In recent years, Margaret Atwood’s classic The Handmaid’s Tale has gained popularity among readers and was adapted to a TV series, which only helped it become more well known. I’ve always loved a good dystopian premise and could see a very clear similarity between the old classic and Stephanie Oakes’ newest release The Meadows. Misogyny, a corrupt government system, fear, and rebellion are overwhelmingly prevalent in both Atwood’s book and this YA novel.
Readers are first introduced to Eleanor during a point in her life when she is a young woman in a job working for what I interpreted to be what the government might look like in the future. Struggling to obey authority and live under strict guidelines, she looks back on memories of how she arrived where she is now. Over the course of the book, readers are shuttled back and forth in time with Eleanor’s recollections of the past, one that is rife with tension and illicit relationships that those in higher power have declared unethical and illegal. In this future world, it is expected that citizens will accept any guidelines they are given, no questions asked.
Eleanor has never known a life other than this. She’s used to constant surveillance–being watched by the shiny black eyes scattered around inside houses and even outside. She’s never really free or alone, even if the illusion is there temporarily. When Eleanor falls for one of her female friends (a huge no-no, marriage is to be between a man and a woman only), she knows a romantic relationship will never work and that continuing to meet will not end well, but the attraction they have for each other are exciting and inescapable.
Though I don’t believe it is ever outright stated that it is occurring (other than a brief note from the author at the beginning of the book), it is clear that the people in The Meadows are expected to adhere to a certain way of life, one where homophobia and transphobia is common. Anyone who thinks or acts in a way that doesn’t line up with the beliefs of those in charge faces consequences. One way the leaders keep control away from citizens is separating them into groups, something that is seen as a positive way to train each group of young people right from wrong. Unfortunately, as is the case with Eleanor, these regulations aren’t in her favor, and she struggles with submitting to them. She is surrounded by beautiful young women, and yet she must tamp down any attraction she has and focus on finding a man who might make a good future husband.
The Meadows does have a lot of subjects that could be a bit mature for some young adults, depending on their reading level (please see Content Analysis below). I can definitely see both adults and young adults reading it and enjoying it immensely. Even if you can’t personally relate to Eleanor’s experiences, you will still get something positive from this book: whether it be a more open mind, accepting that people can have different views and still support each other, or simply thinking about the beliefs and values you hold and how far you would go to protect your freedom. Overall, I enjoyed reading the words which conjured vivid images in my mind’s eye.
Review of a Digital Advanced Readers Copy from Penguin Young Readers Group
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: 5 mild obscenities; 4 religious profanities; 3 scatological words; 2 F-Word derivatives
Violence/Gore: A reference is made to a minor’s mother having died; a young woman wonders if her friend is still alive or if she was shot and killed; a minor contemplates those in power and how they might use that power to kill disobedient citizens; a brief scene occurs where a girl comes across drops of blood on the floor and finds a girl has injured her arm and helps her bandage it up; a mention is made of a girl injuring her knee in a fall; a reference is made to misbehavior and how a minor’s family was killed because of her bad behavior; a girl is instructed to take actions that will cause a frog to be killed, she is assured by an adult that it will be painless and merciful; a man demonstrating against the government is seen being thrown to the ground by a person of government in a brief scene; a young woman shows her friend bruises she sustained from her husband; a girl is notified that her father has died and she screams and hits a desk out of grief and anger; a brief scene occurs where a girl punches a tree several times and her hand bleeds; trauma and traumatic incidents in the past are referred to with no specific detail; a brief altercation occurs in a small group resulting in several boys hitting each other over and over and a girl being hit in the jaw; a man tries to apprehend a young woman and she kicks his throat, causing him to drop to the ground; a reference is made to a young woman being shot and killed; a mention is made of a girl’s mother being ill.
Sex/Nudity: Two minor girls are mentioned to kiss; a hickey is mentioned to be visible on a minor’s neck; a conversation is had where relationships between the same sex are mentioned to be improper; a reference is made to premarital sex being allowed but not required; a reference is made to a couple being together in a way only a husband and wife should be; a mention is made of modesty and how girls are not allowed to undress in front of each other; a young woman comes across two girls kissing in a brief scene; being attracted to the same sex is referred to as a crime; a girl recalls how she and a girl she likes would kiss and how the girl ran her mouth down her neck, kissing her; a brief reference is made to masturbation; a young woman imagines what her life might be like in the future and how she might lie to be held by whoever she marries, knowing that it will have to be a man, though she is also attracted to girls; a woman uses a flower to describe modesty and how if it is touched by others or even yourself it will wilt; a reference is made of girls liking girls in a way they should only like boys and vice versa; a girl imagines what might happen if she began unbuttoning the top buttons of the dress of a girl she is attracted to; a brief scene occurs where two young women embrace and are described to want each other, slip hands under clothing and touch each other, press their bodies against each other, and are mentioned to “try everything”; a mention is made of society collapsing and men liking men and women liking women not being the reason behind it.
Mature Subject Matter:
Loss of a loved one; homophobia; transphobia; homosexuality; physical abuse; trauma; betrayal
Alcohol/Drug Use:
Drinking is referred to; a slightly alcoholic beverage is mentioned to be served to a young man and that he has obviously already had a few.
