I Am Not Esther

Is she Esther? Her new family tells her she is. Or is she Kirby? That's the name and the identity she has grown up with. Who is she, really?

Kirby's mother disappears and Kirby is sent to live with her uncle and his family. The family is part of a dogmatic fundamentalist religious group. Men make all decisions. There are no tvs, no movies, and no books. Women must marry at sixteen and must dress in clothing that conceals. Rules, rules, rules. But there are also the consolations of strong, supportive family ties and of prayer.

Kirby is confused. She desperately wants to leave; at the same time, she desperately loves this new family. And where is her mother?

A well-written, thoughtful book with a serious look at the difficulties and strengths of following the dictates of a group.