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Editorial Content for Eden West

Book

Eden West

Contributors

Benjamin Boche

Reviewer (text)

Benjamin Boche
Religious, fanatical cults --- TV shows parody them, the media follows them in earnest and most of society thinks of them as bizarre and unexplainable. Yet, there is also something captivating about cults that we can’t quite put our finger on. Are people really brainwashed? What’s so special about isolating yourself from the modern conveniences of society? Do they, perhaps, actually offer a better way of life and the rest of us are really the fools?  The beauty and sometimes necessity of literature is that it offers an avenue by which to explore unexplainable phenomena and National Book Award-winning author Pete Hautman provides a fascinating portrait of growing up in a cult in EDEN WEST.
 
Jacob came to Nodd, the land of the Grace, when he was very young. Having grown up in the twelve square miles of paradise somewhere in Montana, Jacob has been isolated from the wicked and deceitful world beyond by choice --- and by an eight-foot chain link fence. Jacob knows that someday quite soon, the Archangel Zerachiel will descend from Heaven and wreak destruction on the world, sending an ark for the inhabitants of Nodd so they’ll be spared from the horrors and pain.
 
[W]hile most of us will never belong to a cult, we can all relate to Jacob’s thoughts and struggles. EDEN WEST is a fascinating story to help us make sense of growing up.  
 
Jacob fervently prays each morning and each night in front of The Tree that grows in the Sacred Heart of the Village that the End Days will come soon. Besides these vigilant prayers, Jacob spends most of his time helping the older Elders or Sisters with whatever task is needed. Every couple of weeks, Jacob patrols the border of the property to check that the fences are secure to prevent any animals from entering or exiting the property. Jacob enjoys his routine and this lifestyle, but it’s all called into question that day he meets Lynna, the girl who lives in the wicked world beyond the fence.
 
Deep down, Jacob knows he should not fraternize with those beyond the land of Nodd, but he is smitten with Lynna and the forbidden world she inhabits. Then a series of events call into question everything Jacob knows, or thought he knew, about Nodd, the world and the End Days. A new boy arrives from the outside and disrupts the content life Jacob thought he had. Jacob finds himself thinking about Lynna more and more and begins to visit her constantly at the fence even though it puts his life in danger. Finally, there is much turmoil in Nodd as followers are hurt, leave unexpectedly and even go missing. Jacob isn’t sure where to turn for help and he suddenly finds himself lost and losing faith in all that he once believed.  
 
EDEN WEST provides quite a different picture of one of my favorite thematic tropes in YA literature --- identity formation and growing up. Every young person struggles almost daily to understand who they are and what they want to become. All our identity formations are influenced by different circumstances and situations, and while most of us will never belong to a cult, we can all relate to Jacob’s thoughts and struggles. EDEN WEST is a fascinating story to help us make sense of growing up.  

Teaser

Twelve square miles of paradise, surrounded by an eight-foot-high chain-link fence: this is Nodd, the land of the Grace. It is all 17-year-old Jacob knows. Beyond the fence lies the World, a wicked, terrible place, doomed to destruction. When the Archangel Zerachiel descends from Heaven, only the Grace will be spared the horrors of the Apocalypse. But something is rotten in paradise. A wolf invades Nodd, slaughtering the Grace’s sheep. A new boy arrives from outside, and his scorn and disdain threaten to tarnish Jacob’s contentment. Then, while patrolling the borders of Nodd, Jacob meets Lynna, a girl from the adjoining ranch, who tempts him to sample the forbidden Worldly pleasures that lie beyond the fence. Jacob’s faith, his devotion, and his grip on reality are tested as his feelings for Lynna blossom into something greater and the End Days grow ever closer.

Promo

Twelve square miles of paradise, surrounded by an eight-foot-high chain-link fence: this is Nodd, the land of the Grace. It is all 17-year-old Jacob knows. Beyond the fence lies the World, a wicked, terrible place, doomed to destruction. When the Archangel Zerachiel descends from Heaven, only the Grace will be spared the horrors of the Apocalypse. But something is rotten in paradise. A wolf invades Nodd, slaughtering the Grace’s sheep. A new boy arrives from outside, and his scorn and disdain threaten to tarnish Jacob’s contentment. Then, while patrolling the borders of Nodd, Jacob meets Lynna, a girl from the adjoining ranch, who tempts him to sample the forbidden Worldly pleasures that lie beyond the fence. Jacob’s faith, his devotion, and his grip on reality are tested as his feelings for Lynna blossom into something greater and the End Days grow ever closer.

About the Book

Tackling faith, doubt, and transformation, National Book Award winner Pete Hautman explores a boy’s unraveling allegiance to an insular cult.

Twelve square miles of paradise, surrounded by an eight-foot-high chain-link fence: this is Nodd, the land of the Grace. It is all 17-year-old Jacob knows. Beyond the fence lies the World, a wicked, terrible place, doomed to destruction. When the Archangel Zerachiel descends from Heaven, only the Grace will be spared the horrors of the Apocalypse. But something is rotten in paradise. A wolf invades Nodd, slaughtering the Grace’s sheep. A new boy arrives from outside, and his scorn and disdain threaten to tarnish Jacob’s contentment. Then, while patrolling the borders of Nodd, Jacob meets Lynna, a girl from the adjoining ranch, who tempts him to sample the forbidden Worldly pleasures that lie beyond the fence. Jacob’s faith, his devotion, and his grip on reality are tested as his feelings for Lynna blossom into something greater and the End Days grow ever closer. EDEN WEST is the story of two worlds, two hearts, the power of faith, and the resilience of the human spirit.