This dystopian novel leads the reader down a dark path towards the perils of religion and oppressive patriarchy. A religious shift in the US-American government calling itself the ‘Pure Movement’ results in women being stripped of their voices: Handcuffs every woman has to wear count their spoken words and if the daily number exceeds 100, they will feel the pain of an increasing electrical charge. Protagonist Dr Jean McClellan fails to prevent the rise of the ‘Pure Movement’ but when she sees her youngest daughter Sonia adapt all too well to their terrible future, Jean will need to find a way to resist.

As the novel touches upon ethical and religious topics an interdisciplinary teaching project with Ethics, Religion and Social Science is possible.

Novel · United States · 2018