The Chrysalids

by John Wyndham

First published 2008

In a brutal agrarian world where genetic deviation means death, David grows up terrified of his own forbidden telepathic abilities. His isolated community brutally eliminates any living creature that does not match a strict definition of "normal" - plants, animals, and humans alike. When David and other secret telepaths are discovered, they face brutal extermination by their own families and community. Their only hope is escape across treacherous wilderness to a rumored sanctuary where mutation is not a death sentence. As the hunt intensifies, David must choose between submission and survival, knowing that discovery means certain execution.

Genres: science-fiction, dystopia, 20th-century, thriller

Vibes: dark, emotional, thought-provoking

Tropes: found-family, persecution

Setting: Midwich

Period: 20th-century

200 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books Ltd

Content warnings: violence

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