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The Age of the Child
It's the worst time in the nation's history of reproductive legislation for someone like Katherine, who doesn't want a child, to learn she's pregnant. The ratification of the pro-creation Citizen Amendment has not only criminalized the birth control that would have prevented Katherine's accidental pregnancy, but abortion and most miscarriages are illegal, too.
In this environment, not having a child will be a challenge.
Katherine isn't afraid of a challenge.
29 years later...
It's probably the worst possible time in the nation's history of reproductive legislation for Millie – well, for someone like Millie – to decide rather suddenly that she wants to be pregnant.
Since the recent implementation of parent licensing, getting pregnant requires government approval, and even attempting to cheat the system carries a sentence of imprisonment in a mysterious facility known as Exile.
In this environment, a pregnancy for someone like Millie is all but impossible.
Millie doesn't believe in "impossible."
In this environment, not having a child will be a challenge.
Katherine isn't afraid of a challenge.
29 years later...
It's probably the worst possible time in the nation's history of reproductive legislation for Millie – well, for someone like Millie – to decide rather suddenly that she wants to be pregnant.
Since the recent implementation of parent licensing, getting pregnant requires government approval, and even attempting to cheat the system carries a sentence of imprisonment in a mysterious facility known as Exile.
In this environment, a pregnancy for someone like Millie is all but impossible.
Millie doesn't believe in "impossible."
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 23, 2017
20 people are currently reading
486 people want to read
About the author
Kristen J. Tsetsi
6 books41 followersAuthor of PRETTY MUCH TRUE, THE YEAR OF DAN PALACE, and THE AGE OF THE CHILD.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 11, 2019
The Age of the Child by Kristen J. Tsetsi is a dystopian novel where women's rights are violated.
You could pitch this book as a companion to The Handmaid's Tale - since this book involves a dystopian world where women are forced to give birth (no birth control and no abortions).
To be blunt, I didn't enjoy Kristen's writing tone or style, so the story didn't connect with me as much as I wanted it to. Stories like this intrigue me, because they can tell you a lot about society and the way certain people see it. Unfortunately, I just couldn't connect well. I still read and finished the book, but I don't think I was the desired reader.
That being said, the book is excellent! It's a well crafted story that takes the reader over a span of a couple of decades. We follow Katherine and Margaret, as well as their children Lenny and Millie. Over and over there's article headlines stating that children are everywhere - parents are abandoning their children and trying to adopt them out. I would have liked to see more of the big picture throughout the book since the story mostly focuses on the main characters. How did a world get to this point?
The second half of this story follows Millie and her journalistic journeys. Her investigation of the world pulled me in a lot more than the first half of the story (mostly because I had a good idea of where Katherine and Margaret were going to end up). Eventually, we learn that births are regulated (which was quite the opposite of Millie's parents time). I would have loved this to be two separate books with more fleshed out dystopian views. There's just so much good content and some of it wasn't explored.
Graham drove me crazy. He really wanted his child only to go work and not really want to bother with her. It seems we're meant to feel that way, but my goodness... I had SO many frustrated feelings over his character. It is a good note on one of the society's point of view of having children though!
Overall, the book didn't work for me but it has tons of potential. I know there's an audience out there that will love it WAY more than did. This dark story is told in such an intriguing way, it'd be a real shame if more readers don't pick it up!
Three out of five stars.
I received a free copy of this book from the author, Kristen J. Tsetsi, in exchange for an honest review.
You could pitch this book as a companion to The Handmaid's Tale - since this book involves a dystopian world where women are forced to give birth (no birth control and no abortions).
To be blunt, I didn't enjoy Kristen's writing tone or style, so the story didn't connect with me as much as I wanted it to. Stories like this intrigue me, because they can tell you a lot about society and the way certain people see it. Unfortunately, I just couldn't connect well. I still read and finished the book, but I don't think I was the desired reader.
That being said, the book is excellent! It's a well crafted story that takes the reader over a span of a couple of decades. We follow Katherine and Margaret, as well as their children Lenny and Millie. Over and over there's article headlines stating that children are everywhere - parents are abandoning their children and trying to adopt them out. I would have liked to see more of the big picture throughout the book since the story mostly focuses on the main characters. How did a world get to this point?
The second half of this story follows Millie and her journalistic journeys. Her investigation of the world pulled me in a lot more than the first half of the story (mostly because I had a good idea of where Katherine and Margaret were going to end up). Eventually, we learn that births are regulated (which was quite the opposite of Millie's parents time). I would have loved this to be two separate books with more fleshed out dystopian views. There's just so much good content and some of it wasn't explored.
Graham drove me crazy. He really wanted his child only to go work and not really want to bother with her. It seems we're meant to feel that way, but my goodness... I had SO many frustrated feelings over his character. It is a good note on one of the society's point of view of having children though!
Overall, the book didn't work for me but it has tons of potential. I know there's an audience out there that will love it WAY more than did. This dark story is told in such an intriguing way, it'd be a real shame if more readers don't pick it up!
Three out of five stars.
I received a free copy of this book from the author, Kristen J. Tsetsi, in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2018
An interesting exploration of the dystopian society that results when all forms of contraception and abortion are outlawed (and even miscarriages are suspect and investigated), and the society that results from THAT, when the country is awash in unwanted children, and only a select few couples can get a license to "carry" (i.e., for the woman to become pregnant). This reads almost like two books, with the first half being the setup for the second half. The first half is good; the second half is terrific.
I periodically found myself shaking my head at the absurd public statements attributed to political and cultural leaders in the book, and reminding myself that people in those positions have been issuing equally absurd public statements here in the real world for quite some time.
I periodically found myself shaking my head at the absurd public statements attributed to political and cultural leaders in the book, and reminding myself that people in those positions have been issuing equally absurd public statements here in the real world for quite some time.
April 12, 2018
To Birth, or not to Birth. It's complicated, and just like The Handmaid's Tale (though only slightly less severe) The Age of the Child illustrates how complicated can quickly move into horrific human rights violations when those making the decisions suffer from a myopic worldview.
To save a life versus to save a life from suffering. Which one is right? And for whom is it right? Which one is ethical? Economically feasible? Less morally reprehensible?
Which one is less complicated?
Creation is complicated.
Love is complicated.
Sex is complicated.
Destruction is complicated.
Common sense measures to preserve the species (while not decimating the planet and having everyone starve or be beaten to death) seem to elude the human brain in this story, and in the real world. Why is that? And of course, when humans do attempt to intervene in anything, we tend to train wreck at 100 miles per hour into polar opposite sides. Our two families in this story for instance, and if humans can make something worse, we tend to choose that option. Our meanness under the guise of humanitarianism is spectacular in the depths of its blackness.
Thankfully, this isn't a book about taking sides; even though at times I wanted to, say, smack Millie's father for his stereotypical male view on intercourse being the discourse important enough to destroy anything that matters. Seriously Graham, get a grip. His selfishness is beyond measure and all too common even if the book taunts us in an attempt to redirect focus on Katherine, which is also all too common. The woman who doesn't want children is the selfish one. Or is she really? Maybe if she had embraced her biological destiny then her life would be like Margaret's: Idyllic and Fruitful. Or not. And what about the choices their daughters Millie and Lenny will and won't have? The constraints they will experience and the horrors they will witness in the name of moral superiority.
This is a story about choices. Making them and having them made for you. Either way, choices have repercussions, and not all repercussions are pleasant regardless of the choice.
This is a story about choices because certain choices have been deemed less than desirable by the few who don't like them. So no one gets a choice. Least of all, the children.
This is a story richly layered well beyond the argument it presents. Each woman's strengths and weaknesses are deftly and sensitively articulated. Each woman choosing and not choosing to live their own personal nightmares in a world wrought with ego, bias, and chaos.
No one wins here. Least of all, the children.
To save a life versus to save a life from suffering. Which one is right? And for whom is it right? Which one is ethical? Economically feasible? Less morally reprehensible?
Which one is less complicated?
Creation is complicated.
Love is complicated.
Sex is complicated.
Destruction is complicated.
Common sense measures to preserve the species (while not decimating the planet and having everyone starve or be beaten to death) seem to elude the human brain in this story, and in the real world. Why is that? And of course, when humans do attempt to intervene in anything, we tend to train wreck at 100 miles per hour into polar opposite sides. Our two families in this story for instance, and if humans can make something worse, we tend to choose that option. Our meanness under the guise of humanitarianism is spectacular in the depths of its blackness.
Thankfully, this isn't a book about taking sides; even though at times I wanted to, say, smack Millie's father for his stereotypical male view on intercourse being the discourse important enough to destroy anything that matters. Seriously Graham, get a grip. His selfishness is beyond measure and all too common even if the book taunts us in an attempt to redirect focus on Katherine, which is also all too common. The woman who doesn't want children is the selfish one. Or is she really? Maybe if she had embraced her biological destiny then her life would be like Margaret's: Idyllic and Fruitful. Or not. And what about the choices their daughters Millie and Lenny will and won't have? The constraints they will experience and the horrors they will witness in the name of moral superiority.
This is a story about choices. Making them and having them made for you. Either way, choices have repercussions, and not all repercussions are pleasant regardless of the choice.
This is a story about choices because certain choices have been deemed less than desirable by the few who don't like them. So no one gets a choice. Least of all, the children.
This is a story richly layered well beyond the argument it presents. Each woman's strengths and weaknesses are deftly and sensitively articulated. Each woman choosing and not choosing to live their own personal nightmares in a world wrought with ego, bias, and chaos.
No one wins here. Least of all, the children.
June 15, 2022
THE AGE OF THE CHILD is such a chilling vision of dystopian America as viewed through the prism of the reproductive-rights battles that it seems to have been torn from today's headlines as much as tomorrow's. The idea that women and their bodies will be microchipped and their sexual activities monitored, in the wake of a law outlawing birth control that's led to the unintended consequences of unwanted babies being "dropped" everywhere, is surely on everyone's minds as the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion-rights decision stands to fall any day now after a half-century as American law, and Kristen J. Tsetsi offers a complex but plausible scenario for how the messy aftermath could look should Christian theocracy come to power.
But THE AGE OF THE CHILD is no polemic. It's a well-told story of family, friendship, obligation, tribal affiliation and all the complications that come when human instinct collides with authoritarian living. At the center of the story are three compelling females: Katherine, who never wanted a child and almost abandoned the one she had, and spent the rest of her life punishing her daughter for her own weakness; Millie, the daughter, cold and brilliant, forged in a crucible of emotional withholding and male weakness; and Lenny, the daughter of Margaret's closest friend. Lenny and Millie aren't exactly friends, but they've been thrown together since infancy and made to feel responsible for one another ever since, and their journey into the underground resistance and their dealings with the men they sweep up along the way make for an increasingly fraught dynamic that puts one, and possibly both, at mortal risk.
All this sounds like tough reading, but Tsetsi's cool, emotionally distanced approach to the everyday horrors of this world give the reader plenty room to breathe, to absorb, to digest and reflect, and connect with on a primal level sure to provoke all manner of emotional reaction in the reader. That there's a lot to reflect on makes THE AGE OF THE CHILD a challenging but satisfying and deeply thought-provoking read, equally human and conceptual, and more than a little breathtaking in the breadth of its well-colored-in canvas, chock-full with chilling ideas — and chilling characters. Much like THE HANDMAID'S TALE, it's a novel you may find yourself not wanting to start — but it's a novel you can't stop reading once you do, as much out of self-defense as entertainment.
But THE AGE OF THE CHILD is no polemic. It's a well-told story of family, friendship, obligation, tribal affiliation and all the complications that come when human instinct collides with authoritarian living. At the center of the story are three compelling females: Katherine, who never wanted a child and almost abandoned the one she had, and spent the rest of her life punishing her daughter for her own weakness; Millie, the daughter, cold and brilliant, forged in a crucible of emotional withholding and male weakness; and Lenny, the daughter of Margaret's closest friend. Lenny and Millie aren't exactly friends, but they've been thrown together since infancy and made to feel responsible for one another ever since, and their journey into the underground resistance and their dealings with the men they sweep up along the way make for an increasingly fraught dynamic that puts one, and possibly both, at mortal risk.
All this sounds like tough reading, but Tsetsi's cool, emotionally distanced approach to the everyday horrors of this world give the reader plenty room to breathe, to absorb, to digest and reflect, and connect with on a primal level sure to provoke all manner of emotional reaction in the reader. That there's a lot to reflect on makes THE AGE OF THE CHILD a challenging but satisfying and deeply thought-provoking read, equally human and conceptual, and more than a little breathtaking in the breadth of its well-colored-in canvas, chock-full with chilling ideas — and chilling characters. Much like THE HANDMAID'S TALE, it's a novel you may find yourself not wanting to start — but it's a novel you can't stop reading once you do, as much out of self-defense as entertainment.
November 27, 2017
A book every pro-life and anti-contraceptive advocate should read. This book is a thought provoking story of the consequences of forcing their moral views on others.
October 11, 2019
This is the book that I hoped Vox would be. Not only does it have the all-too-relevant premise and the scathing social commentary, but it also delivers deft worldbuilding, fascinating characterization, and an ending that pulls no punches and refuses to wrap things up neatly. Tsetsi gives us an unflinching look at a society that feels all too possible in this day and age, and then takes things a step further and imagines what the natural consequence of that society might be, twenty years down the road. And that's the macro level - on the micro level, we see in Millie the natural consequence of forcing children to be born into families that neither want them nor are prepared for them, and the results are heartbreakingly realistic and unromanticized. The way "Exile" was portrayed felt a little goofy and YA dystopia-esque, but honestly, that's an extremely minor complaint - overall, the book is very well-imagined and well-crafted. Please make this one go viral, Bookworld. 14 ratings and 7 reviews? We can do better than that!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
May 31, 2018
The childless and childfree community has been abuzz with the amazing new novel, The Age of the Child, by the equally amazing Kristen Tsetsi. The dystopian world Tsetsi created in her book may be fiction, but, in this day and age, it doesn't feel very far-fetched. It's rare to find a novel that portrays childfree women at all and, if they do, they are often assigned very stereotypical characteristics. This is not the case in The Age of the Child. I had the chance to speak with Kristen about her book, the motivation behind it, and about being a childfree woman in today’s society. You can read the interview here: https://bit.ly/2H5PscG
September 13, 2019
This novel will make parents gasp and pro-lifers sputter. I loved it. As a childfree woman, this book entertained and horrified me.
The Age of the Child showcases the effects of forced parenthood. Not just on the parents but on the child throughout their life. For anyone who says "think of the children", I suggest they read this book.
The dark humor-filled details that Kristen adds makes the story pop. Once you finish reading it, read it again because I guarantee you will notice more of the hilarious and twisted jabs at society.
This story is not far-fetched. It serves as a warning to those of us who take our rights and freedoms for granted.
It's an emotional read, not predictable, and held my attention from start to finish. I highly recommend it!
The Age of the Child showcases the effects of forced parenthood. Not just on the parents but on the child throughout their life. For anyone who says "think of the children", I suggest they read this book.
The dark humor-filled details that Kristen adds makes the story pop. Once you finish reading it, read it again because I guarantee you will notice more of the hilarious and twisted jabs at society.
This story is not far-fetched. It serves as a warning to those of us who take our rights and freedoms for granted.
It's an emotional read, not predictable, and held my attention from start to finish. I highly recommend it!
July 29, 2019
Audible:This was a well thought out book.It was good,though hard to read at times.Just think if America actually GOT that way.It is a scarey thought. Nila Brerton Hagood was a good narrator. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'
January 7, 2018
This book makes you think. What if..... What if the decision was taken away? Truly a fine read.
January 25, 2019
A provocative premise combined with graceful prose and strong characters. Tsetsi raises the question of what happens to our children and our society when women are forced to bear children.
July 20, 2019
Her mother's daughter.
I have just finished this book in audio and I have to confess, I'm disappointed that such a potentially fascinating subject didn't come across better. So now I have to justify that comment as I don't feel it's fair to the author to criticise their work without justification.
The premise of the book is that both birth control and abortions are illegal - nothing new there, that was Ireland in the last century, and I'm sure many other countries too. What the author adds is that miscarriages are also illegal, hopefully with the intention of preventing home abortions. Unfortunately she doesn't follow this with a relatable story that affects us emotionally, instead she litters the world with abandoned children, babies, toddlers, teenagers, suddenly being dropped everywhere. The police are out, trying to catch these neglectful parents, so it becomes a game of hide and seek. I was listening to this while nursing my two newly-born grandchildren, so it should have been easy to involve me emotionally, but I was very much on the outside, looking in. I needed more background, more involvement; I needed to feel I was there, sharing the fear and despair of the children.
Maybe a prologue that took me from the present time to this Dystopian future would have helped, so I felt connected, rather than dumped in an era that makes no sense, like a new born child who doesn’t understand their surroundings.
In the first part, the main characters are two couples, one woman who desperately wants a child and one who most definitely doesn't. Time passes and by part two, the laws have changed to a system where every pregnancy must be registered and receive prior permission. The next generation (Millie and Lene) must struggle to build their families around this additional restriction.
The young Millie is very unpopular amongst her classmates and this is supposedly because she was unwanted, but one would assume that a high proportion of the class was also unwanted. She is desperate to impress her parents and writing short stories seems to make them happy, so she looks everywhere for material by eavesdropping on her classmates. Most of the stories are about children ‘disappearing’. There were too many of these stories, in my opinion, which Millie's mother comments on by correcting Millie’s spelling: as a reader this became boring, one or two would have been enough.
Then there is her one 'friend', her ‘puppy’? Is it some sort of a computer? Is it just a screen or a robot?
I enjoyed the philanthropic work of Lene and Floyd, but their relationship was, well, weird. If this was the norm then it required explanation too.
I have just listened to the ending twice and I'm not clear what we are supposed to surmise. Won't say more, for fear of spoilers.
Finally, the narrator; when she was on form, all was well, but she seemed to get tired and started making mistakes and wrong word emphases.
My conclusion is that this could be a great book but it needs some serious editing, as it stands it just didn't work for me.
I have just finished this book in audio and I have to confess, I'm disappointed that such a potentially fascinating subject didn't come across better. So now I have to justify that comment as I don't feel it's fair to the author to criticise their work without justification.
The premise of the book is that both birth control and abortions are illegal - nothing new there, that was Ireland in the last century, and I'm sure many other countries too. What the author adds is that miscarriages are also illegal, hopefully with the intention of preventing home abortions. Unfortunately she doesn't follow this with a relatable story that affects us emotionally, instead she litters the world with abandoned children, babies, toddlers, teenagers, suddenly being dropped everywhere. The police are out, trying to catch these neglectful parents, so it becomes a game of hide and seek. I was listening to this while nursing my two newly-born grandchildren, so it should have been easy to involve me emotionally, but I was very much on the outside, looking in. I needed more background, more involvement; I needed to feel I was there, sharing the fear and despair of the children.
Maybe a prologue that took me from the present time to this Dystopian future would have helped, so I felt connected, rather than dumped in an era that makes no sense, like a new born child who doesn’t understand their surroundings.
In the first part, the main characters are two couples, one woman who desperately wants a child and one who most definitely doesn't. Time passes and by part two, the laws have changed to a system where every pregnancy must be registered and receive prior permission. The next generation (Millie and Lene) must struggle to build their families around this additional restriction.
The young Millie is very unpopular amongst her classmates and this is supposedly because she was unwanted, but one would assume that a high proportion of the class was also unwanted. She is desperate to impress her parents and writing short stories seems to make them happy, so she looks everywhere for material by eavesdropping on her classmates. Most of the stories are about children ‘disappearing’. There were too many of these stories, in my opinion, which Millie's mother comments on by correcting Millie’s spelling: as a reader this became boring, one or two would have been enough.
Then there is her one 'friend', her ‘puppy’? Is it some sort of a computer? Is it just a screen or a robot?
I enjoyed the philanthropic work of Lene and Floyd, but their relationship was, well, weird. If this was the norm then it required explanation too.
I have just listened to the ending twice and I'm not clear what we are supposed to surmise. Won't say more, for fear of spoilers.
Finally, the narrator; when she was on form, all was well, but she seemed to get tired and started making mistakes and wrong word emphases.
My conclusion is that this could be a great book but it needs some serious editing, as it stands it just didn't work for me.
January 9, 2019
Review originally published at: https://www.lomeraniel.com/audiobookr...
This is a dystopia where childbearing is taken so seriously that abortions and even miscarriages are investigated and legally punished. The main characters of the first part are two female friends who conceive around the same time but only one the children is wanted. The book follows the story of these two children, two girls, who remained friends from the beginning, but whose very different upbringings marked them for life. In the second part, Millie, the unwanted child, desperately wants to get pregnant, but society is trying to fix the mistakes previously made, and child licenses are given to only few.
This is a very interesting topic, and one not often covered in science fiction. A recommended read for any pro-life advocate. Streets full of abandoned children, and unwanted but kept children who grow up just to be dysfunctional human beings. I’m terribly biased regarding this topic, as I believe is Kristen Tsetsi.
The pace of the book is a bit slow at times, but I feel it’s necessary to illustrate all that is happening. I missed a bit of world building. This was also one of my complaints about The Handmaid’s Tale. The story is so centered around the main topic that there is little information extra about the world they live in.
I listened to the audio version of this book and I struggled… a lot. I was about to abandon the book several times but I kept on because the subject was interesting. There were issues at several levels: Nila Brereton Hagood’s reading was clunky and there were weird pauses in the middle of sentences and sometimes the wrong intonation. The character’s voices sounded all the same, and the interpretations were stiff and with no inflections. It was quite difficult to follow dialogs. Millie’s friend had sometimes a Southern accent that was appearing and disappearing at random. Regarding audio production, there were multiple very noticeable audio edits, volume changes, and sounds of breathing in.
It was such a pity because the book is quite good, but I would not recommend the audio version.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This is a dystopia where childbearing is taken so seriously that abortions and even miscarriages are investigated and legally punished. The main characters of the first part are two female friends who conceive around the same time but only one the children is wanted. The book follows the story of these two children, two girls, who remained friends from the beginning, but whose very different upbringings marked them for life. In the second part, Millie, the unwanted child, desperately wants to get pregnant, but society is trying to fix the mistakes previously made, and child licenses are given to only few.
This is a very interesting topic, and one not often covered in science fiction. A recommended read for any pro-life advocate. Streets full of abandoned children, and unwanted but kept children who grow up just to be dysfunctional human beings. I’m terribly biased regarding this topic, as I believe is Kristen Tsetsi.
The pace of the book is a bit slow at times, but I feel it’s necessary to illustrate all that is happening. I missed a bit of world building. This was also one of my complaints about The Handmaid’s Tale. The story is so centered around the main topic that there is little information extra about the world they live in.
I listened to the audio version of this book and I struggled… a lot. I was about to abandon the book several times but I kept on because the subject was interesting. There were issues at several levels: Nila Brereton Hagood’s reading was clunky and there were weird pauses in the middle of sentences and sometimes the wrong intonation. The character’s voices sounded all the same, and the interpretations were stiff and with no inflections. It was quite difficult to follow dialogs. Millie’s friend had sometimes a Southern accent that was appearing and disappearing at random. Regarding audio production, there were multiple very noticeable audio edits, volume changes, and sounds of breathing in.
It was such a pity because the book is quite good, but I would not recommend the audio version.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
May 24, 2019
First of all: "This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review."
So this book was bizarre. I don't necessarily mean that in a bad way, I just can't really think of a better way to describe it. The whole premise was pretty interesting, and definitely very unique. I think one of the purposes of the book was to show the "slippery slope" of limiting reproductive rights and control. And by going WAY to the extreme, I think that point was made.
The characters were definitely pretty engaging, and the writing style was unique. It felt like it was so close to a book that I would just love, but there was some intangible something that kept me from wholeheartedly embracing it.
One thing that was a little odd was the dichotomy of the narrator and the subject matter. The narrator's voice kind of felt too nice, or maybe too pleasant, for the subject matter and also the writing style. Not that the narrator wasn't good, because she was definitely a good narrator. Again, something just kept me from loving it.
So this book was bizarre. I don't necessarily mean that in a bad way, I just can't really think of a better way to describe it. The whole premise was pretty interesting, and definitely very unique. I think one of the purposes of the book was to show the "slippery slope" of limiting reproductive rights and control. And by going WAY to the extreme, I think that point was made.
The characters were definitely pretty engaging, and the writing style was unique. It felt like it was so close to a book that I would just love, but there was some intangible something that kept me from wholeheartedly embracing it.
One thing that was a little odd was the dichotomy of the narrator and the subject matter. The narrator's voice kind of felt too nice, or maybe too pleasant, for the subject matter and also the writing style. Not that the narrator wasn't good, because she was definitely a good narrator. Again, something just kept me from loving it.
January 5, 2018
Imagine if you will, a future where the right to have a child is legislated and birth control are criminalized. Moreover, for those couples who find soon find themselves parents-to-be when they do not want the social responsibility of raising a child, soon find themselves outside the law when they try to abandon their child.
In this powerful and evocative novel, Kristen Tsetsi serves up a nightmare vision of America that will have you riveted from one page to the next. This is not a quick and easy read. Tsetsi's book is one to ponder. Not so much about all the "what ifs" that she describes in the book, but the social and ethical issues that she presents.
This is a brilliant book by a very talented author. Her unique voice will have you captivated and transfixed.
Jeffrey Miller,
Bureau 39
In this powerful and evocative novel, Kristen Tsetsi serves up a nightmare vision of America that will have you riveted from one page to the next. This is not a quick and easy read. Tsetsi's book is one to ponder. Not so much about all the "what ifs" that she describes in the book, but the social and ethical issues that she presents.
This is a brilliant book by a very talented author. Her unique voice will have you captivated and transfixed.
Jeffrey Miller,
Bureau 39
July 30, 2019
A dystopian reading of what terrible outcomes there are in a society with no regard for a woman's bodily autonomy, for the women forced to birth when they don't want to, to the children abandoned and abused by the unwilling parents, to the couples forced away from sex, to the families crushed by the financial burden of bearing more children than they can afford. The characters were deep and well crafted. Some of the chronology was difficult to follow on the audiobook. In the written book, there may have been visual clues to when years elapse between chapters versus moments, but listening without any visuals made a few of the time leaps jarring. Narration by Nila Brereton Hagood was excellent.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
June 3, 2019
What if it was illegal for any pregnancy to terminate? Including miscarriages (hey, they don't know for sure that mom didn't purposely cause this, right?). And all forms of birth control, outlawed. The penalties severe. Life is protected, from conception. Period. Then, oops, the unseen consequences of this legislation has spiraled out of control, and the powers that be need to rethink things. Now, even if you want a child, it's not going to be easy. It's not really your choice.
Kristen Tsetsi has done a bang up job of giving us what could be the results of such interference with our personal rights and freedoms with this engaging and thought-provoking novel; results that may not be all that far-fetched.
If you're a fan of Jodi Picoult, you won't be disappointed.
Kristen Tsetsi has done a bang up job of giving us what could be the results of such interference with our personal rights and freedoms with this engaging and thought-provoking novel; results that may not be all that far-fetched.
If you're a fan of Jodi Picoult, you won't be disappointed.
September 4, 2018
Kristen Tsetsi writes a thought provoking book about a controlled culture of birth control, forced parenthood, a license to parent, and the personal relationships that can cultivate in this environment. I truly liked each character. Getting to know them, their individual stories, and their ultimate decisions. I also liked that this also touched on how having child can change a relationship.
This book made me think because every situation in this book could be possible with politics constantly wanting to control a women’s choice. It also made me hope my own daughter never loses her right to choose. This is a definite must read for anyone since everyone can definitely relate.
This book made me think because every situation in this book could be possible with politics constantly wanting to control a women’s choice. It also made me hope my own daughter never loses her right to choose. This is a definite must read for anyone since everyone can definitely relate.
October 6, 2018
I was given this audiobook for free in exchange for an honest review.
As someone who is very pro choice and doesn’t actively want children I was really curious to read this. I was happy to find it made me rethink certain views (I’m sure I have more than once, in a heated moment, declared people should require a license to breed). A well balanced narrative and an interesting topic.
As someone who is very pro choice and doesn’t actively want children I was really curious to read this. I was happy to find it made me rethink certain views (I’m sure I have more than once, in a heated moment, declared people should require a license to breed). A well balanced narrative and an interesting topic.
May 28, 2019
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
What a fascinating text to prompt deep thought on what I once thought was a pretty cut and dry issue. Reproductive rights have been a hot topic in recent times, and like many others before me, I am going to cite The Handmaid's Tale as a great example of how this topic has permeated the media. This book gives a layered and comprehensive portrayal of two distinct scenarios and illustrated how murky the waters can get - a significant departure from the latter.
Katherine and Graham live in a world where it's illegal to use contraception, have an abortion for any reason and as a result children and babies are dumped in the streets in shocking numbers. When Katherine gives birth to Millie we see what can transpire when someone is forced to have a child against their will.
When Millie grows older we are shown her current reality where society had changed yet again. All those who are capable of carrying a child are forcibly subjected to birth control and pregnancy requires licensing.
Kristen J. Tsetsi's writing is elegant and well thought out. I was fascinated by each scenario and invested in the characters despite their deep flaws. The text felt like it was the right length and there was a good sense of completion at the end.
I feel I will be thinking about these concepts for a long time to come. I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who thinks they have all of the answers when it comes to reproductive rights.
What a fascinating text to prompt deep thought on what I once thought was a pretty cut and dry issue. Reproductive rights have been a hot topic in recent times, and like many others before me, I am going to cite The Handmaid's Tale as a great example of how this topic has permeated the media. This book gives a layered and comprehensive portrayal of two distinct scenarios and illustrated how murky the waters can get - a significant departure from the latter.
Katherine and Graham live in a world where it's illegal to use contraception, have an abortion for any reason and as a result children and babies are dumped in the streets in shocking numbers. When Katherine gives birth to Millie we see what can transpire when someone is forced to have a child against their will.
When Millie grows older we are shown her current reality where society had changed yet again. All those who are capable of carrying a child are forcibly subjected to birth control and pregnancy requires licensing.
Kristen J. Tsetsi's writing is elegant and well thought out. I was fascinated by each scenario and invested in the characters despite their deep flaws. The text felt like it was the right length and there was a good sense of completion at the end.
I feel I will be thinking about these concepts for a long time to come. I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who thinks they have all of the answers when it comes to reproductive rights.
December 18, 2022
“The Age of the Child” is a genuinely interesting take on the issue of government control over women’s bodies. In the first half of the book the law does not allow for abortion or birth control and follows a woman who desperately does not want a child who ends up pregnant. In the second half abortion is still outlawed, hormonal birth control is mandatory while the government regulates who can is allowed to get pregnant and we follow a woman who is desperate to get pregnant who would never be licensed to do so. I usually really love a book like this but my problem was I didn’t connect with the characters. I disliked most of them pretty intensely and that seemed to put a wall up keeping me from becoming truly absorbed into this book. The writing style and tone didn’t appeal to me….but I still found the book’s story interesting.
October 24, 2019
As a childfree woman myself, The Age of the Child's dystopian societal rules and regulations evoked strong emotions in me: on one hand, the idea that the state would regulate the autonomy over my body to such extent, especially in what relates to reproducing, enrages me. On the other hand, thinking that there is a very real possibility that this is exactly what will happen years from now, terrifies me.
Kristen Tsetsi's narrative is enthralling. I loved how she manages to blend in a sharp, dry sense of humor in a story that would otherwise feel like a very detailed description of the doomed fate of our World.
I really could not put this book down...
Kristen Tsetsi's narrative is enthralling. I loved how she manages to blend in a sharp, dry sense of humor in a story that would otherwise feel like a very detailed description of the doomed fate of our World.
I really could not put this book down...
June 13, 2020
Such a shame! Book one starts out great, but book two shifts the vantage point and starts talking about adult characters, whose names you know, with "Millie's mom" this and "Millie's dad" that. It gets tedious. I was dialed in for book one, but the shift turned me off.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2021
I love dystopia books that make you think in the line of "what if?" and "what would I do in this situation?" The ending disappointed me, but otherwise, it was a fantastic read. It kept my attention and had me reading late into the night.
July 30, 2022
Felt like it took ages to read this. The premise is interesting and all too possible but I found it only got really good towards the end and the characters could have been more fleshed out.
August 23, 2022
Scary look at a post roe v wade society
July 28, 2024
Please read and listen to this book before you vote in this year election Americans, this might be a future with Donald Trump. Thank you Narrators and author.
December 22, 2023
This book was gifted to me by the author but the review is my own.
3.5 rounded up
Reviews like these are extremely hard for me. As someone who is childfree but not an antinatalist, I understand how this book can vindicate the fears of many, while also making others quite uncomfortable. But art and literature aren't made to make us comfortable. The only reason for the lower review is that I am trying to incorporate the entertainment and engagement factors. If it was just subject matter, an easy 4.5 -5 stars.
Based in a dystopian world where abortion and birth control are illegal (unfortunately, we aren't far off from that now and this has been common in many countries around the world for centuries), the author bluntly and clearly holds up the sign 'if you care so much about abortion, why don't you care after the baby is born?'. An argument that has been presented time and time again in recent years. Adding to the dystopian world, the author adds the concept of miscarriages being illegal, which again, isn't that far from the truth as even now women have been criminally prosecuted for miscarriages.
I do wish there was a bit more backstory to all of this, I felt like the author wasn't really able to 'set the stage' in a way that really drew you in. In a way, the author shouldn't need to set the stage because well.. the stage is the world around us, but unfortunately, we need books to be both captivating and entertaining. This is an important subject, one that is painfully not that far from our current reality, and that's why I think some people may really struggle with it.
Also, I find relationship dynamics are hard for many writers to make believable, but in a dystopian world with such heavy subject matter, that makes it even harder. I found most of the relationships hard to grasp, they didn't connect or make sense in a way that made you empathetic with their stories.
This book has so much potential and I do recommend you give it a read! But I think a few rounds of editing would do it a lot of good.
3.5 rounded up
Reviews like these are extremely hard for me. As someone who is childfree but not an antinatalist, I understand how this book can vindicate the fears of many, while also making others quite uncomfortable. But art and literature aren't made to make us comfortable. The only reason for the lower review is that I am trying to incorporate the entertainment and engagement factors. If it was just subject matter, an easy 4.5 -5 stars.
Based in a dystopian world where abortion and birth control are illegal (unfortunately, we aren't far off from that now and this has been common in many countries around the world for centuries), the author bluntly and clearly holds up the sign 'if you care so much about abortion, why don't you care after the baby is born?'. An argument that has been presented time and time again in recent years. Adding to the dystopian world, the author adds the concept of miscarriages being illegal, which again, isn't that far from the truth as even now women have been criminally prosecuted for miscarriages.
I do wish there was a bit more backstory to all of this, I felt like the author wasn't really able to 'set the stage' in a way that really drew you in. In a way, the author shouldn't need to set the stage because well.. the stage is the world around us, but unfortunately, we need books to be both captivating and entertaining. This is an important subject, one that is painfully not that far from our current reality, and that's why I think some people may really struggle with it.
Also, I find relationship dynamics are hard for many writers to make believable, but in a dystopian world with such heavy subject matter, that makes it even harder. I found most of the relationships hard to grasp, they didn't connect or make sense in a way that made you empathetic with their stories.
This book has so much potential and I do recommend you give it a read! But I think a few rounds of editing would do it a lot of good.
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