Welcome to Vox Populi, where Columba College ākonga cast a critical eye over pop culture happenings. This week, Jessie Roff (Year 8) takes us through Fleur Beale’s Esther series.

The I am not Esther series is written by award-winning New Zealand author Fleur Beale. It is a series about the Pilgrim family and their closed religious community, The Children of the Faith. The first book, 'I am not Esther', introduces us to the inside of The Children of the Faith and the people in this (fictional) cult. The Horn Book describes 'I am not Esther' as “a gripping psychological survival story that will quickly get and firmly keep readers invested”.

'I am Rebecca' is the thrilling sequel that takes place several years later and dives deeper into the religion’s rules, including women being forced to marry by the time they are sixteen years old. 'Being Magdalene' is a compelling follow-up that takes place four years after the second book to update us on everyone's lives and conclude the series.

I really enjoyed reading these books as they are about strong young women to whom we can relate. I like the way that Fleur Beale deals with family relationships and the development of the characters makes you feel like you are going through the experiences with them. I also loved the fast-paced story lines and even though, at times, they can be a tense read, I never wanted to put the books down. These books explore mental abuse, religion, survival and the importance of staying true to who you are.

If you are looking for an enjoyable, easy read I highly recommend this series of books.