Kyra is just thirteen years old when she is told that she is to get married to her 60 year old uncle. Kyra's life is not like other girls...her father has multiple wives and she has many brothers and sisters. They live secluded from the world on the compound and trust their Prophet to be the voice of God.
But Kyra is not content with the restrictions on her life. She takes risks. She sneaks books to read and meets a boy. She decides she will not marry her uncle.
I found The Chosen One to be a hard book to read. Halfway through, I popped onto Twitter to say it was making me angry. It's hard for me to read about women and children that are abused in this way, denied modern medicine, denied choice. Pretty much all so that a few men can have control and have their way. And it makes me angry that they do this in the name of Jesus, who is actually all about setting the captive free and lifting the burden of the oppressed.
At the same point in time, this book is incredibly powerful. Kyra's voice is strong and lyrical. Her tenacity and perseverance is admirable. The conflict between her love for her family and her desperate longing to be free, made me ache inside. The thing about this story was that there was simply NO GOOD CHOICE. But Kyra took the only choice she had. The ending left me in tears.
Rating: 4.5/5
Things You Might Want to Know: This book tackles some serious themes, but should be appropriate for girls 13 and up.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Review: The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams
Posted by Amy at 11:39 PM
Labels: Book Reviews, Young Adult
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14 comments:
I have read several reviews of this and still have remained on the fence about putting it on my TBR.
However, after reading this review, I am more tempted than ever and will make it a point to keep my eye out for it.
It seems this was a difficult read for you, and I just wanted you to know I admire you for sticking with it and sharing your feelings so eloquently and well.
J.C. Montgomery....it's a quick read..I read it in less than 3 hours, so that shouldn't be a deterrent. :) And thanks for your kind words.
I really, really want to read this book. Your review is fantastic!
Definitely sounds like a powerful read. The subject is something that's so disturbing -- and yet interesting? -- because I fail to understand it in any way... I'm sure I'd be crying after finishing this one, too! I'll keep an eye out for it. Great review!
Great review! I loved this book even though (or maybe because) it was difficult to read. Very thought-provoking and powerful!
Based on this powerful review I think I would like to read this book. Although I can tell that I will need to be in a certain frame of mind before I start.
I agree with your comment: "...it makes me angry that they do this in the name of Jesus, who is actually all about setting the captive free and lifting the burden of the oppressed." It is truly sad that in this day and age we still deal with these kinds of atrocities.
This just came in for me at the library. I'm really looking forward to it, but perhaps this should be an at-home read?
I'd love to read this book for the fact that it's such an emotional story. The subject matter makes me angry too. Nice review Amy.
I just got this in the mail last week. I can't wait to read it! I'm reading Pride & Prejudice right now for the very first time.
I'm so impressed you reviewed this so quickly after reading it. I'm in awe, I need to do better. I agree with everything that you said especially how it's all done in the name of Jesus and religion. This book was fantastic and really hard to read.
This sounds like a very interesting book. I had been toying with the idea of reading it, and after reading your review, I think I'm going to give it a try.
I'm probably going to start reading this one in the next couple of days. Thanks for the review!
I want to read this book at some point and time. It looks good!
i cried my eyes out. i'm a 14 year old girl and i could not at all imagine this happen to me. the kicker was the ending and i was really hoping that she would find joshua (sorry for the spolier). here i am again crying my eyes out.
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