The Chosen One
by Carol Lynch Williams

    THE CHOSEN ONE by Carol Lynch Williams
    Category:  Contemporary
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 9+
    Release Date:  5/12/09
    Publisher:  St. Martin's Griffin
    Reviewed by:  Jaglvr
    Rating:  5 Stars


    WOW!

    That’s the first word that came to mind as I turned the final page of THE CHOSEN ONE.  I sat contemplating what
    I had just finished and had to process everything that Kyra had been through.

    Meet Kyra Carlson.  She is the second daughter to one of her father’s three wives.  She has been brought up in the
    Chosen One compound.  Life wasn’t always so strict.  But when Prophet Childs takes over the lead, he takes tighter
    control.  A fence is placed around the grounds.  Women can no longer leave as easily.  Reading is forbidden.  
    Women and children must be obedient.

    One night, Prophet Childs and three of his Apostles come knocking on Krya’s trailer.  The whole family is there for
    the visit.  In stunned silence, Kyra hears the words that she has been Chosen.  She is to become the seventh wife of
    her Uncle Hyrum.  

    Kyra is only thirteen.  Her older sister, Emily, isn’t right in the head, so no one is surprised that Emily hasn’t been
    chosen.  But it is shocking to be so young and to then have to wed her own uncle.  It’s just wrong.  Even Kyra’s
    father is flabbergasted at the pronouncement.  The wedding is to be in four weeks.

    Kyra is a rebel at the compound.  She sneaks off to meet the weekly bookmobile on the main road.  She keeps her
    library book hidden in the branches of a tree.  She also secretly meets up with Joshua.  He vows that if given the
    chance, he will choose Kyra for his wife.

    Once Kyra hears the news that she is to wed, she does all she can to convince her family not to make it happen.  
    But everyone is scared of the society they live in and know that going against Prophet Childs’ wishes will make life
    worse for her entire family.

    Kyra knows that marrying Uncle Hyrum is wrong.  She doesn’t accept the rules of the Chosen Ones.  But she is
    torn.  She knows she should run away before the wedding.  But that will bring troubles to her family.  How can she
    possibly leave her family?  How can she possibly leave Joshua?  Where would she go?

    THE CHOSEN ONE may not be for everyone.  The story is powerful and will leave you feeling angry and
    disgusted.  But it will also leave you amazed at the power of the human spirit and what can be overcome.  The story
    is definitely controversial, and those with strong religious views will more than likely be deeply disturbed by the life
    that Kyra has been brought up in.  But if you can get beyond the religious context, the story will leave you breathless
    as you cheer and pray for Kyra to do what must be done.

    Though Kyra is a thirteen-year-old girl, the subject matter of THE CHOSEN ONE may not be appropriate for
    younger readers.  Though there is no actual sex within the story, the subject matter is quite obvious and referenced
    throughout the entire book.