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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.
I loved the premise for this book. Loved. I thought it would be SO interesting -- and luckily, it was! I ended up really liking Gated.
Lyla, a member of the community led by Pioneer, has doubts from the beginning of the novel. During target practice, when the teens are trained to shoot cut outs of people outside the community who may want to get in during the end of the world. When she looks at her Intended, Will, and knows she doesn't love him like he loves her. And when she thinks of spending five years in the underground Silo the community has built to protect them during the Armageddon.
Gated starts out slowly, calmly. The first half of the book is spent showing Lyla's life in the community. About halfway through, she meets a boy from outside the compound. A week later, she and her family are sent into town to bring supplies home to the compound and all hell breaks loose.
I could not read the end of this book fast enough! All the action! Suspense! Happenings! The cover calls it a thriller, and though you can feel the tension building through the whole book, I didn't really get it until the ending.
There is one part not for the squeamish or the faint of heart. You can still read it probably, but don't say I didn't warn you!
Have any of you read Gated? What did you think?
