Seed

In Heathfield's debut novel, 15-year-old Pearl leads a contented life in Seed, a bucolic, nature-worshipping commune. Though Pearl's na%C3%AFve first-person narrative shows her complete trust in the cult leader, there are signs that something is wrong%E2%80%94as the book opens, Pearl is terrified when she is forced to spend the night in a dark underground chamber after getting her first period. When a family of new converts arrives, including Ellis, a skeptical teenage boy, Pearl initially resists Ellis's contention that life at Seed "is based on lies. And power. And fear.%E2%80%9D But as events escalate%E2%80%94Ellis suffers a mysterious accident, and one of Pearl's loved ones goes through a dangerous pregnancy without modern medicine%E2%80%94Pearl and the other teenagers at Seed start to question their leader. Though Pearl is more spectator than actor at the horrific climax, her internal journey and growth show her to be far from passive. Well-developed secondary characters and Heathfield's willingness to do serious damage to central ones make this novel a powerful read. Ages 13%E2%80%93up. Agent: Veronique Baxter, David Higham Associates. (Mar.)