Content levels
Trigger warnings
Hero archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
This book is about a post apocalyptic world returned back to the times of the horse and carriage seen through the eyes of a young boy. Deviations are punished or destroyed and what few books remained govern the way people think about change and the differences from the norm. The twists and turns in this rather short book as bought me back to it many times over the years, which is very unusual for me. It would make a great Spielberg movie with the authors descriptions of the scarred landscape and the characters being fantastic. you could really picture the trials and tribulations of these people. When the young boy David finds his closest friend has a sixth toe on each foot and is asked to keep it a secret from his god fearing tyrant of a father, he comes to question his own secrets and what would happen to him if anyone found out. I wont tell you the twist, but definitely recommend this read to anyone, young or old.
Is The Chrysalids appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 13 and up.
Parents should know this book deals with religious persecution, eugenics, and the destruction of 'deviants' in a post-apocalyptic society. Violence includes off-page killings and the threat of death to children who don't conform to strict genetic norms.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include child harm, death, and ableism (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Teens will be gripped by David's secret telepathic abilities and his struggle to survive in a world that would kill him for being different.