The Grace Year

by Kim Liggett

[Beth C.]

I finished this last night, and - rare for me - I sent a tweet about how awesome it was because I was just blown away. My brain is still - and will be for a while - processing all that this story contains.

My first thought is that this book is akin to Lord of the Flies - but with more nuance and, ultimately, hope. It explores not only societal pressures and how damaging they can be, but also the damage we females do to EACH OTHER - even when we have common cause and the same enemy. Sexism is rampant, and the Grace Year girls are no longer even *people* to one group of males, but prey. Nameless, and even almost faceless to these men who hunt them. The patriarchy rules, and its "justice" is absolute, controlling everything they're allowed to do, and terrified of their "magic" that would have them seducing all the men in the village and corrupting other women. Because that's always the way, isn't it? Magic is that nebulous, fantastical thing that can't be proven and provides all the context for the fear and power men need to control women.

I won't spoil the book, nor will I go much into the ending. But it was so beautiful and perfect, and I re-read it three times. Please - read this book. Read it with your teens if you have them (male *and* female). Read it with your high school classes. But read it. It's a powerful testament to girls and women - both their cruelty, and the *actual* power they have to make change.