Parable of the Sower, by Octavia Butler

In a work of masterful science fiction, Parable of the Sower follows the story of Lauren Olamina, a young woman who has hyper-empathy, a condition that causes her to feel the physical pain of others if she looks at them/witnesses their pain. The book follows Lauren's journey escaping Southern California, which is experience societal and ecological collapse, to Northern California, banding together with others who are trying to also escape. As a whole, the novel serves as commentary on social, political, and ecological issues.

I highly recommend Parable of the Sower, by Octavia Butler, although it is intended for a more mature audience (YA-Adult). The topics addressed within the book are grim, but a hard reminder that society is slowly approaching the conditions that Butler describes; in a time that is now starting to recognize the implications of the climate crisis, everyone should read Parable of the Sower in order to understand the societal, political, and ecological effects that it ravages on a society. All the characters are well developed, and Lauren is a flawed but understandable protagonist. I personally read this book in 4 hours, as it was super addictive and hard to put down. Everything, from how it addresses race, class, religion, and gender, was super informative and a read that I feel everyone should experience once in their lifetime. Although hard, Butler's book is a warning, and also a reminder that our current society is not so far off from the dystopia she paints.

And that the only way to save ourselves is to embrace change, and pursue it while we still have hope within its existence.

Reviewed by M.L., Grade 12

Montrose Library