“The Meadows”, by Stephanie Oakes, is not a typical dystopian novel. Set in a future Earth nearly destroyed by climate change, it tells the story of Eleanor and her friends who are enrolled in “the Meadows,” a training ground for the country’s best and brightest young girls. The story moves between past and present as the reader learns of Eleanor’s experiences in the Meadows and her present day search for Rose, a fellow meadows student who disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
While the plot of The Meadows has some elements in common with The Handmaid’s Tale, it has enough different elements that it does stand on its own. Chief among them is the main thing the female students have in common - an attraction to other girls. Eleanor realizes this fact slowly - in fact, much more slowly than the reader. Presenting the story through Eleanor’s eyes allows the reader to come to the revelations in the story a a leisurely pace, since Eleanor is slow to catch on to much of what is going on at the Meadows.
Perhaps the best part about the book is the different characters and how their various circumstances and reactions to The Meadows (not to mention the various outcomes of their stories) allow the reader to experience a wide spectrum of circumstances. One of my favorite characters is Sheila, Eleanor’s roommate, who has a different approach to life at The Meadows. While the book is long, it is precisely this length that has allowed author Oakes to present in depth stories for each character and a mostly satisfying ending. The different characters, circumstances, and outcomes are sure to spark much needed discussions and questions.
As a straight, white cis woman, I found this book to be illuminating and challenging in the personal way it presented characters and their feelings at being in a society that does not allow them to choose any path other than the approved one. I really value this book the rich experience it provided. The subject matter can be heartbreaking, but is ultimately worth it. I am interested to see what Stephanie Oakes comes up with next.
While the plot of The Meadows has some elements in common with The Handmaid’s Tale, it has enough different elements that it does stand on its own. Chief among them is the main thing the female students have in common - an attraction to other girls. Eleanor realizes this fact slowly - in fact, much more slowly than the reader. Presenting the story through Eleanor’s eyes allows the reader to come to the revelations in the story a a leisurely pace, since Eleanor is slow to catch on to much of what is going on at the Meadows.
Perhaps the best part about the book is the different characters and how their various circumstances and reactions to The Meadows (not to mention the various outcomes of their stories) allow the reader to experience a wide spectrum of circumstances. One of my favorite characters is Sheila, Eleanor’s roommate, who has a different approach to life at The Meadows. While the book is long, it is precisely this length that has allowed author Oakes to present in depth stories for each character and a mostly satisfying ending. The different characters, circumstances, and outcomes are sure to spark much needed discussions and questions.
As a straight, white cis woman, I found this book to be illuminating and challenging in the personal way it presented characters and their feelings at being in a society that does not allow them to choose any path other than the approved one. I really value this book the rich experience it provided. The subject matter can be heartbreaking, but is ultimately worth it. I am interested to see what Stephanie Oakes comes up with next.