Reader's Advisory: Discover New Worlds: Educated

Author: Tara Westover

Title: Educated

Genre: Non-Fiction

Publication Date: Fe 29, 2021

Number of Pages: 352 pages

Geographical Setting: Idaho, Massachusetts, England, New York.

Time Period: Mid to Late 90s to Present

Series: N/A

Summary:

Tara Westover grew up in the mountains of Idaho in a family of religious survivalists. Her life was spent learning how to mix and stew herbs with her mother or helping her father and brothers scrap metal. All so they can fund their way to surviving the end of days. It wasn’t until Tara was 17 that she stepped into a classroom and began to discover the world for what it is and discover herself.

Subject Headings

Adult children of dysfunctional families
Survivalism
Homeschooling
Victims of family violence
Subculture

Appeal:

Tone: The tone of this book is Informative and serious.

Characterization:

Tara Westover is a trusting, motivated, and compassionate person who struggles with her loyal nature.
Gene Westover is a religious survivalist who occasionally shows a loving and kind nature to his children but is a mainly dominant and manipulative man.
Faye Westover is a character with a huge loyalty to her husband but occasionally is sly and supportive of her daughter despite this going against her husband’s beliefs and wishes.
Shawn Westover is a violent and abusive brother who uses religious beliefs to lie and manipulate his siblings and parents.
Tyler Westover is smart and studious and supports his sister Tara in finding herself through life and school. He is an encouraging and wholesome light in this story.

Setting: Idaho, England, and Massachusetts

Pacing: A fast-paced novel with a multitude of drama and emotions.

Short Review: Although I questioned how I would like this book at first it is a beautiful yet heartbreaking, and mending, story about survival and self-discovery. 4.5/5 stars

Read-Alikes: