! Kinda hoping for a sequel or a companion book!
January 24, 2021
Here's my review:
https://bookadept.com/2021/01/23/tech...
https://bookadept.com/2021/01/23/tech...
April 27, 2023
Have I been 15 years old, I wouldof LOVED this book. Perfect YA
February 15, 2024
3.5⭐ A little slow to start, the middle was intense, and then I felt the ending was rushed/anticlimactic? Loved the different POVs and the concept, but could have been better with taking out side stories/unnecessary drama that didn't get resolved
November 8, 2023
This book was fun to read through most of it, but the ending was unsatisfying and could have been elaborated upon.
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