Seed

Author: Lisa Heathfield

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Publication Date: April 16th 2015

Format: Paperback (357 pages)

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Synopsis:

Fifteen-year-old Pearl has lived her whole life protected within the small community at Seed, where they worship Nature and idolise their leader, Papa S. When some outsiders arrive, everything changes. Pearl experiences feelings that she never knew existed and begins to realise that there is darkness at the heart of Seed. A darkness from which she must escape, before it’s too late.

My Rating: ★★★★★

I recently picked up Seed after having had it on my shelf for quite a long time and this book has very quickly become one of my favourite books. Lisa Heathfield has an incredible writing style that really pulls you in and she writes such layered, realistic characters that are easy to connect with. Seed is a really special book that will sweep you away.

Seed is the story of Pearl and her family who are  growing up in a place known as Seed. Little does Pearl recognise just how dangerous her surroundings are to her. The luscious countryside, the simplistic life and loving family are all she ever needs to be happy, until some people from the Outside join the family and Pearl realises maybe there is more to life than Seed. Ellis’s arrival at Seed really puts questions into Pearl’s mind that she has never considered before and seeing her internal struggle with what she knows and loves and how that may not be the best thing for her makes this a very emotional read.

The tension slowly creeps as the story builds and you see the doubts starting to grow in Pearl’s mind. Seed is all she has ever known and the people there are the only people she has ever known and it terrifies her when her mind starts doubting it all. It really goes to show just how much control someone can have over other people and it really scared me in a spine-tingling way. It was really quite distressing to read how much Pearl believes in Seed and Papa S’s principals because as a reader you absolutely know that it isn’t the right thing for her.

This book has the most explosive ending I have read in a long time. There was so much drama and action in such a short space of time that it really took the wind out of me. I was crying, I was angry and I had so many emotions. But the overpowering feeling was “Wow, I’ve just read something phenomenal”.

I adored Pearl. Despite sometimes getting frustrated by the fact I so desperately wanted her to believe in Ellis, I could completely empathise with why she was struggling so much. I can’t put myself in her shoes no matter how hard I try but I do know that I love the fact she is such a loving, caring young person with so much inner strength. I despise Papa S and also the other adults in the situation. I can’t wrap my head around why someone would want to treat others in the way that they do but as adults I just cannot condone their actions. Papa S is a despicable human being (if you can even call him that) who is controlling, manipulative and abusive. Ellis is a darling and I loved how much her cared for Pearl and wanted to help her escape and live a better life.

Lisa Heathfield has written a powerful book that leaves the reader feeling powerless to stop the horror as they read Pearl’s story. A book that will leave you feeling emotional in so many ways. Incredible.

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