Book Review | Gated by Amy Christine Parker

 

Format: e-ARC

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Random House Children’s Books

Publication Date: August 27, 2013

Pages: 352

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Do the gates keep the unchosen out or the chosen in?

In Mandrodage Meadows, life seems perfect. The members of this isolated suburban community have thrived under Pioneer, the charismatic leader who saved them from their sad, damaged lives. Lyla Hamilton and her parents are original members of the flock. They moved here following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, looking to escape the evil in the world. Now seventeen, Lyla knows certain facts are not to be questioned:

Pioneer is her leader.

Will is her Intended.

The end of the world is near.

Like Noah before him, Pioneer has been told of the imminent destruction of humanity. He says his chosen must arm themselves to fight off the unchosen people, who will surely seek refuge in the compound's underground fortress--the Silo.

Lyla loves her family and friends, but given the choice, she prefers painting to target practice. And lately she'd rather think about a certain boy outside the compound than plan for married life in the Silo with Will. But with the end of days drawing near, she will have to pick up a gun, take a side, and let everyone know where she stands.

 On the outside, Mandrodage Meadows looks like your ordinary suburban community.  But, Mandrodage Meadows isn’t as suburban as it looks.  All of the residents that reside there were hand-picked by a guy called Charles Manson Pioneer. 

Pioneer is a prophet and he was given visions of the future and impending apocalypse by the ‘Brethren’.  Supposedly, the Brethren has sent him on a mission to gather certain people to live in The Community in order to build an underground bunker for when the end comes.  Or so he says. 
 

Lyla and her family moved to the Community after her sister, Karen, was kidnapped.  Pioneer came to them after Karen’s disappearance and offered them a way to escape the ‘evils’ of the outside world.  And since Lyla’s parents were very vulnerable and impressionable at that time, they accepted.  This made me wonder if that was the way Pioneer got other families to join the community as well.   
 

I could tell from the beginning of this story that Lyla was a lot stronger than everybody realized.  She’s also much more questioning than the rest of the Community and she quickly realizes how dangerous it is to question Pioneer and their way of life.  So, she puts all of her doubts aside and tries to do what is expected of her, but all of that changes when she meets Cody.  
 

Lyla shouldn’t have any feelings for Cody at all, after all she is Intended to Will.  An Intended is the person that Pioneer chooses for them to marry.  But Will doesn’t make her feel things like Cody does.  And that surprises and scares her.  
 

I loved the characters in this book.  Lyla is such a courageous and caring person.  She wants to do the right thing, but she’s just not sure what that is anymore.  I really liked Marie, I loved her rebellious streak and the friendship between her and Lyla.  I also really enjoyed the growing relationship between Cody and Lyla.  Cody was very sweet and charming.  I was rooting for him from the beginning. 

 

Overall, Gated is a very chilling and captivating book that completely took me by surprise.