Thirteen-year-old Kyra has grown up in her isolated community without ever questioning the fact that her father has three wives and she has twenty brothers and sisters; without ever questioning the strict rules imposed by 'the Prophet' who leads them.-
But now Kyra has started keeping secrets. She reads books that are forbidden and sneaks away to meet Joshua, the boy she hopes to choose for herself, instead of having a husband chosen for her.
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Kyra knows that it's only a matter of time before her two secret loves are discovered. And when the Prophet decrees that she is to become the seventh wife of her sixty-year-old uncle, Kyra is forced to make a desperate choice. But saving herself means endangering everyone she's ever cared for.
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How far should she go for freedom?
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The Chosen One is a very haunting read. It's about a polygamist community where if you flout the rules you could end up in real danger. Kyra is the thirteen year old protagonist of this story and is a very courageous girl. She is at the stage where she is starting to think for herself and begins to question what she want's from life. She begins to realise that perhaps what is happening in her community isn't right and that there is more to life outside the fences. This realisation and interest in the outside world is developed by the books she has started secretly reading that she loans from the weekly library van that stops not far from the community.
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This book was such a fast read, not just because it's a short book with fairly large print, but you become wrapped up in Kyra's life and her need for change and survival. You see the struggle she feels from wanting to leave but not wanting to leave her family behind and everything she's ever known. Her family could potentially be your typical run of the mill family, they all love each other but still get into arguments. Then there is the darker side. The killings and torture towards anybody that does not fit into their view of perfect.
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At some parts of the book I got really angry and shocked at how she was treated by the leaders and just wanted to flick them off the page. They were such small minded, power hungry, abusive and ignorant people. I absolutely hated them which shows how good the writing is for it to have invoked such strong reactions and feelings from me.
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One of Kyra's other secrets is her love for a boy called Joshua. There love for each other is so sweet and innocent especially when its set against the backdrop of such controlling and terrifying rules and beliefs that forbid these feelings for one another. In a way it's kind of remarkable for such a kind and considerate boy to come out of such an isolated and terrible community.
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One thing I would have liked to see more of is the relationships between the wives and how they cope with having to share a husband, but I suppose this was told in Kyra's perspective so that's not to be expected. However, I did love the parts where Kyra starts to discover a new world through the books she reads. How she happens upon a library van that passes her community weekly, and the owner encourages her to take out some books. What she doesn't realise at the time though is how crucial this strangers kindness and encouragement is for her future.
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For me the ending was over very quickly and left me with too many unanswered questions. However, I suppose that shows the situation Kyra ends up in and that her troubles are far from over. It was quite horrifying and disturbing to read at times but through Kyra's voice you can feel her bravery and determination, as well as her fear and loss. There is also an undercurrent of suspense throughout the book as her wedding day looms and the pace picks up as she tries to find a way out of it. A great shocking and eye-opening read.
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Random Passage: Joshua's there in just a few minutes. He takes my hands and pulls me to his chest and says, "What, Kyra? What's wrong?"
How does he know I'm scared? Could he hear it when I called his name?
At first I don't think I can even say anything. The words are frozen in my throat. They can't get past my tongue.
"Tell me." His face comes close to mine. I smell his minty toothpaste. He's so warm that the front of me feels sort of calmed down, pressed like I am to Joshua.
At last the words have thawed.
"I've been Chosen."
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