P.O.W.ER
Author: Lisa A. Kremer
Publisher: Word Hermit Press
Pages: 291
Genre: YA Speculative Feminist Fiction
Format: Paperback/Kindle
Book Description:
What would
happen if women and girls joined their unique abilities together to change the
world? In a world where access to the written word is reserved to men, Andra
BetScrivener has been able to read and write ever since she was a little girl
without anyone teaching her. She must keep her abilities a secret in the
country of New North, or she could lose her hands, her eyes or her life. In
fact, the only paths offered to her–and all young women–are to either marry or
enter the government-run Women’s Training Program, where she’ll be taught
“feminine” arts like drawing, painting, and homemaking.
On her seventeenth
birthday, Andra discovers that her abilities extend beyond reading. She can
write events to life. As she begins to explore her new ability, she must take
care not to jeopardize her father’s job as head scrivener at the Ministry.
Despite her efforts to keep her powers hidden, she comes to the attention of
both the government and a rebel group, who each desire to use Andra for their
own goals. At the same time, she begins to meet other gifted women who have
never dared use their unique powers. With the help of her friends Brian and
Lauren—who has the ability to read minds—Andra must find a way to unite the
power of women to create change.
When one
side manipulates Andra’s words into killing someone, and the other threatens
her father’s life and her own freedom, Andra decides to use her writing to
empower others to stop governmental oppression. But in a society ruled by lies,
cruelty, and inequality her journey will not be easy or safe.
For each book sold, a portion of the proceeds
will be donated to causes that support women and children around the world.
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Excerpt
My
stomach dropped as soon as Dad entered the kitchen scowling at a thick card
embossed with the government seal. My hand started to shake so much that I had
to put down my mug of tea. I knew this day was coming. After all, it was my
seventeenth birthday, the first day of the last year of my life.
“That’s the letter, isn’t it?”
Dad looked at me with one of his half
smiles, the one that never reached his eyes. I hadn’t seen him smile with
genuine happiness for years, not since Mother died. This smile made no effort
to cover the sadness and defeat in his face. “Pour me some cocoa, please.” He
lowered himself into his customary chair next to me, “I’ll do my civic duty and
read this to you.”
“I could always read it myself,” I
said. I waited for him to respond the way he always did. I hoped that provoking
him a little would reawaken the Dad who let me believe I could do anything,
while still protecting me from the cruelty of our society. That Dad had
disappeared over recent years.
“Andra!” he said, “You know I don’t
like you to say that out loud. You never know if someone might be listening. If
I could let you read everywhere, I would. We can’t let your secret get out.”
“I’m sorry.” I handed Dad his cocoa
and watched as he took several sips. For a moment he closed his eyes and his
face relaxed. The secret to giving him those brief moments was in the cocoa. I
make it just like Mother used to. She left us too soon to teach me all her
cooking secrets, but she taught me a few. She was a woman who turned everything
she touched into something beautiful, warm and comforting. She could make
people calm even in the most terrifying circumstances. Mother and Dad both made
me believe that my future wasn’t set in the same stone used to build the giant
walls that separated New North from the outside world. Mother believed that
somehow they would find a way to return to some of the freedoms of the past and
make a better future for all women. She never got the chance to do that. She
died and Dad grew afraid.
“Ah, perfect as always. Now, to do my
duty.” Dad put his mug down and brought my attention back to the thick card, or
the envelope of doom, as I thought of it. The government seal—the Eye of the
Lord—gleamed with a hint of gold ink as it caught the light from the sun
shining through the window. It sent a shiver down my spine, as if the eye was
really watching me.
Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
About the Author
Lisa A. Kramer has
spent her life learning, creating, and exploring the world through theatre,
writing, traveling and collaborating as an educator. She has lived in nine
states and two countries (including Japan New England with her husband, daughter, and two dogs from
her home base in central Massachusetts
For More Information
- Visit Lisa A. Kramer’s website.
- Connect with Lisa on Facebook and Twitter.
- Find out more about Lisa
at Goodreads.
- Contact Lisa.
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