An exciting adventure awaits in 'The Crossing' by Mandy Hager.
A young girl named Maryam has grown up in the village of Onewere, only knowing that one day - when her bloods will come - she will travel across to the Holy City to be able to serve her Lord.
Once at the Holy City Maryam finds that life is not as she was brought up to believe, and that she must try to escape before being killed. But how? Then she meets Joseph; a kind, sweet son of the late Father Joshua (an Apsotle). Can she trust him? Will anyone beleive the truth of the Holy City?
This is the first of 3 books in the Blood of the Lamb trilogy. It is a story about adventure, courage and friendship. I would strongly recommend this book as I could not put it down! The author Mandy Hager won the 2010 New Zealand Childrens Post Book awards for the Teen category.
My teenager loved this book and suggested I should read it too. As I like to stay in touch with the teen scene I was greatful she gave me the opportunity to explore the book.
ReplyDeleteMandy Hager hooks the reader into this book immediately. What appears to be an innocent 'crossing' to a better life for girls once they have reached puberty soon becomes questionable. Like the characters in the book who are misled, so is the reader. The sinister undertones and deception take the reader to a point of "surely what I am thinking is not going to happen," when Mandy twists the idea relieving the tension. The novel highlights dominance oppression, brainwashing and exploitation of religion for one's own purposes. Contrasting with the darker side of life are the themes of love, friendship and trust. Maryam, the spirited protagonist is brave and unaccepting of the situation she finds herself in. She is encouraged by other realists to leave and in doing so she becomes a symbol of hope.
I would recommend the book to teenagers on the basis that it is not just an entertaining read.