The Chaperone

In this ominous dystopian future narrative, young women in New America must live by a conservative moral code and always be chaperoned until marriage; those who deviate from these expectations are either shunned or go missing. Though high school senior Stella Graham, 17, quietly chafes against these rules, she steadfastly lives by them under the watchful eye of her beloved chaperone, Sister Helen. But when Sister Helen dies suddenly and mysteriously, Stella begins to question the system she feels trapped in. Her new chaperone, Sister Laura, encourages Stella’s curiosity by providing her with forbidden books and secretly teaching her self-defense. Bolstered by the new knowledge, Stella finds subtle ways to rebel in school and at home, but as the public investigation into Sister Helen’s death draws the attention of seemingly omnipresent national political party the Minutemen, Stella finds herself watched more closely than ever. Stella’s initial naivete about New America’s history makes her revelations surrounding its dark past even more harrowing. This thrilling and evenly paced, dialogue-driven tale by Hendrix deftly explores issues of women’s rights, class privilege, and oppression through a familiar yet impactful lens. Most characters cue as white. Ages 14–up. Agent: John Cusick, Folio Literary Management. (June)