Avie Reveare has the normal life of a privileged teen growing up in L.A., at least as normal as any girl’s life is these days. After a synthetic hormone in beef killed fifty million American women ten years ago, only young girls, old women, men, and boys are left to pick up the pieces. The death threat is past, but fathers still fear for their daughters’ safety, and the Paternalist Movement, begun to "protect" young women, is taking over the choices they make.Like all her friends, Avie still mourns the loss of her mother, but she’s also dreaming about college and love and what she’ll make of her life. When her dad "contracts" her to marry a rich, older man to raise money to save his struggling company, her life suddenly narrows to two choices: Be trapped in a marriage with a controlling politician, or run. Her lifelong friend, student revolutionary Yates, urges her to run to freedom across the border to Canada. As their friendship turns to passion, the decision to leave becomes harder and harder. Running away is incredibly dangerous, and it’s possible Avie will never see Yates again. But staying could mean death.From Catherine Linka comes this romantic, thought-provoking, and frighteningly real story, A Girl Called Fearless, about fighting for the most important things in life—freedom and love.
Available May 6, 2014
About the Author:
Catherine Linka was almost thrown out of boarding school for being “too verbal.” Fortunately, she learned to channel her outspokenness and creative energy into writing. A passionate traveler who has visited Iceland, the Amazon, and the Arctic circle, Catherine has seen 5 types of whales in the wild, but no orcas. Yet. She doesn’t believe in fate, but she did fall in love with her husband on their first date when he laced up her boots, because she had a broken hand.
My Review:
I was tangled up in a giant knot the entire time I was reading this book. The tension is thick and often like a predator lying in the tall grasses waiting to pounce.
This is a story that I struggle to review because I do not want to spoil anything. I can say that it reminds me of Delirium and Shatter Me because there is a general feeling of citizens being brain-washed. While everyone knows of the events that lead to the world losing fifty million American women within a short span of time, there is still a lot of debate about what is the best course of action for the future. Girls of a certain age are completely kept away from boys. They have bodyguards and are educated separately. Their futures are often decided by their fathers behind closed doors.
Avie Reveare can't understand why she has to stay away from Yates. He has been her closest friend since she was very young so why all of a sudden was their friendship forbidden? She has been reduced to sneaking waves at him as her limo speeds by the cafe where he works.
Avie discovers that her father has entered her into a contract to be married to a very wealthy politician. Even though these types of arranged marriages are not uncommon, Avie is still in shock that HER father would do this to HER. And the more Avie learns about her intended, the farther she wants to run.
In a scene reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, the local priest offers to help Avie escape her arranged marriage, with the help of Yates, of course. While the priest doesn't offer Avie a fake poison to drink, his offer of "help" may have the same effect.
I was completely on the edge of my seat (and bed) the entire time I was reading A GIRL CALLED FEARLESS, and while the ending may have been wrapped up a little too quickly for me, this was a great debut from an author I hope to be reading more from in the future.
Thank You to St. Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
4 out of 5 stars
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