Escape from Eden

Format:

Book

Title:

Escape from Eden

Author:

Nader, Elisa author

ISBN:

9781440563928

Publication:

Blue Ash, OH : Merit Press Books, an imprint of F+W Media, Inc., [2013]

Physical Description:

271 pages ; 23 cm

Summary:

"Since the age of ten, Mia has lived under the iron fist of the fundamentalist preacher who lured her mother away to join his fanatical family of followers. In Edenton, a supposed 'Garden of Eden' deep in the South American jungle, everyone follows the Reverend's strict but arbitrary rules - even the mandate of whom they can marry. Now sixteen, Mia dreams of slipping away from the armed guards who keep the faithful in, and the curious out. When the rebellious and sexy Gabriel, a new boy, arrives with his family, Mia sees a chance to escape. But the scandalous secrets the two discover beyond the compound's façade are more shocking than anything they ever imagined. While Gabriel has his own terrible secrets, he and Mia bond together, more than friends and freedom fighters. But is there time to think of their undeniable attraction to each other as they race to stop the Reverend's paranoid plan to free his flock from the corrupt world? Can two teenagers crush a criminal mastermind? And who will die in the fight to save the ones they love from a madman who's only concerned about his own secrets?"--Provided by publisher.

Program Information:

Accelerated Reader AR 4.9 14.0 175419.

Reading Counts RC 9-12 4.2 66325.

Subject(s):

Teenagers -- Fiction.

Cults -- South America -- Fiction.

Fundamentalism -- Fiction.

Fundamentalists -- Fiction.

Teenagers -- Juvenile fiction.

Cults -- South America -- Juvenile fiction.

Fundamentalism -- Juvenile fiction.

Fundamentalists -- Juvenile fiction.

Cults. -- South America -- Fiction.

Geographic Term:

Genre:

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Willamina Public Library	YA NADER	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

Since the age of ten, Mia has rebelled against the iron fist of a fundamentalist preacher who lured her mother away to join a fanatical family of followers. At "Edenton," a supposed Garden of Eden deep in the South American jungle, everyone follows the reverend's strict and arbitrary rules--even about whom they can marry. Mia dreams of slipping away from the armed guards who keep the faithful in and the curious out. When the rebellious Gabe, a new boy, arrives with his family, Mia sees her chance to escape and to free her family. But the scandalous secrets the two discover beyond the compound's facade are more shocking than anything they imagined. While Gabe has his own terrible secrets, he and Mia bond together, more than friend and freedom fighters. But there's no time to think about love as they race against time to stop the reverend's paranoid plan to free his flock--but not himself--from this corrupt world. Can two kids crush a criminal mastermind? And who will die in the fight to save the ones they love from a madman whose only concern is his own secrets?

Author Notes

Elisa Nader is the author of Escape from Eden, a Simon & Schuster book.

Reviews (2)

Kirkus Review

In a harrowing and often disturbing adventure, two teen members of an exploitative cult try fleeing to safety. The Flock, under the leadership of the Rev. Elias Eden, lives in Edenton, an isolated community surrounded by jungle. Mia, 16, has lived there for six years and longs to leave, unlike her more pious peers. When Mia is asked to help make cookies that later turn out to fatally poison 11 Flock members, she is both guilt-ridden and horrified. Along with Gabriel, a smart-mouthed recent arrival from New York, Mia begins to investigate the inner workings of Edenton and to attempt an escape. Nader, a first-time novelist, pulls no punches in her high-stakes action scenes; setbacks and casualties are many, and readers will wonder until the very end whether Mia or any of her loved ones will make it out alive. The chemistry between Mia and Gabriel is palpable in their teasing dialogue and sizzling moments of physical connection. What with mass poisonings, child abuse, sex trafficking and a Hunger Gamesesque fight to the death, Mia's story is not for the faint of heart. Its rewards, however, are many: fast-moving action, a capable heroine and a resolution that leaves plenty of room for a sequel. Gripping. (Fiction. 14 up)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Booklist Review

At 16, Mia is disenchanted with Edenton, the religious cult compound in the South American jungle where she has lived for six years. She learns to hide her disloyal thoughts from the Reverend and his potential spies, but it is difficult to avoid Edenton's subtle influence on her mind. Only when Mia is called to the community's Prayer Circle actually a forced prostitution scheme perpetrated by the so-called spiritual leader does she grasp the truth about their commune. With help from Gabriel, a rebellious 17-year-old newcomer, Mia struggles to find a way to save herself and those she loves. In her first novel, Nader handles pacing with finesse. The story builds dramatic tension very effectively as the stakes are raised with new revelations, violent confrontations, and tough choices. The brutal, horrific climactic scene is far less credible as those building up to it. Still, many readers will find Mia's first-person narrative a riveting read, from the slow burn of her growing sexual awareness to the many fast-paced action scenes.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist