The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly

The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly

by Stephanie Oakes
Genres: Young Adult
Published on June 9th 2015
Pages: 400
Format: Hardcover Source: Library

A hard-hitting and hopeful story about the dangers of blind faith—and the power of having faith in yourself The Kevinian cult has taken everything from seventeen-year-old Minnow: twelve years of her life, her family, her ability to trust. And when she rebelled, they took away her hands, too. Now their Prophet has been murdered and their camp set aflame, and it's clear that Minnow knows something—but she's not talking. As she languishes in juvenile detention, she struggles to un-learn everything she has been taught to believe, adjusting to a life behind bars and recounting the events that led up to her incarceration. But when an FBI detective approaches her about making a deal, Minnow sees she can have the freedom she always dreamed of—if she’s willing to part with the terrible secrets of her past.

Minnow is in jail for beating up a man who approached her as she was running away from the fire that destroyed her cult’s compound.  All her life she had been taught that the Gentiles would kill them if they were to go into town so it isn’t surprising that she fought.

Jail is the first experience Minnow has had with the outside world since she was five years old.  We learn Minnow’s story as she opens up to an FBI counselor in exchange for his recommendation at her parole hearing.

The story is not told chronologically.  It is told as Minnow feels comfortable letting details slip out.

I think that it is interesting that the religion that her family joined was made up especially for this book.  I think that highlights the stupidity of the choice to join this movement and to go and live in the woods in Montana.  Because it isn’t a Christian sect, it may help some people see how stupid this all is.

Of course, regardless of the religious worldview, it all comes down to suppression of the women in the group.  Why do some men feel that this necessary?  Why do the women take it?  The men take multiple wives and find sadistic joy in physically punishing any transgressions by women.

If you like this book, consider:

The Witness Wore Red: The 19th Wife Who Brought Polygamous Cult Leaders to JusticeThe Witness Wore Red: The 19th Wife Who Brought Polygamous Cult Leaders to Justice by Rebecca Musser

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

 

 

Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent FaithUnder the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

 

four-stars