Friday, December 11, 2009

The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

Thirteen-year-old Kyra has grown up in an isolated community without questioning the fact that her father has three wives and she has twenty brothers and sister, with two more on the way. That is, without questioning much - if you don't count her secret visits to the Ironton County Mobile Library on Wheels to read forbidden books, or her meetings with Joshua, the boy she hopes to choose for herself instead of having a man chosen for her. But when the Prophet decrees that she must marry her sixty-year-old uncle - who already has six wives - Kyra must make a desperate choice in the face of violence and her own fears of losing her family forever. (Taken from book jacket)

I loved The Chosen One! I've never read a book that took place in a polygamist compound, but I've always been fascinated by the stories you sometimes hear in the news. I could never imagine living that way, so it was neat to get into the mind of a girl who has lived that way her entire life. And for some reason, I was surprised to see that her family was actually kind of normal. Well, as normal as can be when your father has three wives. Her family, including her father, were loving and kind to her and it seemed like it could be a regular family. I also thought it was funny how Kyra reacts to people who are wear regular clothes, which I guess would be considered revealing. I loved that Kyra snuck away to visit a Mobile Library. Since I love to read, I could definitely relate because I would be the one sneaking off too. The story was very interesting and kept me turning the pages because I could not wait to find out what happened next. When The Chosen One was finished, I wanted to keep reading, it was just that good. Recommended for all readers!

9 out of 10.

1 comment:

Thao said...

Sounds like a very great book ; )