I Am Not Esther by Fleur Beale: Book Review

I Am Not Esther by Fleur Beale was a great book that I read before I started writing reviews. However, I remember it well and read the two sequels, one of which I already reviewed. The series is about a family growing up in a religious cult. The first book, I Am Not Esther, introduces us to this world and the characters. The second book, I Am Rebecca takes place several years later and focuses on another character while diving deeper into the religious dos and don’ts. Being Magdalene is the third book and it takes place four years after the second. It updates us on everyone’s lives as well as concludes the series.

The great thing about this series by Fleur Beale is the character development throughout all three books. Sometimes it feels like a series isn’t planned, but rather is created because a book became a bestseller. This trilogy was clearly planned ahead and each book is amazing in it’s own way. As cliche as it is, I did like the first book the most. I Am Not Esther by Fleur Beale was the most relatable for me because the main character is forced into a new life against her will

I Am Not Esther by Fleur Beale Synopsis

“After her mother unexpectedly leaves her with her uncle’s family, members of a fanatical Christian cult, Kirby tries to learn what has become of her mother and struggles to cope with the repressiveness of her new surroundings.
Her name is changed to the biblical Esther, and she is forced to follow the severe set of social codes of the order. Soon, Esther begins to lose her own identity.”
Goodreads

What I Loved

This entire series is YA but as a 28-year-old, I still enjoyed this unique world and the Pilgrim family. The protagonist of all three books are strong young women who have very different personalities. Despite these books being short, I definitely recommend these quick read books. For once, the people on Goodreads seem to agree, although this first book has the lowest rating.

About the Author

“Fleur Beale is the author of many award-winning books for children and young adults, best known for her novel I am not Esther which has been published worldwide.
Beale was one of six children of a dairy farmer Cedric Corney and of a teacher and author Estelle Corney (née Cook). She was born in Inglewood, Taranaki, New Zealand, on the farm where her father was born. Beale grew up in the town before attending Victoria University, Wellington and Christchurch Teachers’ Training College, where she met her husband. Since 1985 she has taught at Melville High School in Hamilton, Waikato and in Wellington. Beale’s first stories were written for the children’s radio programme Grandpa’s Place. Her first book was a small reader and picture book for young children and she started to write for teenagers in 1993. Her stories often involve troubled adolescents engaged in outdoor activities.
Beale was a finalist in the Aim Children’s Book Awards (junior fiction) and her 1998 novel I am not Esther was shortlisted for the senior fiction section of the 1999 New Zealand Post Children’s Awards. In 1999 she was awarded the Children’s Writing Fellowship at Dunedin College of Education and quit teaching to write full time. Her 2001 novel Ambushed was a finalist for the Junior Fiction section of the 2002 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards. Her 2004 account of how an indigenous girl discovers how her education can save her tribal lands (My Story A New Song in the Land. The Writings of Atapo, Pahia, c.1840) received a Notable Book award in 2005 as did Walking Lightly.”
Goodreads

You can buy I Am Esther on Amazon using this link.

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