I Am Not Esther

Imagine that your mother tells you that she is going away. She is leaving you with relatives whom you have never heard of-and they are members of a strict religious cult. Your name is changed to a biblical one, Esther, and you are forced to follow the severe set of social standards set by the cult. You don't know where your mother is, and you are beginning to lose your own identity. In this gripping psychological thriller, Fleur Beale creates a well-drawn and utterly compelling portrayal of a teenager's worst nightmare. Fleur Beale is a former teacher who was inspired to write this novel when a student was beaten up and expelled from his family because of their religious beliefs. She has written several young-adult novels, which have been published in New Zealand, where she lives. This is her first novel published in the United States.