Review: Can’t Take That Away

Title: Can’t Take That Away

Author: Steven Salvatore

Publisher: Bloomsbury YA

Publication date: March 9, 2021

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Summary

Genderqueer teen Carey Parker can bring down the house with their voice. They dream of becoming a diva worthy of Mariah Carey. However, trauma in their past keeps them from putting themselves out there as a singer. Not to mention having to deal with their grandmother’s declining health.

When Carey meets Cris, Carey feels truly seen for the first time in their life. Cris gives them the confidence they need to try out for the school musical, Wicked. Carey lands the part of Elphaba, but there are people in the school community who want to take that away from them. With the help of their friends, Carey fights back for their rights and refuses to be silenced.

Review: Can’t Take That Away

Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury YA for an advanced copy of this book to review! While this book was tough to read at times, given what Carey has to go through as a genderqueer teen, I still think it’s an important story to add to the YA genre. Plus, reading about music and musicals is always an added bonus.

Let me start by saving Salvatore’s writing is fantastic. They suck you in with Carey’s story and the voice throughout the book is phenomenal. Carey (he/she/them, I use they/them for the purpose of this review) feels so realistic and almost leaps off the page. Carey’s friends are also well-rounded, giving the reader a full cast of diverse characters. This was probably my favorite aspect of the book overall.

However, while Cris and Carey’s relationship felt mostly realistic, it does get a little tiring by the end. It’s messy and back and forth, which totally fits a teen relationship. But the miscommunication, I felt, went on a little too long for the book. Mostly, the pacing for that aspect of the plot felt a little off to me. The rest of the plot, however, does feel right pacing wise.

Going in, readers should also be warned that there is a lot of queer trauma in this book. There are also mentions of suicide and suicide ideation. The main antagonist, Mr. Jackson, is one still seen too often in schools and the ending in relation to him felt a little too convenient. And maybe not quite realistic? It just didn’t quite fit with the rest of the story.

All in all, if you’re someone that reads for voice and character, I absolutely recommend this book for that. And the musical references! There’s a playlist at the end of the book I really appreciated, too. Can’t wait to see what else Salvatore comes up with!

4/5 stars