This is the best book I've read in a while. I read it in two days, and I'm a slow reader! My favorite part was the narrator's voice, which was so realistic. She really sounded like a 13-year-old girl. I also liked that it was not predictable; I wasn't sure what was going to happen!
Yvette Pilkington Ms Gunnell is right on the money. I read this book in two days too. The story just kept me wanting to know what was going to happen. I love the bravery of the character as well as the hope that she clings to. Read this book! When it was over I still wanted to know what happened next.
The Chosen One takes place in modern day Egypt, revolving around a polygamist family narrated by thirteen year old Kyra. You are very aware of her age through her acitions, but her thoughts are every matured and her feelings are relatable. Kyra and her family consists of three mothers and one father. The town they live in is secluded from all other life, they are forced to follow by the Prophet and are restricted from anything but his words and the Bible's words. One day Kyra finds out she has been Chosen to marry her uncle, and this is not something even her father could change. Kyra struggles with the life she has always known and the life she knows she could have. Between sneaking to a mobile library (which is forbidden) and having a love interest, she feels this vision The Prophet had was a punishment for her sins. However, being in a secluded desert, which strict rulers and enforcers, it may be harder for Kyra to create her own life as she wishes.
A.C.-- Somewhere in the 2nd section of the book, it says something about "crossing state lines". I'm not sure exactly what passage it is, but it' starting to seem more and more like it's set somewhere in the States and not in the Middle East. For all I know, the entire thing is based off my neighbors before they moved here...sure sounds a lot like them, the way they act and dress and such.
For a second comment, I think the author makes Kyra seem much older than 13. My sister is 13, and she is still very naive and basically clueless. Kyra has taken on a lot of responsibility and maturity that most 13 year olds simply do not have. On that note, I don't know a lot of 16, nearly 17 year old guys that would go for a 13 year old girl. Then again, this entire community seems like it's a little psychotic.
This story takes place in a small secluded polygamist community in the desert. I believe that the setting of the novel is important to the story because it makes everything just that much harder. It is harder for Kyra, the main character, to escape. It's also harder for anyone else outside of the community to find out what really goes on inside because it is so far away from everything else. The setting also adds to the loneliness that Kyra feels. The main characters in the novel are Kyra a thirteen year old girl who is described as a rebellious teen. Another character is Prophet Childs who has recently come into leadership over the whole community. Through the things he does to the people you can see that he is not the godly person he claims to be.
Hopefully more will be exposed about the Prophet Child and how he really runs The Compound. It seems a little drastic that he makes everyone burn their books so they believe only in him and God, but yet punishes those who almost do no harm. I would also agree about the setting creating Kyra's loneliness. She really has no one to confide in except for Laura, but even Laura is so dedicated to their way of life, she can't even relate. Also, Kyra talks to her baby sister, Mariah, about he deepest thoughts, but she cannot understand nor reply to her as well. Everyone close to Kyra can't even begin to understand what she is going through.
The Chosen One is set in a polygamist community, called The Compound, in the middle of the desert. I think the setting is important in the novel, because it shows just how isolated they are there. The book is about a family and is toold from the fifth(of twenty) child, Kyra. Kyra is thirteen years old only physically it seems. Her thoughts and the things she does are more nature than most thirteen year olds. Kyra finds out that of all things, she must wed her sixty year grandpa. She immediately sees this as punishment for her sins on her and her family. D.S.
I would agree with your description of Kyra; and I think it is very important to the novel because it puts in to perspective of how the children in this community are expected to be grown up. Especially the children who lived to see Prophet Childs come in to rule; they had to completely throw their old life away and start over. For example with the books, no one was allowed to read or preach anything but the Prophet's words or the Bible.
Of all of the conflicts throughout this story, I think the most prominent one would have to be Kyra having to deal with her romance with Joshua, yet her forced marriage to her uncle. It seems as though Joshua is truly doing everything in his power to keep the marriage from happening, Kyra is still being made to choose between her family's happiness and Joshua's safety. Prophet Childs bring forth the ultimatum of either Kyra having to marry Hyrum, or (it is inferred) that something bad will happen to Joshua. I'm quite sure that by the end of the novel, Kyra and Joshua will have found a way to run away from the madness they call their home, and Kyra will no longer have to deal with the controlling society in which they lived. Because of all of the restrictions and expectations that children in this society have to live up to, I feel the tone of the novel is rather judgmental and slightly ridiculing. It's as though a simple thought can be reason for death. The search for happiness seems to be out of the question all together.
I was surprised at the fight between Joshua and Kyra's father to try everything to keep this wedding from happening. While they were both for different reasons, I was surprised at her father's revolt (which is reflected through Kyra's character), against Brother Hyrum and the Prophet Child. And it was unfortunate that Josh had to go through a beating, even though it was expected, it was nice to see that someone truly did care for Kyra. Even though the book is from the perspective of Kyra and her thoughts; the way you bring up the tone of 'ridiculing and judgmental', can make you rethink and notice that the tone of the book is based off of the supporting characters. WIth Brother Hyrum and Prophet Childs especially; they both judge how Father runs his family and they both are ridiculing towards Kyra and her sins. It just opens up a new perspective to think of the tone from an outside view.
There are many conflicts in here, but the one that keeps on coming up, is Kyra's indecision to either run away with Joshua and be truly happy, or to stay in the compound and marry her uncle so that her family is happy, and Joshua is safe. It seems that before her meeting with Prophet Child, Kyra is convinced that the only way to be happy would be to run (possibly with Joshua). After the meeting (and beating) that was supposed to break her, Kyra seems to just have more reason to run. I think that Kyra will have to run without Joshua and meet him later. I feel that if they were to leave together, it would be much easier for the God Squad to find them. The author at this point has a very threatining tone. Now that Prophet Childs, Uncle Hyrum, and all of the God Squad know how she's been sneaking off, they are watching the Kyra and her family.
I have to agree with the fact that she is truly torn between her family and making a new happier life for herself. It's obvious that she can not stand to marry her uncle but in the same way she can't stand to her her father, that is probably the best father on the compound, have his family taken away from him because of her selfish actions. You really see this when she has that talk with her father and he basically flat out says you better be good or I will lose everything I have.
D.S.-- I totally agree with the tone being threatening. At times, I thought it was also a little demeaning with the way she portrayed the worthlessness of women within the society. Yet, it's as though Kyra acts from a third perspective. You can feel her stubbornness, but hardly ever any fear or adrenaline, especially when she's running away. You'd expect there to be a little bit more from her perspective instead of just being hard-headed.
I also agree with the threatening tone. I honestly never thought of it from that perspective; but it is very fitting. It seems that every way she turns, she has made some sort of enemy and has created enough commotion for all those eyes to be on her and her family.
I would have to say that the main conflict is the fact that Kyra has to marry her uncle. I predict that she will refuse to do so at all costs and I believe that she will find a way out of the compound using Partick and the Mobil Library. At this point in the book the tone is indignant. Kyra is clearly showing her disproval to marrying her uncle by the way she talks to her parents and how she is still meeting Josh. When she is called by the Prophet Child and she says that she would rather marry Josh they beat her. this just shows how passionate she is about her feelings of injustice.
I think the biggest conflict is Kyra's internal conflict with herself. She is very unhappy with her lifestyle and it cause her to be very rebellious. She is feisty towards others and isn't afraid to speak her mind. When she is by herself, she has lots of demeaning thoughts towards Prophet Child and her uncle. She struggles with inner satisfaction, and in turn has trouble expressing her frustration. I think she will continue to rebel, especially since she is forbidden to be with Josh. I also think Patrick will help her escape since her has a kind heart and the only means of transportation in to the city. I believe the tone Williams has created is indignant. Kyra lives in a very unfair and unjust community, and she is very bitter and isn't afraid to stand her ground on how she feels.
A.C.-- I never thought about the main conflict actually being within herself; it always seemed more outward. But now that you say it, I couldn't agree more. I think her running in to Patrick was the best thing that could have ever happened to her, and it seemed to play out for the best, no matter how many troubles they all had to go through.
I agree with you about Kyra being unhappy with her lifestyle which lead her to become rebellious but what I kind of got from everything is that she really didn't like the life style she was living but she tolerated it by being able to cheat the system. Getting away and reading and having visits with Joshua were obviously not permitted but I don't think that she was doing annoy of that stuff to rebel. She was only doing it because it felt right to her. I think that when she really started to rebel was when she was told she had to marry Hyrum. That's when she really started thinking in a vindictive way.
I did not like the ending of this book at all! It did not elaborate on how she adjusted or if her and jlJoshua ever found eachother. It just ended with the comment about the tree! Which yes I understand how that is supposed to be symbolic, but I wanted more closure. I feel like the author could have given alittle information about what happened to Kyra afterwards. Or maybe even her family, Uncle,and the compound as a whole. I think this book was 'chosen' ( haha) because it gives the reader insight on a culture that very few books ane schools talk about. The reader can,ina way, try to understand why someone would be a part of this,and why they would want to run from it. D.S.
I really wish the book did not end where it did. I would have liked there to be more inside about how her life was going to turn out and where she was going to go on from where she was. I don't think it needed to tell everything but it could have given you more to make your own conclusions on. It kind of left you hanging. I think that it was chosen as a recipient of the Gateway Book Award because it was a very well written novel. It was very suspenseful and always kept you guessing what she was going to do next or what crazy thing the Prophet Childs was going to do. It was based on something many people would have never even heard of and it was explained in a way that you understood and you actually walked away learning something about a different style of living.
The ending, in my opinion was way too abrupt. There was no closure or lasting hope. There should at least have been some reference as to how Kyra ended up. Maybe a flash forward or 20 years or something. Anything would have been better. The only reason I imagine they chose this as a Gateway is because of the perspective of a different lifestyle. I think they intended for it to open our eyes as students that just because they live differently, they're not all "freaks". Yet, in the end, there wasn't anything to keep me from thinking that their way of life is anything less than weird.
Overall, I don't think I was too happy with the ending. The book just, ended. I felt there was no conclusion and left a lot of thoughts lingering. Out of the blue a young girl decides to revolt after all this time in an unjust community (with the story line being dragged out) and then all of a sudden the problem is fixed and nothing more follows. I understand it was a short book, but I still feel there could have been a different conclusion that could have been short and still tied up loose ends. And Ms. Gunnell was correct; it was not predictable. As for being chosen as a Gateway novel, I'm assuming it was because no one really thinks about a different wat of life like that. It opened up a fresh new outlook to things that do happen out of our "norm". The voice of the novel can also be related to most readers, as well as the emotion and rebellious actions.
The Chosen One was written by Carol Lynch Williams, and is told through the voice of a frustrated thirteen year old girl, Kyra. Kyra lives with her father and her three moms and twenty brothers and sisters in a modern-day isolated community called the Compound. Throughout the book, William's takes us on Kyra's journey and we discover a secret love affair, the Ironton County Mobile Library on Wheels, and an unnerving fate. When Prophet Childs delivers the news to Kyra and her family that she is to wed her very own 60 year old uncle, things start to spin out of control; fast. While trying to rebel, Kyra's plan could end up putting more than her own life in danger.
The Chosen One, written by Carol Lynch Williams, was originally published in 2010. Later that year, the book was named one of the ALA's "Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers" and "Best Books for Young Adult Readers." Both the novel and the author have received many honors and awards of achievement. The story is about a 13 year old girl named Kyra, who grew up in a polygamist society, where she is about to be made to marry her 60 year old uncle. She is caught between the conflict of wanting to live up to her family's expectations, while still trying to make herself happy. Williams now lives as a creative writing teacher and lives with her five daughters.
The setting of my novel is in the desert. I think the setting is in New Mexico because they live in the desert and they talk about the sand. In my novel Kyra gets a book from the mobile library and she likes to go to her secret place to read it and she like to go to the Fellowship Hall to go play the piano. When she was there she sees Joshua Johnson, the boy she has a huge crush on and she teaches him how to play the piano. The main characters are Kyra who is thirteen years old and she has nineteen brothers and sister.
This is the best book I've read in a while. I read it in two days, and I'm a slow reader! My favorite part was the narrator's voice, which was so realistic. She really sounded like a 13-year-old girl. I also liked that it was not predictable; I wasn't sure what was going to happen!
ReplyDeleteYvette Pilkington
ReplyDeleteMs Gunnell is right on the money. I read this book in two days too. The story just kept me wanting to know what was going to happen. I love the bravery of the character as well as the hope that she clings to. Read this book! When it was over I still wanted to know what happened next.
The Chosen One takes place in modern day Egypt, revolving around a polygamist family narrated by thirteen year old Kyra. You are very aware of her age through her acitions, but her thoughts are every matured and her feelings are relatable. Kyra and her family consists of three mothers and one father. The town they live in is secluded from all other life, they are forced to follow by the Prophet and are restricted from anything but his words and the Bible's words. One day Kyra finds out she has been Chosen to marry her uncle, and this is not something even her father could change. Kyra struggles with the life she has always known and the life she knows she could have. Between sneaking to a mobile library (which is forbidden) and having a love interest, she feels this vision The Prophet had was a punishment for her sins. However, being in a secluded desert, which strict rulers and enforcers, it may be harder for Kyra to create her own life as she wishes.
ReplyDeleteA.C.--
DeleteSomewhere in the 2nd section of the book, it says something about "crossing state lines". I'm not sure exactly what passage it is, but it' starting to seem more and more like it's set somewhere in the States and not in the Middle East. For all I know, the entire thing is based off my neighbors before they moved here...sure sounds a lot like them, the way they act and dress and such.
For a second comment, I think the author makes Kyra seem much older than 13. My sister is 13, and she is still very naive and basically clueless. Kyra has taken on a lot of responsibility and maturity that most 13 year olds simply do not have. On that note, I don't know a lot of 16, nearly 17 year old guys that would go for a 13 year old girl. Then again, this entire community seems like it's a little psychotic.
C.S.
This story takes place in a small secluded polygamist community in the desert. I believe that the setting of the novel is important to the story because it makes everything just that much harder. It is harder for Kyra, the main character, to escape. It's also harder for anyone else outside of the community to find out what really goes on inside because it is so far away from everything else. The setting also adds to the loneliness that Kyra feels. The main characters in the novel are Kyra a thirteen year old girl who is described as a rebellious teen. Another character is Prophet Childs who has recently come into leadership over the whole community. Through the things he does to the people you can see that he is not the godly person he claims to be.
ReplyDeleteH.H.
Hopefully more will be exposed about the Prophet Child and how he really runs The Compound. It seems a little drastic that he makes everyone burn their books so they believe only in him and God, but yet punishes those who almost do no harm. I would also agree about the setting creating Kyra's loneliness. She really has no one to confide in except for Laura, but even Laura is so dedicated to their way of life, she can't even relate. Also, Kyra talks to her baby sister, Mariah, about he deepest thoughts, but she cannot understand nor reply to her as well. Everyone close to Kyra can't even begin to understand what she is going through.
DeleteA.C.
The Chosen One is set in a polygamist community, called The Compound, in the middle of the desert. I think the setting is important in the novel, because it shows just how isolated they are there. The book is about a family and is toold from the fifth(of twenty) child, Kyra. Kyra is thirteen years old only physically it seems. Her thoughts and the things she does are more nature than most thirteen year olds. Kyra finds out that of all things, she must wed her sixty year grandpa. She immediately sees this as punishment for her sins on her and her family.
ReplyDeleteD.S.
I would agree with your description of Kyra; and I think it is very important to the novel because it puts in to perspective of how the children in this community are expected to be grown up. Especially the children who lived to see Prophet Childs come in to rule; they had to completely throw their old life away and start over. For example with the books, no one was allowed to read or preach anything but the Prophet's words or the Bible.
DeleteA.C.
Of all of the conflicts throughout this story, I think the most prominent one would have to be Kyra having to deal with her romance with Joshua, yet her forced marriage to her uncle. It seems as though Joshua is truly doing everything in his power to keep the marriage from happening, Kyra is still being made to choose between her family's happiness and Joshua's safety. Prophet Childs bring forth the ultimatum of either Kyra having to marry Hyrum, or (it is inferred) that something bad will happen to Joshua. I'm quite sure that by the end of the novel, Kyra and Joshua will have found a way to run away from the madness they call their home, and Kyra will no longer have to deal with the controlling society in which they lived.
ReplyDeleteBecause of all of the restrictions and expectations that children in this society have to live up to, I feel the tone of the novel is rather judgmental and slightly ridiculing. It's as though a simple thought can be reason for death. The search for happiness seems to be out of the question all together.
C.S.
I was surprised at the fight between Joshua and Kyra's father to try everything to keep this wedding from happening. While they were both for different reasons, I was surprised at her father's revolt (which is reflected through Kyra's character), against Brother Hyrum and the Prophet Child. And it was unfortunate that Josh had to go through a beating, even though it was expected, it was nice to see that someone truly did care for Kyra.
DeleteEven though the book is from the perspective of Kyra and her thoughts; the way you bring up the tone of 'ridiculing and judgmental', can make you rethink and notice that the tone of the book is based off of the supporting characters. WIth Brother Hyrum and Prophet Childs especially; they both judge how Father runs his family and they both are ridiculing towards Kyra and her sins. It just opens up a new perspective to think of the tone from an outside view.
A.C.
There are many conflicts in here, but the one that keeps on coming up, is Kyra's indecision to either run away with Joshua and be truly happy, or to stay in the compound and marry her uncle so that her family is happy, and Joshua is safe. It seems that before her meeting with Prophet Child, Kyra is convinced that the only way to be happy would be to run (possibly with Joshua). After the meeting (and beating) that was supposed to break her, Kyra seems to just have more reason to run.
ReplyDeleteI think that Kyra will have to run without Joshua and meet him later. I feel that if they were to leave together, it would be much easier for the God Squad to find them.
The author at this point has a very threatining tone. Now that Prophet Childs, Uncle Hyrum, and all of the God Squad know how she's been sneaking off, they are watching the Kyra and her family.
D.S
DeleteI have to agree with the fact that she is truly torn between her family and making a new happier life for herself. It's obvious that she can not stand to marry her uncle but in the same way she can't stand to her her father, that is probably the best father on the compound, have his family taken away from him because of her selfish actions. You really see this when she has that talk with her father and he basically flat out says you better be good or I will lose everything I have.
DeleteH.H
D.S.--
DeleteI totally agree with the tone being threatening. At times, I thought it was also a little demeaning with the way she portrayed the worthlessness of women within the society. Yet, it's as though Kyra acts from a third perspective. You can feel her stubbornness, but hardly ever any fear or adrenaline, especially when she's running away. You'd expect there to be a little bit more from her perspective instead of just being hard-headed.
C.S.
I also agree with the threatening tone. I honestly never thought of it from that perspective; but it is very fitting. It seems that every way she turns, she has made some sort of enemy and has created enough commotion for all those eyes to be on her and her family.
DeleteA.C.
I would have to say that the main conflict is the fact that Kyra has to marry her uncle. I predict that she will refuse to do so at all costs and I believe that she will find a way out of the compound using Partick and the Mobil Library. At this point in the book the tone is indignant. Kyra is clearly showing her disproval to marrying her uncle by the way she talks to her parents and how she is still meeting Josh. When she is called by the Prophet Child and she says that she would rather marry Josh they beat her. this just shows how passionate she is about her feelings of injustice.
ReplyDeleteH.H.
I think the biggest conflict is Kyra's internal conflict with herself. She is very unhappy with her lifestyle and it cause her to be very rebellious. She is feisty towards others and isn't afraid to speak her mind. When she is by herself, she has lots of demeaning thoughts towards Prophet Child and her uncle. She struggles with inner satisfaction, and in turn has trouble expressing her frustration. I think she will continue to rebel, especially since she is forbidden to be with Josh. I also think Patrick will help her escape since her has a kind heart and the only means of transportation in to the city. I believe the tone Williams has created is indignant. Kyra lives in a very unfair and unjust community, and she is very bitter and isn't afraid to stand her ground on how she feels.
ReplyDeleteAC
A.C.--
DeleteI never thought about the main conflict actually being within herself; it always seemed more outward. But now that you say it, I couldn't agree more. I think her running in to Patrick was the best thing that could have ever happened to her, and it seemed to play out for the best, no matter how many troubles they all had to go through.
C.S.
I agree with you about Kyra being unhappy with her lifestyle which lead her to become rebellious but what I kind of got from everything is that she really didn't like the life style she was living but she tolerated it by being able to cheat the system. Getting away and reading and having visits with Joshua were obviously not permitted but I don't think that she was doing annoy of that stuff to rebel. She was only doing it because it felt right to her. I think that when she really started to rebel was when she was told she had to marry Hyrum. That's when she really started thinking in a vindictive way.
ReplyDeleteH.H
that was to A.C.
DeleteI did not like the ending of this book at all! It did not elaborate on how she adjusted or if her and jlJoshua ever found eachother. It just ended with the comment about the tree! Which yes I understand how that is supposed to be symbolic, but I wanted more closure. I feel like the author could have given alittle information about what happened to Kyra afterwards. Or maybe even her family, Uncle,and the compound as a whole. I think this book was 'chosen' ( haha) because it gives the reader insight on a culture that very few books ane schools talk about. The reader can,ina way, try to understand why someone would be a part of this,and why they would want to run from it.
ReplyDeleteD.S.
I really wish the book did not end where it did. I would have liked there to be more inside about how her life was going to turn out and where she was going to go on from where she was. I don't think it needed to tell everything but it could have given you more to make your own conclusions on. It kind of left you hanging. I think that it was chosen as a recipient of the Gateway Book Award because it was a very well written novel. It was very suspenseful and always kept you guessing what she was going to do next or what crazy thing the Prophet Childs was going to do. It was based on something many people would have never even heard of and it was explained in a way that you understood and you actually walked away learning something about a different style of living.
ReplyDeleteH.H.
The ending, in my opinion was way too abrupt. There was no closure or lasting hope. There should at least have been some reference as to how Kyra ended up. Maybe a flash forward or 20 years or something. Anything would have been better. The only reason I imagine they chose this as a Gateway is because of the perspective of a different lifestyle. I think they intended for it to open our eyes as students that just because they live differently, they're not all "freaks". Yet, in the end, there wasn't anything to keep me from thinking that their way of life is anything less than weird.
ReplyDeleteC.S.
Overall, I don't think I was too happy with the ending. The book just, ended. I felt there was no conclusion and left a lot of thoughts lingering. Out of the blue a young girl decides to revolt after all this time in an unjust community (with the story line being dragged out) and then all of a sudden the problem is fixed and nothing more follows. I understand it was a short book, but I still feel there could have been a different conclusion that could have been short and still tied up loose ends. And Ms. Gunnell was correct; it was not predictable.
ReplyDeleteAs for being chosen as a Gateway novel, I'm assuming it was because no one really thinks about a different wat of life like that. It opened up a fresh new outlook to things that do happen out of our "norm". The voice of the novel can also be related to most readers, as well as the emotion and rebellious actions.
A.C.
The Chosen One was written by Carol Lynch Williams, and is told through the voice of a frustrated thirteen year old girl, Kyra. Kyra lives with her father and her three moms and twenty brothers and sisters in a modern-day isolated community called the Compound. Throughout the book, William's takes us on Kyra's journey and we discover a secret love affair, the Ironton County Mobile Library on Wheels, and an unnerving fate. When Prophet Childs delivers the news to Kyra and her family that she is to wed her very own 60 year old uncle, things start to spin out of control; fast. While trying to rebel, Kyra's plan could end up putting more than her own life in danger.
ReplyDeleteA.C.
The Chosen One, written by Carol Lynch Williams, was originally published in 2010. Later that year, the book was named one of the ALA's "Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers" and "Best Books for Young Adult Readers." Both the novel and the author have received many honors and awards of achievement.
ReplyDeleteThe story is about a 13 year old girl named Kyra, who grew up in a polygamist society, where she is about to be made to marry her 60 year old uncle. She is caught between the conflict of wanting to live up to her family's expectations, while still trying to make herself happy.
Williams now lives as a creative writing teacher and lives with her five daughters.
C.S.
Emily S.
ReplyDeleteSpencer 6.
I am really excited to read this book it looks good and sounds good.
Emily S.
ReplyDeleteSpencer 6.
The setting of my novel is in the desert. I think the setting is in New Mexico because they live in the desert and they talk about the sand. In my novel Kyra gets a book from the mobile library and she likes to go to her secret place to read it and she like to go to the Fellowship Hall to go play the piano. When she was there she sees Joshua Johnson, the boy she has a huge crush on and she teaches him how to play the piano. The main characters are Kyra who is thirteen years old and she has nineteen brothers and sister.