Language: PG (4 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Forced child marriages, homophobia, kissing); Violence: PG-13 (Off-page sexual abuse, physical abuse, murder)
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
After the bees died, the military took control. All girls ages 11-16 are forced to pollinate plants by hand using brushes. 13yo Jess postponed that fate for two years thanks to her rebellious mother who lied about her and her brother’s ages. Unlike many of the other girls at the camp, Jess learned stories of the past, how to read, and how to paint. Jess makes friends with 14yo Cass, who is starting to worry. Once they have their periods, they are biologically matched to a husband and forced to marry. With time running out, Jess feels the stirrings of her own rebellious spirit.
With such a heavy subject matter and premise, I appreciate the novel’s focus on hope, the value of art, and the power of community in the face of oppression. The plot itself is not very action-forward, but the characters’ themselves kept me reading. It’s reminiscent of The Handmaid’s Tale but appropriate for a teenage audience.
Secondary characters are diverse including LGBT+ (spoiler if reveal who).
Ms. Megan, HS Librarian
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