New Young Adult Novel, The Takers, Compared to Stephen King's The Stand by Kirkus Discoveries

"The lively narrative (of R.W. Ridley's Young Adult Novel, The Takers; Book One of the Oz Chronicles) will capture the imagination of young teens, especially boys, who will enjoy the more horrifying aspects of the story. The plot is clearly defined, and the action never flags."

(PRWEB) March 13, 2006 -- Kirkus Discoveries, the leading review service for the publishing industry, recently reviewed R.W. Ridley's The Takers; Book One of the Oz Chronicles, and the Charleston Writer's Co-op is proud to share it with book enthusiasts everywhere.

Kirkus Discoveries writes: “The first volume in The Oz Chronicles recalls both Stephen King’s The Stand and L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz. When 13-year-old Osmond “Oz” Griffith wakes from an illness on the floor of his closet, he discovers the world overrun by man-eating monsters, the Takers, and it’s largely his fault. In an effort to make things right, he gathers a band of survivors (a baby, an aged mechanic and a talking gorilla, among others), and sets off down his version of the yellow brick road, leading to the Atlanta Zoo. Along the way, he learns that his destiny was written by Steve, a boy from his past. Afflicted with Down Syndrome, Steve created new worlds, replete with battles between good and evil, in the comic books that served as his sole refuge from the teasing of Oz and his friends.

The lively narrative (of R.W. Ridley's Young Adult Novel, The Takers; Book One of the Oz Chronicles) will capture the imagination of young teens, especially boys, who will enjoy the more horrifying aspects of the story. The plot is clearly defined, and the action never flags.

Steve’s untimely suicide leaves only the comic books as clues to vanquishing the Takers. Oz, suffering from guilt that he possibly caused Steve’s death, must learn to accept responsibility, not only for his actions in the past, but for the future of civilization as he knows it. The lively narrative will capture the imagination of young teens, especially boys, who will enjoy the more horrifying aspects of the story. The plot is clearly defined, and the action never flags. Hopefully, Book Two is on the way.”

You may visit R.W. Ridley's website at http://www.rwridley.com. You can reach his publisher at 866-308-6235 ext. 119

Ridley, R.W.
The Takers: Book One of the Oz Chronicles
Charleston Writer's Coop (216 pp.)
$14.99 paperback
August 1, 2005
ISBN: 1-4196-0958-0

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