Leaving Fishers by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Dorry (makes me think of the mad fish in “Finding Nemo”) is new in town and loves the attention from Angela and her friends. But while the Fishers of Men group makes her feel wanted and liked, she has some reservations about them.

Interesting to see the reaction of Dorry’s parents. I would have thought they would know more about what she was doing and where she was.

Has ALA Best Book for Young Adults Award (American) though I am sure that there would be similar situations in Australia where young people have moved into extremist groups because they are lonely.

The Crossing by Mandy Hager

The Crossing

This is Book One of the Blood of the Lamb Trilogy about a future world where girls are taken from their birth mothers and brought up on an island until their first period. Then they are taken to the Holy City where she would serve the Lord. Maryam is the young female antagonist that we follow going through this process – however, unlike others before her, she questions everythihng that is happening. Although rather confronting, this is an interesting vision of a future world where religion is used to maintain power over people.

The event that caused the change in this society is called The Tribulation and this has brought disease to some of the more powerful people. Read the novel to find out what this disease is and how it is treated. There is a love interest and baddies galore. I’m looking forward to Book Two to see what happens next.