Dorry Stephens really loved her life in Bryden, Ohio. She had friends, family, regular hangouts and in-jokes. Everything a teenager wants to be happy. But her father’s company transferred him out of state and since Dorry is still a minor she has no choice but to go with her parents. The new school isn’t anything like her old school. This is a bigger city and everything is different. Her father’s new position doesn’t cover as many of their bills as it used to so her mother has to get a job and without any experience (she was a stay at home mom) she has to take what she can get which translates to "Mom isn’t home – ever." And when Dad’s home, he’s tired. Pretty much, it sucks. Dorry Stevens life is taking a really crummy downturn.

And then she meets the Fishers of Men. It’s a group of friends who are in a church called the Fishers of Men. They’re a pretty tight group just like her friends back home. They’re sort of religious, but they’re so nice and pretty and best of all, they seem to like her. She’s so lonely and she really wants to be liked. They are really religious, which bugs her a little, but she wants to be liked more.

But then they start applying pressure. They want her to prove that she’s one of them. She has to pray more. She has to get a job so she can give to the church. She had to get converts. She had so not eat anything on Thanksgiving Day.

This causes some trouble. Her parents, when they see her, aren’t sure whether they are glad Dorry is making friends or concerned about the friends she is making. They are leaning toward worrying about the friends, especially after the Thanksgiving dinner.

Margaret Peterson Haddix impresses me pretty consistently with her books. Her plotting is excellent and her writing is always good. She manages to portray convincing parent child relationships. Too often in teen books you end up with Peanuts adults. You know, the kind who say, "Wha wha wha" off stage and never seem to have much in the way of influence. Dorry’s parents are off screen a lot in this book, but it’s because of the lack of their influence that Dorry gets sucked into this cult. As a matter of fact, it’s the absence of her entire family that allows her to get conned. She had an extended family in Bryden, in the new place she has to find one and the one she finds isn’t on the level.

Oh and so not on the level. Haddix really did her research on cults. I remember back in the days of Dungeons & Dragons being dangerous* and the Jim Jones Kool Aide Experiment. I ended up absorbing a lot of information about cults. Everything in this book jived with what I remembered. And well it should. Haddix has done a lot of research. She is, in fact, very involved in her church. Her bio on the book jacket is all about her church activity. (I have a feeling the bio is so focused because somebody at the publisher said, "You know, this book could really annoy Christians. We better do something.")

There is a lot of Christianity in this book, but I felt it was pretty evenly handled. All the bad guys are Christians, but not all the Christians are bad guys. If you are of a Christian bent, then I doubt you will be offended by the handling of Christianity. Personally, I am not and I didn’t feel preached at. Quite a feat as far as I’m concerned. I am really touchy about being preached to and I didn’t get that out of this book.

This book is loaded with talking points for parents and kids. Remember the old saw: ‘I trust you, it’s them I don’t trust’? Who seems more trustworthy than a Christian Youth Group? It’s a rare parent who would say "oh no, that’s a bad crowd." Except this time it is a bad crowd. It’ll give teeth to your argument the next time you tell your child "I want to meet your friends."

Religion is obviously a big talking point. It’s all Christian, but it is religion. Teens are great ones for the all or nothing approach Dorry’s experience demonstrates that the all approach isn’t all that without advocating the nothing approach.

The importance of quality time with Mom and Dad. Ok, this is more of a lesson for Mom and Dad, but the fact that Dorry loses a lot of the time she used to have with her parents does affect her susceptibility to this cult. I don’t think it can hurt for kids to see that they actually still need their parent's input.

I don’t think it’s urgent for parents to read this book with their kids. It’s a good one and a worthwhile (and quick) read for an adult, but unlike Picture Perfect http://www.epinions.com/content_174271532676, I don’t think it’ll warp anybody. And I wouldn’t hesitate to put it into the hands of a kid.

*The only thing I can see that’s dangerous about D&D is the editors’ lack of imagination.



Recommended: Yes