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A review by katykelly
After the Fire by Will Hill
5.0
Brutal and honest look at inside a cult for teenagers.
This is shortlisted for the current Carnegie Medal and is probably my front-runner. It wouldn't have shown up on my radar if it wasn't for the shortlist, so I'm very grateful to have discovered it. While I have read books set in similar environments before, none of them come close to the realism, the danger, the psychological insight this book gives.
And that's all due to the perspective we are given. Moonbeam literally tells us her story, as she is 'encouraged' to share it with a psychiatrist after a fire that has opened the gates on the cult she's been raised in. Now a teenager, she has spent her life in thrall of Father John, but recently has begun to see past his rants and rhetoric.
The past and present sit easily together as the one informs the other and we build up a picture of the confined and claustrophobic life of the residents inside the fences, the imbalance of power, the fear, the abuse. It's quite intense and emotive.
Moonbeam is a very 'giving' narrator to the reader, as she slowly begins to trust her interrogators, we are party to her frank confessions and reminisces and gain access to an enclosed and frightening world, see how outsiders are brought into the fold and how gradually their autonomy is replaced with fervour.
Some very uncomfortable scenes, but I loved how scenes of cult atrocity sat next to Moonbeam discussing them with 'outsiders' who had their own perspective to offer on the adolescent's world.
The one flaw I picked up on was a tendency towards exposition and explanation, assuming the reader knows nothing of the psychology of the cult or the cult leader, which as an adult jarred, but for most readers, especially those in the intended age range, this would most likely be necessary background and useful.
I have my fingers crossed that After The Fire is recognised by the Carnegie judges and the book is promoted widely. A very important and timely topic, well-handled though not for the faint-hearted.
For ages 13 and above. Some quite graphic content and mature/sexual themes.
This is shortlisted for the current Carnegie Medal and is probably my front-runner. It wouldn't have shown up on my radar if it wasn't for the shortlist, so I'm very grateful to have discovered it. While I have read books set in similar environments before, none of them come close to the realism, the danger, the psychological insight this book gives.
And that's all due to the perspective we are given. Moonbeam literally tells us her story, as she is 'encouraged' to share it with a psychiatrist after a fire that has opened the gates on the cult she's been raised in. Now a teenager, she has spent her life in thrall of Father John, but recently has begun to see past his rants and rhetoric.
The past and present sit easily together as the one informs the other and we build up a picture of the confined and claustrophobic life of the residents inside the fences, the imbalance of power, the fear, the abuse. It's quite intense and emotive.
Moonbeam is a very 'giving' narrator to the reader, as she slowly begins to trust her interrogators, we are party to her frank confessions and reminisces and gain access to an enclosed and frightening world, see how outsiders are brought into the fold and how gradually their autonomy is replaced with fervour.
Some very uncomfortable scenes, but I loved how scenes of cult atrocity sat next to Moonbeam discussing them with 'outsiders' who had their own perspective to offer on the adolescent's world.
The one flaw I picked up on was a tendency towards exposition and explanation, assuming the reader knows nothing of the psychology of the cult or the cult leader, which as an adult jarred, but for most readers, especially those in the intended age range, this would most likely be necessary background and useful.
I have my fingers crossed that After The Fire is recognised by the Carnegie judges and the book is promoted widely. A very important and timely topic, well-handled though not for the faint-hearted.
For ages 13 and above. Some quite graphic content and mature/sexual themes.