Violence: PG; Mature Content: PG-13. Alva Jane works hard to help her mother and her six sister-wives with all of the work that goes into keeping the big polygamous family going. Life is hard at the FLDS Pineridge compound, but sweet looks from Joseph John, a boy her age, keep her going. But what the prophet, Kenton Barton, wants is what matters most – and he wants Alva obedient and married off to one of his older supporters. Try as she might, Alva can not submit and her world rapidly changes as she becomes willing to leave everything behind and take off for the rest of the world.
I do not believe Ms. Greene is FLDS or LDS, but she has done so much research into her subject that you would never know. In fact, I think she does a better job because her view is not clouded by any personal feelings, besides a desire to unmask what goes on behind the compound walls. When Alva Jane is married off, Greene does describe, simply, the actions her ‘husband” takes, but more importantly she illuminates Alva’s thoughts and feelings of betrayal. Don’t hesitate to have this book on your shelves, especially if you live anywhere near a polygamist community.
MS, HS – ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library Teacher
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment