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I am one of the few who actually loved “The Scarlet Letter” when it was assigned in high school, not that I fully understood or appreciated Hawthorne’s genius. I just knew there was a good story in all that 19th century prose. Then I went on to become an English teacher, and I grew to love and respect the novel--and especially Hawthorne--even more. So a contemporary dystopian novel that is a retelling of “The Scarlet Letter” with a protagonist named Hannah Paine (Hester Prynne) who becomes pregnant by a well-respected minister was definitely going to catch my attention!   

From the very first sentence, “When she woke, she was red,” I was intrigued by the notion that sinners in this world don’t wear a badge of shame (a scarlet letter) but are “chromed”—their skin is genetically altered to a color that indicates their crime. And instead of standing on the scaffold in the middle of the village for everyone to view, here a Chrome’s every move is broadcast to the millions at home watching this new form of entertainment (disturbingly akin to our own reality tv). Hannah’s crime is that she chose to protect her secret lover’s fame and reputation by ending her illegitimate pregnancy in a society where abortion is illegal; therefore, she is condemned as a murderer. She will not name the father or the abortion provider, her parents do not allow her to return home, and she is stigmatized and humiliated by those who see and judge her as a “Red.” Hannah is forced to find her own way and make a new life for herself in this puritanical world where there is no separation of church and state. 

Although the similarities between “When She Woke” and “The Scarlet Letter” are what drew me to the novel originally, the real parallel is in the heroine’s gradual awakening to the hypocrisy around her and her determination to create a better life for herself, forging her own definition of spirituality in the process. The serious social issues the author deftly addresses make this a great choice for book clubs looking for an exciting, psychological thriller that also gives much room for thought... and lively discussion! 

Review by Shirley Wells

When She Woke (Hardcover)

By Hillary Jordan

$24.95

ISBN-13: 9781565126299
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 10/2011

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