The Virtue of Sin

Book excerpt: A timely, gripping novel about a girl who must speak out, stand up, and break free--perfect for teen fans of The Handmaid's Tale and Matched by Ally Condie, and perfect for this moment. As a girl, Miriam is forced to quiet her tongue and hold back her thoughts. That is the way of things in her desert haven, far away from the outside world. But Miriam knows that within the compound's gates and under the eye of its leader, Daniel, she is safe, and that makes her life far better than any alternative. But when a Matrimony ceremony goes wrong and Miriam winds up with someone other than the boy she loves--the boy she'd thought she was destined to marry--she can no longer keep quiet. For the first time, Miriam begins to question not only the rules that have guided her throughout her entire life, but also who she is at her very core. Alongside unexpected allies, Miriam fights to learn the truth and live the life she knows she's meant to have. In this compelling debut novel, one girl learns that the greatest power she has is her own voice. Now available in paperback, this book includes a discussion guide--perfect for your next book club pick Praise for The Virtue of Sin: "Shannon Schuren weaves a complex tale of love, faith, and lies in her thought-provoking debut The Virtue of Sin. As important as it is entertaining, this is a must-read for anyone who knows that independent thought trumps fitting in. One of my favorite reads of the year." --Christina Dalcher, bestselling author of Vox "Schuren beautifully captures the breathlessness of both first love, and first rebellion, in this engrossing, timely book. Part page-turning drama, part romance, the novel is above all an exploration of the ways repression can damage the soul--and what it takes to rise above it." --Jennifer Donaldson, critically acclaimed author of Lies You Never Told Me "Compulsively readable." --BCCB "Well written." --SLJ