Astray

Gr 9 Up—Lyla is dealing with the emotional aftermath of breaking away from the Community and shooting the cult's leader, Pioneer. She is living with the sheriff's family, which includes potential boyfriend Cody, and is about to start attending the local high school. Meanwhile, the remaining members of the Community are still convinced of the coming apocalypse, and, at Pioneer's urging from prison, want Lyla to rejoin her "family." Their efforts to bring her back into the fold also reveal disturbing plans for the town as a whole, and Lyla again finds herself with a dangerous choice to make. Alicyn Packard delivers an understated performance that will resonate with listeners. She skillfully conveys Lyla's struggles to adjust to "normal" life and her sense of disconnect from the Community and the town. Despite everything she's been through, there is a part of her that misses her old life, and Packard skillfully balances the nuances of Lyla's emotional journey. Though suspenseful and exciting, at its heart this is the story of Lyla breaking Pioneer's hold on her and continuing her life on a path she sets for herself.—Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL