Quiver

Do you ever read a book that references so many of your niche interests that it's weird it exists?Quiver is that, for me.Quiver is narrated by two teenage neighbors, who, at first glance, couldn't be more different. – Zo Forrester is genderfluid. The Forresters are vegetarians. They aren't religious. Zo's dad is a nurse. – Liberty “Libby” is the eldest child in a Quiverfull family (like the Duggars of 19 Kids and Counting). Her mom is going through an especially rough pregnancy. The treatment for her symptoms is prayer, because Libby's dad distrusts conventional medicine. Bible study and homemaking are central to Libby's homeschooling. When Zo's family moves in next door, Libby is exposed to ideas her father has purposefully distanced their family from, deeming them worldly and sinful.I expected to love this, and then I did! I have a morbid fascination with evangelical offshoots like the Christian patriarchy movement. I love a good cult (book). That said, I like that Quiver's critiques of religion are more nuanced than “Christianity = bad for women.” Instead, Watts speaks specifically about how men use the Quiverfull ideology to rule over their families through fear and control. The contrasting cultures of origin between Zo and Libby—and their emerging friendship despite this—allow for layered exploration of gender and sexuality. Quiver is a testament (no pun intended) to how meeting people who accept themselves can help you learn to accept parts of yourself you've previously been afraid to even acknowledge. Before I urge everyone to read this, I should note that I came in with some background knowledge of Quiverfull Christianity. Readers without that will likely find some of this shocking. If, for whatever reason, you're not in the right headspace to read about religion being invoked to justify abuse, skip this one. Even so, I'd recommend Quiver to fans of [b:Educated 35133922 Educated Tara Westover https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1506026635l/35133922.SY75.jpg 53814228], or [b:The Book of Essie 34503571 The Book of Essie Meghan MacLean Weir https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515874042l/34503571.SX50.jpg 55628862], or [b:Let's Call It a Doomsday 40942619 Let's Call It a Doomsday Katie Henry https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1539263216l/40942619.SY75.jpg 63844915], or [b:Autoboyography 28919058 Autoboyography Christina Lauren https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490425916l/28919058.SY75.jpg 49135502], or [b:The Poet X 33294200 The Poet X Elizabeth Acevedo https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498766234l/33294200.SY75.jpg 54024746], or [b:The Benefits of Being an Octopus 35890044 The Benefits of Being an Octopus Ann Braden https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522849548l/35890044.SX50.jpg 57406781], or...you get it.