Review: The Grace Year - Kim Liggett

Review: The Grace Year - Kim Liggett - October 2019

Are you a fan of books like The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood? The Grace Year was in my mind The Handmaids Tale for teens and for those females who are wanting a peek into what the dystopian genre is about.  I have to admit I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy this book as it has been a while since I read a dystopian novel and I enjoyed this story with all its twists and turns and I especially loved the ending of this particular story. In The Grace Year, we meet Tierney who is sixteen and it is her turn for The Grace Year. Apparently, when the girls turn sixteen, they come into themselves and what is called 'their magic". The girls are cast out for a year and then when they return, their magic has disappeared and they are married off to become good housewives. During the year, not all will survive as some will commit suicide, be driven insane and others killed off by poachers or have body parts missing.  Ever since Tierney was younger, she has had dreams and been taught survival skills. She never wanted to be married off and would rather do hard work in the fields than become a housewife. However, during her Grace Year, she will discover along with a few of the other girls - dark truths and lies that they have been told from generation to generation. Will this be the final Grace Year or will Tierney discover a secret society of women amongst her village that try to help the girls of The Grace Year and those cast out.  If you love dystopian and strong female characters, then The Grace Year by Kim Liggett should be added to your reading list.