Comment

Apr 08, 2021Wako rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
A Children’s Bible follows teenaged protagonists as they face the dangers of a near-apocalyptic climate disaster, their hedonistic and apathetic parents, and the ramifications of both. The work is rich with subtext, with biblical parallels running throughout, yet the story carries enough weight on its own that even if you are biblically illiterate (or just missed the parallels) the message still comes through loud and clear. This is a heavy book; children face real hardship while navigating that liminal space between adolescence and adulthood. Yet ultimately, like many post-apocalyptic stories, it tries to end on a message of hope. However, while the peril and destruction in this story pales compared to that of many other apocalyptic stories, in the end, I found the subtle and ultimately fatalistic weight of Millet’s narrative to negate this message of hope. This is a short, but heavy read, that should be rewarding in rereads (especially once you are keenly aware of the subtextual allusions). Overall, I am not sure how I feel about this one, but it is a story that will haunt me, and one I may return to again.