This is a YA modern take on the Handmaid’s Tale. For me the eerie part was this telling is believable given the current political climate of Texas and Florida. I would definitely purchase for a class library.

I think the cover is really striking and certainly does its job of drawing your eye and attention to it perfectly. I would without a doubt have to pick this one up from a book store shelf to learn more about it. The close up of the attractive face of who I would presume is Stella, with the bold byline of 'In New America Girls Are Never Alone' across the forehead. It's a fact, a rule, maybe even a warning!
The the face around the cracking and breaking up, perhaps allowing Stella to see through the facade built around her, allowing her to glimpse reality. Then the bold title 'The Chaperone' straight across her mouth like a gag silencing her.....I think the cover is very symbolic represents the book extremely well.

I would say the society is almost Mormon or Amish like in its values and rules for young girls and women with a little handmaids tale thrown in. It's a society that's male led and dominated. Girls are taught they following the must
Deflect attention, Abstain from sin, Navigate the world with care, Give obedience, Embrace purity and Respect your chaperone

Young girls are brought up to know 'their place' and exactly what it is expected of them. Despite girls being educated and being allowed to apply for college more often than not the young girls are married off instead.
When a young girl reaches the age of puberty and 'becomes a woman' they must have a Chaperone to accompany them, teach them how to behave and what is expected of them. If the young girls family has money, the Chaperone will come and live with them in their own home. If the girl is from a poorer family that cannot afford this the young girl is sent to a government school. Such girls are referred to as 'govie girls' looked down on. Usually girls from government school either match to a boy/male of similar poor wealth & status and have children or they go to become Chaperones. Even the wealthier families that afford chaperones seem to have their own 'ranking' system.

The main character Stella is the daughter of a fairly wealthy and powerful man Mitchell Graham though at the beginning of the book Stella doesn't realise just how powerful her father is or how deeply involved he is with those ruling the society and way of life. Stella has been getting ready for her Sunday Visitation from a possible 'match'/future husband and it's with Levi Edward's, it's the third visit the Constables have approved when she hears screams and discovers her Chaperone Sister Helen dead. The irony of the situation doesn't escape Stella that she had been wishing for a way out of her visitation with Levi but not in this way.
Sister Laura is sent as the new Chaperone and is different to Sister Helen yet neither Chaperone was as strict as some of her friends. Sister Laura sneaks into Stella's room at night supplying her with contraband books encouraging Stella to read them and think for herself. Sister Laura instigates the new exercise regime which sees Stella running every week with her father. Sister Laura also takes Stella to a secret self defence class for girls and women where she learns not only to defend herself passively but to pro actively fight to defend herself.
Sister Laura isn't shocked when Stella wants to attend one of the illicit, illegal parties that some of her peers organise but she tells the still somewhat naive Stella she will only help her if she learns to drink and can 'hold her drink' as girls who cannot hold their drink and loose control at these parties can and will be taken advantage of. Sister Laura teaches Stella about what is referred to as 'old' America, how it still very much exists and how life is totally different there.
Sister Laura continues to teach Stella what she needs to know and be aware of when she comes to the life changing decision that she wishes to disappear to 'old' America to live a real life of freedom. Stella also realises that Sister Helen had been educating and steering Stella to this big decision too though perhaps not as obviously as Sister Laura.

It's only when Stella gets her 'freedom' she decides it's not 'enough' she wants to help educate other girls, teach them life skills, help them have a choice and if they want to help them escape the highly restrictive 'New America'. Stella's path is going to be a long, lonely, difficult and dangerous. Her first step into this new path is to return to the place she was so desperate to escape, convince those in power including her family that she wants to become a Chaperone to teach New America's ways and rules. It wont be easy as it's not that long since she professed to be against all New America stood for.

There's so much more to come from Stella and this series, so many possibilities and directions the series can evolve. Theres lots of subtle questions still left to be answered, along with larger ones such as who murdered Sister Helen! I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of this series. From the Chaperone training about to be revealed as this book ends to the work of those resisting New America and its rules. You go through the journey of discovery and re education with Stella. She has her suspicions about her father and his connections with the minute men, especially when he seems determined to marry her off with a young constable. Once away from her mother, Stella finds out her mother has helped her and encouraged her down her eventual chosen path much more than she ever realised and that her mother perhaps doesn't agree with how things are in New America, especially when she meets an old friend her mothers whilst she is in 'Old America'.
Stella starts off at the beginning of book being resigned to her life, though her life is sheltered and quite well off in comparison to others around her. The trigger for her 'awakening' is the death of Sister Helen and the arrival of Sister Laura. Stella becomes braver, asking questions, becoming more rebellious and less accepting of what is expected of her. By the end of the book Stella is a stronger, brave and determined young woman with her mission firmly decided upon by herself.

The Chaperone reminded me a little of Shannon Stoker's The Collection and has a similar type of feeling about it as Perfected by Kate Jarvik Birch. The Chaperone also the edginess and some similarities with Handmaids Tale such as the male dictatorship, the undercover resistance willing to risk their lives to help the girls. The Chaperone is dystopian, with aspects of speculative fiction and scarily possibly futuristic if some of those in authority had their way.

My immediate thoughts upon finishing reading the book were, Oh wow! Amazing! Fantastic plot, great characters and so well written it's hard to put down! Loved it and cant wait for more! I feel like I could seriously go on and on about this book & it's great characters.

Summing up, just believe me you do not want to miss this one! Its characters, society and world building are all so well thought out and detailed that you don't just read the book you visualise it like a movie!

Brilliant addictive reading!

Near-future dystopia that taps into a lot of what's happening in the United States today with politico-religious extremism, body autonomy, gender, sexuality, consent, rape culture, and climate change. Not to mention how those things intersect with things like race and class. (though I have mixed feelings on how well this handles the racial component when it tries to) This reads like it's by an author who is intimately familiar with evangelical purity culture and the harm it does. The Chaperone is a page-turner with very short chapters that kept me riveted.

Objectively, I think it does make some weird choices in terms of plot structure. This reads like the first two books of a trilogy put into one and I don't love that decision. Especially because what feels like a climax and resolution is then somewhat reversed in the remainder of the book for spoilery reasons. And I have some questions about character choices and motivations that weren't adequately addressed in the latter portion because it's trying to do too much. This should have been two shorter novels. That said, it's such a propulsive read I was sort of carried along for the ride and still had a pretty good time.

In New America, girls are never left alone and have chaperones until they marry. They must remain pure, give obedience, and should be seen rather than heard. When Stella's long-time chaperone dies suddenly, Sister Laura becomes her new chaperone and things begin to change. She starts questioning why things are structured the way they are...

There is a lot that I liked about this and it's a very strong debut. Having grown up in purity culture myself, this did a fantastic job of pulling into the light and examining some of the more insidious elements of it. I look forward to seeing more from this author in the future. The audio narration is also great. I received an audio review copy of this book via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Many thanks to Netgalley for a complimentary ebook in exchange for my honeys review. I wanted to read The Chaperon because I’m a fan of dystopia. The premise of this book - a restrictive society where teen girls are monitored by chaperones employed by the state - had a Handmaid’s Tale resonance that appealed to me. I enjoyed the story of a privileged daughter of powerful industrialist and how she found her way off of her predetermined path. However, I wish there had been more world building. The newly formed society in this book was largely undefined, which was unsatisfying for me as a reader.

I am definitely not the target audience for this book because I felt it was very loosely put together, and found it to read very much like a fanfictiony rewrite of Handmaid's Tale. That being said, I can see the appeal of it for the younger teen audience that aren't quite ready for the Hunger Games yet. It is a quick and easy read, and touches on some very relevant aspects of our current culture in the United States.

A solid 2.5-3 star for me due to the fact that I personally DNF'd it; however, what I did read was something I can absolutely see many pre-teens and early teens enjoying.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the ARC!

4.5 Stars

It’s hard to read The Chaperone without having some kind of reaction. The world of New America is beyond frustrating. A woman/girl’s place is to be seen, not heard. Not ever. A woman’s purpose is to become a loyal wife who bears lots of children. Until then, she must remain pristine. She must protect boys from impure thoughts. She must be perfect.

But it doesn’t take much for this ideal to crumble. A suggestion here and question there. That’s all it really takes. And when Stella’s given a taste of freedom, she can’t go back.

At the beginning, Stella is a touch annoying. Her ignorance makes her fairly one-note. But that quickly changes as her knowledge of the world expands. Her ability to question, to think, to move beyond, is what makes her compelling.

The Chaperone is written in such a way that it could be a standalone — a satisfying open-door conclusion — or it could be the start of a series — there’s lots of material to explore. Either way, it’s worth reading.

Though written for young adults, The Chaperone has real crossover appeal. As an adult, it resonated with me way more than I expected. The book has definite Handmaid’s Tale vibes that are sure to make it one you won’t want to put down.

Sensitivity note: The suggested age for The Chaperone is 14 and up. This is due to the overall topic and setting, and a scene of sexual exploration that’s not overly graphic but isn’t appropriate for younger readers. It’s the equivalent to a PG-13 rating.

I don’t know what to say. I loved this book. Loved it. But I also disliked it because distopian fiction is supposed to feel like it’s in the far off future, not ten years from now.

I read this entire book in one sitting because I could not tear myself away from Stella’s story. At times I found myself holding my breath so worried that she wouldn’t make it to the final page. Stella was such a brave main character, and I can see her in the future ending up on lists right beside Katniss.

I highly recommend this book, especially in the political climate that we are living in.

I had trouble reading this book and connecting with the main character and overall storyline. I just truly didn’t care for most of it. The beginning broke my heart, though.

A YA Handmaid’s Tale like dystopian fiction? I knew I had to pick this one up. Ever since I had to write a long-detailed paper on The Handmaid’s Tale in college, this type of dystopian fiction has fascinated me, so I was all in.

To be completely honest, I struggled with this one. It was a fast read. I read 80% of it in one day, so the story line compelled me along but just sadly, it mostly missed the mark for me. When trying to put my finger on what I think was missing, I come to the world building. I needed a little bit more to completely understand how we got to where we were and the history of New America. It took me about 25% of the book to feel like I had somewhat of a handle on what was going on, the world, and for the action to pick up to where I started to feel invested.

Don’t get me wrong, this is a fascinating and timely story. Here we find a world built by men, putting down women, who are brought up basically to get married and have babies. Be seen and not heard. Taught that this is for their safety. Not to mention all girls must have a chaperone one they hit puberty to when they graduate from high school. They can’t raise their hand in class, talk to boys, learn to drive, or go anywhere alone.

This would be a great book club pick. There are so many great discussion points throughout the story. Just for me personally as a reader, I needed a little more world building and fleshed out characters to take it to the next level.

I didn’t realize I would be reading a YA version of The Handmaid’s Tale when I began this book, but it became very quickly apparent that that’s what it was, and it will haunt me the same way Atwood’s classic does. What makes this book especially unsettling is that it feels so realistic and right around the corner. It’s a bit too believable, both to its credit and to the United States’ shame.
M Hendrix does a terrifyingly excellent job of portraying what life might be like if the U.S. experienced a schism between progressives and conservatives, whether it’s from an outright Civil War or from a more “civilized” split. I didn’t want “New America” to feel familiar and realistic, but as a former teacher, current mom, and current journalist living in Texas, it felt all too real, particularly as I see legislation being introduced and passed that eerily resembles some of the laws that are taken for granted in the “New America” that Stella lives in.
Stella is a fantastic protagonist to carry the story. She’s smart but naive, questioning but obedient and not wanting to make waves, curious but traumatized, frightened but brave. The growth she experiences in the novel as she learns more about herself and her world — and the world her country left behind — is realistic and paced well.
This novel does not have the depth and layers that The Handmaid’s Tale had, but as a YA book, I also don’t think it needs it. It feels authentically told from the perspective of a naive but intelligent and thoughtful 18-year-old. The world-building is, again, eerily familiar to anyone living in the contemporary U.S. Bible Belt, and I never felt that Hendrix went too over the top. Any time it seemed she might make things seem too fantastical, she pulled back and it felt real instead.
I have already recommended this book to friends, and I’ll continue to do so. It’s an important work that issues a warning similar to what The Handmaid’s Tale issued, but with far greater urgency.
This review is based on reading a complimentary advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley.

I honestly thought this book was awful. I wanted to like it, the concept seemed fantastic. However the characters were just terrible and I truly disliked this book.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for a review copy.

If you enjoyed The Handmaid's Tale, this book is for you. Stella Graham lives in New America. She isn't allowed to go out by herself or spend time with boys without her Chaperone. Her chaperone, Sister Helen, dies suddenly and she is assigned a new Chaperone.

Sister Laura is different from the others. She leaves Stella alone in the library and gives her banned books. Sister Laura talks about freedom and staying safe. Will Stella stay in her sheltered life and get married OR will she set off on her own?

I love finding Kentucky authors since I live in Kentucky as well. M. Hendrix lives in Bowling Green and has set this book in New Bowling Green, called Bull Run. I enjoy reading dystopian YA and this one hooked me right in. This was a pretty quick read for me; I read it on a bumpy flight so it was a great distraction.

New America where girls must live by the code: Deflect attention, Abstain from sin, Navigate the world with care, Respect your chaperone. Stella lives in New America. She knows all the rules and what girls must and must not do. But, when she is is assigned a new chaperone (someone to watch her and teach her to be a proper woman) she starts to question everything she’s known. Using her intuition and wit, and with the help of others, Stella learns about the real world and everything New America is keeping from girls. Stella is bound and determined to help as many girls as she can, see that there is more to the world than New America. Fans of The Handmaid’s Tale will love this updated young adult read-alike.

I was so excited to read this book after hearing about it on a webinar but truth be told, I was a little hesitant to start reading for thinking it might be hitting to close to home. In many ways it did. This book was so well written in most places; but in others I thought it fell flat. I would have really liked to see more of the old America scenes. The uncanny connection to the issues in the United States now will not be lost to anyone. Even though parts where flat, I truly hope there is a sequel to the book because se th ending definitely leaves you wanting more.

The Chaperone
by M Hendrix
Pub Date: 06 Jun 2023
Oof! This one hits hard. It's dystopian but not in the wild fantasy type way. More like the oh-my-goodness-if-things-keep-going-the-way-they-are-going-we-are-going-to-end-up-like-this kind of way.
Stella comes from an affluent family in "New" America. New America has broken away from Old America (that's basically us right now). New America has strict rules which are heavily enforced. Book banning was just the start. While males and females attend the same schools, they do not have most classes together. Boys and girls are not allowed to be alone together. Girls must wear clothes that do not seek attention. Girls must stay slim and trim so they will be chosen for marriage one day. Girls must not talk back to boys. Girls must always be chaste. Girls must not wear too much makeup. Girls must never use foul language. Girls must never be in public by themselves. Girls must study how to be good wives. New America says it's about freedom, but really it's about oppressing females.
One more thing...if they can afford it, girls must have a chaperone once they have their period. Chaperones are assigned by the government and see to the "training" of each girl to become a woman (ie. wife, because that's all New America believes women are good for.)
Stella's beloved chaperone Sister Helen suddenly dies a horrific death and Stella is afraid of who she might get next. Sister Helen wasn't like the other chaperones. Yes, she was with her every waking second of the day, but she was good and she encouraged Stella to try new things although girls were not allowed to be curious.
Stella is soon assigned Sister Laura. Sister Laura bucks the system even harder than Sister Helen did. She tells Stella the truth about the "heathens" in old America, where females actually are free..free to chose their own partner, free to walk alone, free to purchase what they want and read what they want to read. Old America may not be perfect, but they have freedom. Despite the possibility of public shaming or even death, Sister Laura opens Stella's eyes to all the possibilities in Old America It's just the life she has been dreaming of even if she has to give up everything she knows to get there.
I hope this book stays a work of fiction, but our reality is quickly starting to mirror the events in this book. 😕
#netgalley
#TheChaperone
#MHendrix

For fans of The Handsmaid Tale this book is a must read. In New America women are to be seen and not heard. Obedience is mandatory and no young women must be alone. Stella is going though life just fine until her chaperone is murdered. What happened from there opens Stella’s eyes to the reality of not only New America but to the role her own father has in this world.

This is a great story of perseverance and standing up to what is right, even if it’s the harder path. I loved the storyline and Stella was a great character that was likable and appropriately imperfect.

Thank you Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

I was super excited to read this, as it has a Handmaids-ish vibe. I would have rated this higher, but I found the pacing to be off. The beginning was very slow, to the point I almost dnf, then the middle was all action and tension and couldn't put it down, then slowed down again. The premise is fabulous and seems to be setting up for a possible sequel (I hope!). Very glad I stuck with it as it drew me in, it just took a while to get there.

I don't know if I will even be able to put into words how much I loved this book. Seventeen year old Stella lives in a future America, one I would not wish to be a part of. A world where women cannot speak, make decisions, or have careers. This is the story of Stella's survival. I don't think I've read a dystopian since the days of Divergent, when they were all over. To be honest, I wasn't sure I'd want to read another dystopian, thinking I grew out of that phase. But I am SO GLAD I picked this one up. I've been in such a reading slump, and today I wanted to skip my hardest class to finish and find out what happens to Stella (I didn't, but I wanted to!!) M Hendrix sure knows how to write a gripping book, and I mean I was GRIPPING my phone trying to devour this book. Starting this book I was worried it would be too long for me since I've been in a reading slump, but this one PULLED ME OUT at such a fast pace. This does not feel like Hendrix's debut, it feels more like I've been a fan of hers for years. But, I will now be a fan for years to come!

I love a good dystopian book and this one pulled me in and kept me interested! Something about those worlds just suck me in and I devour a book in no time at all.

Think Handmaid's Tale but with a younger voice. Stella is the perfect New American daughter until she learns that her way of life wasn't always the norm. Soon she longs to have the freedom to make her own decisions. How far will she go to live the life of her own choosing?

For fans of The Handmaid's Tale, you will definitely want to grab a copy of The Chaperone. Dystopian, power, control, and high school dynamics. I can see why it is categorized as YA, but I did not feel it should be solely in that genre. The Chaperone is based off the premise that young women, as they enter puberty, are assigned a chaperone to guide them in their pubescent lives. When a lovely chaperone who has formed a trusting relationship with her teen dies, we start to wonder if there is more to these chaperones than it seems.
Fast-paced, and hard to put down until the very end!

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC!