Taken

This book sucked me in right away.  It is about a small, seemingly poor community completely surrounded by a wall where the boys are taken or "heisted" at age 18.  Anyone who crosses the wall has their burned body returned to the village the next day. The book opens on the day of Blaine Weathersby's heist.  The main character is Gray Weathersby, Blaine's younger brother born exactly one year apart.  He finds a secret letter in his home after his brother is heisted and wants to find answers to what is going on in his community.  He teams up with his long time secret crush Emma to find answers and they decide to take the chance to cross the wall.  Luckily for Gray he and Emma become very close in the process.  After they cross the wall...it quickly goes downhill in my opinion.  Obviously much more is going on with this community behind the wall.  But maybe the thing that bothers me the most it that there is a love triangle.  The first half of the book is all about how much Gray loves and wants Emma and has for years since he was 6 years old .and how he can't believe she is finally starting to return his affection.  So it really bothers me that the first girl he meets after being separated from Emma he is attracted to and he gets confused.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised in a teen book, but as a married woman...it really bothers me.  Still a fun read, the mystery was cool but once it's over...it just isn't quite as interesting. I still couldn't put this book down though even after all the secrets are revealed.  Good summer read!