Every family has its unfortunate realities, experiencing the harshness of life in such a way that seems like a perpetual cycle of misery and affliction. It is safe to say that every family has unique circumstances that shape every individual in said family in one way or another.
The past was a notorious reality and is referred to by every individual as being the chisel of who they are today. However, it is worthy to acknowledge how significant the past may be to the present or even the future. As participants in the reality we live in, we can all relate to one thing —there are hidden truths and secrets that have been kept from us at least once. Some may argue that keeping secrets and refraining from information is a positive, absolutely necessary doing as it keeps the soul free of another, possibly superfluous worry. Others argue that every truth must be spoken, as it prevents future conflict from occurring and in fact enlightens every necessary party with information deserving of being heard. This is where the connection between circumstances and secrecy is made.
In her novel Awake, Natasha Preston creates an unusually twisted reality, where a menacing truth is hidden from Scarlett, a teenager with five years worth of memories lost from a traumatic event experienced in childhood. While it is not out of the ordinary for a child not to remember certain parts of their early years, Scarlett begins to have strange dreams after getting into a car crash; dreams consisting of a burning building. With this fact being shunned away by Scarlett’s parents, Scarlett seems to have what you consider the normal life of a teenager.
With the introduction of another plot-twisting character, Noah, Scarlett’s reality begins to slightly alter. The “pretty boy” caliber Noah exudes, along with a quickly developing attraction towards Scarlett, holds a menacing deception unknown to Scarlett. With the chapters of the novel alternating between Scarlett’s and Noah’s perspectives, it is revealed to the reader that Noah is a danger from Scarlett’s past.
What Scarlett does not know is that Noah is part of a cult, by the name of Eternal Life, which is the same cult Scarlett was a part of when she was a little girl; Noah was sent out to find and bring Scarlett back so she can be sacrificed, hoping that sacrificing Scarlett will bring salvation. The truth reveals itself as Noah’s plan and escalates after he wrongly falls in love with Scarlett. Scarlett’s real parents are the leaders of Eternal Life; the people Scarlett believed to be her real parents were runaways who refused to continue pursuing the cult. As the truth reveals itself, Scarlett finds herself surrendering to Noah’s plan and stepping foot into the territory of those who want to kill her.
Even though Natasha Preston established such an oscillating storyline, the novel ends with justice and peace —Scarlett and Noah pursuing a healthy relationship and the cult being reported to the police after Scarlett and Noah manage to escape. Throughout the novel, the reader finds themselves balancing the morals of each party present in the story, as each character chooses between life or eventual death. With Scarlett experiencing such trauma and betrayal, she learns more about herself and discovers what she believes to be the truth about the meaning of life, all while helping Noah discover who he is and what he wants to become.
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