Sarah B. (bourgette) reviewed on + 27 more book reviews
I picked up this book at a recent library book sale because I find the whole plural marriage concept to be fascinating. Most adults (and a lot of teens), have heard of the compounds in Utah and Texas, compounds that harbor a secretive community that forces young girls to marry much older men. I wanted to see how an author would take this topic on from a teen's perspective. Hrdlitschka focuses on this emotionally charged topic by focusing on the narratives of three teenage girls. Their stories are intertwined and each girl alternates telling their own story.
I must say that I like how Hrdlitschka focused on girls from both inside and outside the community. By using the story of Taviana, a former teenage prostitute, we see how someone from the outside would behave in a closed community. I also thought that is was an interesting twist that this story is based in Canada instead of the US. When I picked up the book, I assumed it would take place in the US. So often we hear of polygamy in the US, that we forget that it takes place in Canada as well.
I found myself getting attached to Celeste and Taviana, although at the beginning the girls' voices all blended together. There are slow periods in the book, but for the most part the story flowed pretty smoothly. Overall I really enjoyed this book , but I did have a few problems with it. I have already mentioned that at times it was hard to differentiate the girls' voices (they were all very similar). I also found some inaccuracies about the religion of the girls versus reports I have read and seen on TV. I would not take this as an accurate account of what life is like for these girls in compounds; it is however a thought provoking look at what directions we decide for our lives to take and which ones we do not take.
I would recommend this book to high schoolers who have an interest in lives that are different from the norm. It would also appeal more to girls than to boys. Overall, I would give this book 4/5 stars and suggest it as a quick and easy read.
Read the rest of my review at www.bourgette.com
I must say that I like how Hrdlitschka focused on girls from both inside and outside the community. By using the story of Taviana, a former teenage prostitute, we see how someone from the outside would behave in a closed community. I also thought that is was an interesting twist that this story is based in Canada instead of the US. When I picked up the book, I assumed it would take place in the US. So often we hear of polygamy in the US, that we forget that it takes place in Canada as well.
I found myself getting attached to Celeste and Taviana, although at the beginning the girls' voices all blended together. There are slow periods in the book, but for the most part the story flowed pretty smoothly. Overall I really enjoyed this book , but I did have a few problems with it. I have already mentioned that at times it was hard to differentiate the girls' voices (they were all very similar). I also found some inaccuracies about the religion of the girls versus reports I have read and seen on TV. I would not take this as an accurate account of what life is like for these girls in compounds; it is however a thought provoking look at what directions we decide for our lives to take and which ones we do not take.
I would recommend this book to high schoolers who have an interest in lives that are different from the norm. It would also appeal more to girls than to boys. Overall, I would give this book 4/5 stars and suggest it as a quick and easy read.
Read the rest of my review at www.bourgette.com
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