Kimberly Derting The Taking Analysis

Kimberly Derting, the author of The Taking, was born and raised in the Seattle, WA, although for short periods of time, she lived in Phoenix, AZ, Boise, ID and San Jose, CA. She is currently living in the Pacific Northwest, “where the gloomy weather is ideal for writing anything dark and creepy” (Derting). She and her brother were raised by their single mother who “taught [Derting] to laugh” (Derting). In 7th grade, she signed up for a journalism elective. The class became more than just an easy A when Kimberly Derting discovered that writing was her passion. Following that class, when she was in high school, she took the role as Copy Editor of the school yearbook where she corrected other student’s grammar mistakes and wrote articles for those who missed their own writing deadlines. By own
The next morning, she wakes up behind a Gas ‘n Sip having no recollection of where she had been but decides it best she return home. Upon her arrival, she is met by her mother, and neighbors who are shocked to see her and most importantly with the news that she had been missing for five years. While she was gone, her parents had suffered at the hands of a messy divorce, but they both took her to the doctors to be examined hoping to understand where she had been. While she is getting her blood drawn, her skin heals around the needle, foreshadowing that something biologically has changed in her. Throughout the beginning of the story, there are other instances indicating that Kyra came back a different person. She rarely becomes tired; she no longer feels the urge to eat; she can see in the dark; she can hold her breath for long periods of time; she can throw at a lethal velocity; and according to her dental records, she was gone for five years but didn’t age. After the dentist visit, Kyra and her dad return to his home where he interrogates Kyra on what she thinks happened as well