Alis

Discussion page for //Alis.//

Gail Zachariah has read this and will write a review later.

Synopsis: Alis, a 14 year old living in a (puritan-like) theocracy, has been promised in marriage to the 40 year old minister of her church. Her distaste for her impending marriage encourages her escape from her home, and finally from The Community into the city. Over time she becomes a part of a band of thieves (run by her brother who has also escaped), runs away from that situation after her brother is injured, ends up back home, marries the minister, and finally is accused of killing him. Review: While this book isn’t horrible, I wouldn’t recommend it. The time and setting are unfocused, she begins the story working within her community taking care of several infirm patients, but when that knowledge would be helpful it seems to fall from the story. Pages of the story carried me away (I liked that the main character was a strong young woman), but much of it was unbelievable and the end is sewn up way too neatly. I wouldn’t recommend this book; I don’t think that it will hold the attention of many teens. Sharon Flesher-Duffy, Nashua High South