THE CHOSEN ONE

The Chosen One


By Carol Lynch Williams
2009
213 Pages
From Inside Cover:

Thirteen year old Kyra has grown up in an isolated community without questioning the fact that her father has three wives and she has twenty brothers and sisters, with two more on the way. That is without questioning them much-if you don't count her secret visits to the Ironton County Mobile Library on wheels to read forbidden books, or her meeting with Joshua, the boy she hopes to choose for herself instead of having a man chosen for her.
But when the Prophet decrees that she must marry her sixty year old uncle-who already has six wives-Kyra must make a desperate choice in the face of violence and her own fears of losing her family forever.

I remember watching an episode on Oprah where she sent reporter Lisa Ling into the desert to do an in depth report on a big polygamist group from Colorado City. They believe in polygamy-the practice of having multiple wives.
I watched in fascination as Lisa Ling interviewed an ex member who had run in the dead of the night to escape a life she didn't want. She now lives with no contact with her loved ones that still live inside the walls of the compound.
It all came back to me as I read the heartbreaking story of Kyra-who never chose to live this way-she was born into it. She has never known any different. She is only fourteen when she is told that she will marry her uncle who is sixty years old. She is expected to obey without question. She is told that this is what God wants.
This is a story that grabs you and won't let go. Kyra's life isn't her own on any level. She answers to three mothers and a father who truly believe with all their heart that they are following God's plan. Even when it is announced that she will be marrying an old man her parents are convinced that it is the right and faithful thing to do.
Kyra's story is powerful not only with high emotions but also takes a dramatic turn when Kyra decides that she is done accepting that other people will decide her future and makes the heart wrenching decision to leave her family and run.
But don't worry this review contains no spoilers! I can promise you that The Chosen One will touch your heart and not leave your mind. I bought this book from Amazon.com and I will be donating to Cindy at http://princessbookie.com for Contest Craze 2010. Go to her website and check it out.