Devoted

Title: Devoted

Author: Jennifer Mathieu

Number of pages: 326

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Date read: 10.11.15

Rating: ★★★★★

“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”

A godly girl keeps a cheerful countenance.

  A godly girl never tempts a boy.

    A godly girl always keeps sweet.

Rachel Walker is devoted to God. She prays every day, attends Calvary Christian Church with her family, helps care for her five younger siblings, dresses modestly, and prepares herself to be a wife and mother who serves the Lord with Joy.

                  But Rachel is curious about the world her family has turned away from. What is she to make of the boy recently returned from camp Journey of Faith with newfound piety? Or of her mother’s miscarriage and resulting depression? And how should she respond to Lauren, the girl who left the church several years ago and who has recently returned to town?

                  Rachel knows she should find solace in her beliefs, but she can’t shake the feeling that her devotion might destroy her soul. – Book Jacket

“Tell Me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

                  I originally saw this book pop up on my FB feed from one of the book publishing companies I follow. The little caption intrigued me enough to look it up on goodreads. I became more interested in it, because I’d never come across a YA book that dealt directly with religion – especially this kind. Maybe It’s because I haven’t been looking hard enough, but when it came out, I made sure to buy it. I can’t believe I waited this long to read it. I bought it the day it came out and it’s been sitting on my TBR shelf, patiently waiting for me to open its pages.

“I’m Still Here.” – Lauren

                  There Honestly isn’t anything I didn’t like about this book. I instantly fell in love with it. It made me SO angry the whole time I was reading it. I know that doesn’t make sense, but when you read it, you’ll understand. It’s about this Christian cult-type group that just … Grr! I can’t even put it into proper words!

                  Let’s try again… Rachel is from a Christian group that is controlled by men. The man of the family rules the home. The women are told what to do, say, think, and feel. Everyone must be happy all the time because that is what Jesus Christ wants from his loyal servants. Our main character, Rachel, feels different from everyone else. She loves God, but has a difficult time believing that she is only meant to be a “good wife, mother, and helpmeet”. The entire time I read this book, I was shouting, or grumbling, or shaking my head in disbelief. Sometimes, I could only read a few sentences before having to put the book down and just pace in frustration. I mean, I “know” people/Groups like this exist, but my brain still shrieked “There are people who believe like this?!?!?!” Baffling. My brain just couldn’t wrap itself around it. They way the community represses its women … I have no words. This book made me want to stand up and shake my fist at the injustice.

                  Being a Roman Catholic, I get the whole strict lifestyle of religion, but this was a whole other level.

                  This is how into this book I was. Usually, I just mention books to my parents as I’m reading them when I go to their house for Sunday dinner. This evening, we had an entire HOUR LONG DISCUSSION revolving around this book and the points it brought across. Even my Dad, a person who really doesn’t like reading and doesn’t really include himself in conversations about books, was actively discussing it.

                  Trust me, People, READ THIS BOOK!

                  Now, on to other things: Like characters. Rachel is the main character and this book is about her journey to self-discovery. I love that while Rachel has come from an oppressive culture, her journey doesn’t lead her away from her faith. She still believes in Jesus Christ and God, but is trying to find a way to worship him that fits to how she perceives a healthy relationship with them should be. I love that she didn’t lose faith and become bitter.

                  I also like Mark Treats (what an awesome last name, right?!). He doesn’t pretend to understand what Rachel is going through or what her life was like before she ran away. But he is always kind to her and listens when she tries to find the words to explain how “complicated” her previous life was. Not to mention, HE LOVES reading; and “watching” him and Rachel talk books or have their SAT Vocabulary Challenges is just too cute!