In your average YA novel, the parents are either absent or evil, and the teen protagonist has to learn to rise above and find a way out. This book turns that narrative on its head, with Zylynn, an "almost 13 year old" starting out with a great family -- one she rejects at every turn, since they took her away from her home, a limited existence in an Arizona cult. Told in first person narrative, Zylynn's voice is strong and compelling. Her natural confusion at a world turned upside down is aching for the reader, and gave the book a page-turning quotient. I read the whole thing in one day, hoping that Zylynn would learn to accept the love and healing directed at her. Think the story is improbable? Think again. Look at recent news stories of failed attempts by the US Government to remove children in a very similar compound. The lines between religious freedom and child protection are fragile, and sadly, they allow many children like the fictional Zylynn to be abused. This isn't a dark tale, however, it is one of promise, and of family. Enjoy.
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