Book review: Sci-fi novel 'The Taking' has conspiracies, romance, suspense

<b>"THE TAKING," by Kimberly Derting, HarperTeen, $17.99, 368 pages (f) (ages 14 and up) </b>

Everything in Kyra Agnew's life changes with a simple flash of light. After a fight with her father, Kyra stomps away from their car and is lost in the brilliance of the light and the sound of her father screaming.

Five years later, she wakes up behind a dumpster about a mile from her home. Everything about her has stayed the same: her clothes, the ribbons in her hair and even a bruise left over from the softball state championship she just won. Everything around her life, however, has changed. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend and her best friend are now together and away at college, and she has a new stepfather with a new baby brother. And the cute little neighbor boy is now 17, kind and gorgeous, and his puppy-dog devotion has aged into something much more serious.

Derting's "The Taking" gives something to every young reader. As Kyra tries to find out what happened to her and others, the story builds a science-fiction tale of suspense with enough romance to keep readers who generally shy away from science-fiction turning the pages. Government conspiracy, super powers, danger and romance - "The Taking" has it all. The ending is clearly set up for a sequel.

There are a few swear words throughout the book and several romantic scenes, including teens kissing and cuddling. The ending has suspenseful and intense scenes, but "The Taking" does not contain excessive violence.%3Cimg%20src%3D%22http%3A//beacon.deseretconnect.com/beacon.gif%3Fcid%3D166083%26pid%3D46%22%20/%3E</group><group id="5A5A7D6D-09B4-4C65-B9F9-1F8B1F925653" type="seoLabels"><seoLabels></seoLabels>