Take

Two teens uncover a secret hidden in the Cascade Mountains that spans generations, stringing together family skeletons, lost stories, and a discovery of love and self in this tense and emotional young adult thriller with “great holds, great movement, and a worthwhile finish” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).

Take unfolds as Cara finds herself on the brink of adventure. Unlike her best friends, she is not inclined to go to college; she seeks different kinds of challenges. Home feels uncomfortably tight, and she is growing distant from her friends, having not spoken to her father in ages. Complicating matters further, her ex-boyfriend and fellow climber, Nat, returns, having ended their relationship via text. It seems the perfect moment for her gap year plans to rock-climb in Patagonia.

However, Cara's plans shift when she learns that her father is actually missing. While attempting to trace his whereabouts, she uncovers a trail of clues about the legendary mountaineer, outdoorsman, author, and climber, Beckett Friedrichs. Unfortunately, the only person capable of helping her make sense of these clues is Nat.

Their search for Cara's father leads them deep into the Cascade Mountains, up daunting rock faces, and through history itself. As Nat and Cara delve into the era of World War II, the impact of Pearl Harbor, and its Japanese Incarceration Camps, they also unravel the intricacies of Cara’s family history and their own relationship.