TAKEDOWN By Alison van Diepen EMMA DIMSDALE Plot

TAKEDOWN By Alison van Diepen EMMA DIMSDALE

Plot: In this book Takedown we follow a young man named Darren who is in the game of the drug cartel business. He then must do everything Diamond Tony says. If not he knows what will happen to him, even the people he loves will be put at risk. To make life even more complicated, he falls In love with a girl named Jessica. He now needs to protect his family and Jessica from the dangers on the streets. Unfortunately the drug game now turns into a turf war between the Bloods and Diamond Tony, his time is starting to run out for blowing his cover of being on both sides between the cops and DT. After being released from juvie after 2 years, Darren wants revenge against the leader of the drug-dealing gang for whom he took the fall. Darren is an intelligent young man with dreams of making it in the music world, a sweet adoration for his young brother. These short, action-filled chapters are made to urge readers like us on, and the gradual revealing of details about Darren’s family and background adds a layer of depth. Many chapters end with raps penned by Darren, often expressing his feelings about what’s going on in his life, and while these fit well with him, they feel a little weird and awkward since it’s probably meant to have beat or music attached to them

Characters: Darren- The main character, the novel is told from his point of view, his job is to be the police informant Protagonist Diamond Tony- The chief drug dealing his business is for selling diamond dust, he will do anything and kill anyone to keep his identity safe. Antagonist Jessica- Jessica is Darren’s girlfriend which he is very loving and caring for her and makes sure nothing will put her in danger DT’s Crew- Vinny and Marcus are the main executives Ashtray The Cuz Tyrell Remy White Chris- Darren’s best friend who is very wealthy, and taken care of Prescott- The cop on the inside that was getting information from Darren. He eventually gets shot by one of Tony’s men since they knew that he knew too much Kessler- In replacement for Prescott when he got shot, and is now the one Darren tells his information to after Prescott. Andre- The head of the bloods and trying to take down Diamond Tony Tasha- Darren’s sister who isn’t to fond of Darren since the work he does

Inquiry Question “How can sacrifices lead to success? ”

Theme: The theme in this book is to not let revenge take over your mind and make it all you think about. This may cause you to not focus on anyone or anything else and sometimes leaves you in a hard situation Another theme is the book is falling in love makes you do crazy things in order to save the relationship and keep the person you love safe

Symbol Kiki Darren’s younger brother is a symbol of peace and calmness, since he is the one that keeps family together and keeps everyone happy around him and, everyone thinks of him before anyone else. He means a lot to Darren, and he hates to disappoint Kiki, so he tries his best not to let him know what kind of job he is doing on the streets at night. Kiki and Darren have this connection through music, this bond is strong.

Conflict Person vs Person Person vs Self Conflict- Darren is determined to bring down DT, whom is in charge of the dealing of Diamond Dust, but Darren has a little complication since he falls in love with Jessica (his girlfriend), he then gets distracted from finishing his job to take Tony down after all. He has an on going battle with not letting his cover get blown and trying to stay in the loop with all the drug dealers, and drug dealing. Then again he has to face his own mind of all the horrible and horrific things he has seen and done, and face where he is in life right now. The hardest part is him wanting to give up, but knowing he has to finish this mission once and for all to get the success and feeling of weight being lifted off his shoulders knowing that it is all over.

Setting- It in the inner city throughout the streets, a place were crimes and drug dealing is very common. It is taking place in Ontario. It takes place in a laid back area where it seems to be much poorer than other parts of Ontario.

Point of view First Person The story is told in first person where Darren in the narrator telling his story in much detail as we living in his shoes. The words and intense language that is used, gives off a feeling of what Darren has to go through in his every day life.

Connections to Other Sources: Personal Connection I relate theme to my driving question, since I always strive to get good grades, and work on my soccer skills. You have to work hard for both these tasks in order to succeed, but you have to remember these don’t just come easy you have to work for them, but you do still have to give yourself a break sometimes, or then you will be overworked. To get good grades and maintain them. Sometimes you have to make some sacrifices to get the grades you want if that involves staying later after school or getting the extra help you need. This goes the same for soccer if I want to be a better soccer player or work on my skills, I then have to go to the field on my own time and practice. This relates to the book by Darren working on to stay in the game to try to stop Tony. He works hard up to this accomplishment. He has to lie to his family and loved ones along the way, yet in the end he hopes they understand it was for their own good so they don’t get hurt in the process of all of this.

Connection to Other Sources: A connection I made to the book and to my own personal connection was to the Author J. K Rowling J. K. Rowling had just gotten a divorce, was on government aid, and could barely afford to feed her baby in 1994, just three years before the first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone, was just then published , she was so poor she couldn’t afford a computer or even the cost of photocopying the 90, 000 -word novel, she then typed the whole book out the publishers many times so they could publish it. It was rejected dozens of times until finally she was excepted by a publisher in London. This just shows the sacrifices you make to reach goals that you believe will come true in the future “People who never give up are normally the ones who succeed in the end. ”(Cris Nikolov)

Life Long Lover of Literature This book makes you think deeply about many people who are involved with some sort of drug use that are living on the streets. You then realize that this is what is has come to for some people, and they once chose to live like this. Even if they wanted to change some of them can’t since their addiction is overtaking their body. The very powerful words and quotes Alison van Diepen chose for this book really give off a feeling like you’re in the shoes of Darren trying to get by with selling drugs for a living.

Other Important Information In its 2007 report, the UN found that Canada led the industrialized world in marijuana use, at least when calculated as a percentage of population. Canadian-based trade in methamphetamine has grown so much since 2003 that by 2007, 83 per cent of all methamphetamine seized in Australia came from Canada. You can go to jail for 3 -5 years for drug trafficking in Canada. There were 91 suspected drug overdose deaths in July 2017, which represents a 30 per cent increase from last July. The number of drug overdoses so far this year is up 88 per cent.

Quotes That Stood Out to Me "Taking revenge on the bloods Responsible for the drive by was one thing, but catching innocent people in the crossfire was another. " (pg 235 Darren) This quote shows that Darren doesn't want any one else to get hurt on involved in the turf war that is going on and is trying to keep others safe. "My fists tightened with satisfaction. For once, Tony had played right into my hands. " (pg 263 Darren) Darren finally felt like he had out smarted Tony and he felt like his plan was working once again, this time he felt hopeful about it. "When I turned back I found myself staring into the barrel on Tony's gun. " (pg 273 Darren) Tony had betrayed Darren and was trying to save himself this shows how he doesn't care about anyone but him, he was willing to do or kill anyone to stay alive, yet look where that got him in the end

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