Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/imageviewer.asp?ean=9780312555115, accessed September 25, 2009.Bibliography:
Williams, Carol Lynch. 2009. THE CHOSEN ONE. New York: St. Martin's Press.
ISBN 9780321555115
Critical Analysis:
In her book, THE CHOSEN ONE, Williams finds the right balance of information and warning in her riveting story about a 13-year-old girl living in a polygamist cult. Kyra who longs to be free, finds shelter in a Russian Olive tree at the back of the compound where she lives in the isolated desert, with her father, his three wives and their 20 children. She loves climbing high in it's branches, the only place in the world that is truly her own. "I love being here," I say. "I love being able to see it all and having no one see me." She even goes so far as to walk outside the confines of the compound where one day she meets Patrick, who drives the local Bookmobile. Ever since "the cleansing" seven years before, books have been banned. Eventually, she begins to check out one book at a time, hiding them within the folds of her dress. Literature opens up a whole new world for Kyra, who learns of what life is like in the outside world. Kyra also has another secret, Joshua. Joshua is the boy that Kyra shares her first kiss with, and the boy who would choose her for himself if he could. One night, Prophet Childs comes to see Kyra's family and tells her father that Kyra has been "chosen" to be the seventh wife of her sixty-something year-old, uncle, Brother Hyrum. Kyra vows to herself that she cannot let this happen, but even with the support of her family, her pleas go unheard and she is faced with the unimaginable choice of running away and giving up her family, or staying and being forced into a marraige that will break her spirit.
Physical as well as emotional abuse run rampant through this book as does fear and even murder. The final scenes of the story are gripping and terrifying, and though you know what you are reading is fiction, you find yourself wondering if things like this ever actually happen. Although most teenage readers will not directly identify with Kyra's situation, her emotions are so complex and global that young adults will find this enticing book impossible to put down.
Review Excerpts:
VOYA: "Kyra has been Chosen. Prophet Childs received a vision: she is to be the seventh wife of Apostle Hyrum. Kyra is thirteen; her uncle Hyrum is in his sixties. They live on a desert compound, miles from town. Ever since Prophet Childs led the New Cleansing seven years earlier, books have been outlawed, medicine and doctors banned, children harshly disciplined, and young girls saved for older men. Such is life in a polygamist sect, but Kyra has rebellious thoughts and often walks beyond the walls of the compound to feel free for a few minutes. Recently she met the local Bookmobile along the road and has been checking out one book at a time, concealing them under her dress. Reading and playing the piano are two of her favorite things. The other is Joshua, the boy who would Choose her if he could. Suddenly Kyra is faced with an impossible choice—run away and never see her family again or stay and be forced into an unbearable marriage. "
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "In this thriller, 13-year-old Kyra lives in an isolated polygamist cult. Life in the compound is as dry as the surrounding desert, more confining than the chain-link fence on its perimeter. But Kyra finds small freedoms despite the tightly controlled communal environment and is able to slip outside to wander the desert. There she chances upon a friendly book-mobile driver who opens the world of children’s literature to her. Kyra even begins a flirtation with her classmate, Joshua, a dangerous sin for which they will both pay dearly. The brutal leader, Prophet Childs, has plans for Kyra and will brook no disobedience."
Classroom Connections:
Have students list some of the things that intrigued them about the book. Do they think that this book was over the top or can something like this really happen? This book will make students think, but could also be problematic to teach in the classroom due to some of it's subject matter.
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