The Chosen One

Carol Lynch Williams

13-year-old Kyra lives in a religious compound with her father, 3 mothers and 20 siblings. Shocked to learn that the Prophet expects her to marry her uncle, she rebels and makes dangerous decisions which leave her torn between family loyalty, the pangs of first love and the right to choose for herself. An intense, disturbing and heartbreaking journey for the reader which teaches how healing can happen by finding a book that speaks to the soul.

Extract

He lowered his voice, talking as if I wasn't there.
Books aren't allowed. Where did you get this?
His hand smoothed across the cover.
Our kissing isn't allowed, I said. Our secret meetings aren't allowed. Me being with you tonight isn't allowed.
He said nothing. Opened the novel. Leafed through the pages.
Do you miss reading? I stood back from him, the book between us.
We read, he said, but he didn't look at me, just at Homecoming.
Don't you miss novels? I said. Don't you miss fiction?
It was a long moment. Long enough that worry grew in my stomach. By showing him this book I'd given Joshua something I couldn't take back. I'd handed him a bit of my freedom.

Parallels