The Chaperone

This was a gripping YA dystopian book that gives strong “The Handmaid’s Tale vibes. If you are a teen living in New America, you know the rules. The rules are strict and strictly enforced. You will also have a chaperone to make sure you embrace purity, are not alone, abstain from sin, don’t draw attention to yourself, and not have unauthorized visits with boys.

Stella’s chaperone, Sister Helen died suddenly, and Stella was assigned a new chaperone a few days later. Her new chaperone, Sister Laura, is a little freer with the rules. She gets Stella into secret parties and Stella begins to question everything that she has been taught. Are the rules in place to keep her safe or to control her?

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed it. This book moved at a very nice pace, and I was fully invested in learning what would happen as Stella began to question things in her life. This is a dystopian coming of age tale that was both gripping and tense. The book begins with the Murder of Sister Helen and an investigation into how and why the chaperone died and turns into a journey toward the truth, freedom, and courage.

I enjoyed Stella and her quiet determination. She wants to be her own person and have her own voice. She was raised to be subservient, and do as she is told, yet she questions and has her own ideas. This book is set in a dystopian world but also mirrors how women have been treated in the past- be seen not heard, know your place, do as you are told, you don’t have rights, it’s a man’s world, etc. It also shows the courage, the fortitude, and the resilience of women. There is a lot of food for thought here.

Gripping, thought provoking, and tense.

Thank you to RB Media, Recorded Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.