Kristy Dallas Alley
Swoon Reads, 2020
272 pages
Grades 8-Up
Dystopian/Romance
Ami lives with her grandparents and aunts and uncles as the only young person in an isolated compound in the future after a devastating pandemic. Modern conveniences are no more and it has become very difficult and rare for women to have babies. Since Ami was born post-pandemic to a woman who was forced to run away, it is assumed that Ami can also conceive. One day a mysterious older man appears and it becomes clear that it is expected that Ami should "breed" with him. Ami is all for doing her duty in the ultra-religious and conservative community that her grandfather rules with an iron fist, but this crosses the line. At the urging of one of her aunts, Ami decides to run away to find the mother that she no longer remembers. The journey is scary and dangerous, but at last Ami stumbles into the community in which her mother is assumed to be living. Once there Ami meets for the first time other young people. She also is exposed to alternate life-styles, short hair on women, and secular music. At first overwhelmed, Ami gradually makes friends and even develops an unexpected love-interest. The meeting with her mother offers some surprises and the truth behind the separation. Will Ami stay in this strange new place or will she return to the compound and the old ways with the only family she has previously known?
This book attracted me right from the start by the cover. And then I saw that it was post-pandemic, dystopian America and I just had to read it. It is a great story that is sure to speak to many modern teen readers. Beyond the timely notion of the pandemic, the book offers Handmaid's Tale vibes that will appeal to modern sensibilities. Feminists will love the clear, yet not overwhelming, message of women's right to chose their own mates and if and when to procreate. The setting is fully realized and the characters are developed. Ami is a brave and honest young woman, who will serve as an inspiration to readers. She is completely brainwashed by the family cult and manages to process other choices quickly and think for herself. At first Ami is angry at her mother's choices and then sees the other side, demonstrating maturity and growth. Readers may in turn question racism, homophobia, and the male dominance in their own lives and dare to chose differently. There is room for a sequel and I, for one, would like to see more of this world and its people. On another positive note, the story may encourage teens to delve into classic American folk music or pick up a guitar. Debut author, Alley, hits it out of the park with this compelling read and I can't wait to see what she writes next!
No comments:
Post a Comment