Gated by Amy Christine Parker

I had never heard of Gated by Amy Christine Parker, but a friend was saying it was getting all kinds of reviews so I figured I would give it a shot. I went into this book blind not really knowing what it was about and hoping that it lived up to its intriguing cover. I couldn't believe how engrossed I found myself with this story. I had to find out what happened next and how it was all going to play out.
Lyla Hamilton believes that she is one of the chosen. A group of people chosen to live in the Community under there leader Pioneer. Lyla has lived under the protection of Pioneer with her family since after the 9/11 attacks when Pioneer asked her family to join him in the Community and escape the evil in the world. Over the years under Pioneers strict ruling Lyla has learned 3 important facts that are never to be questioned, Pioneer is her leader, Will is her intented and the end of the world is near. Pioneer has visions of the end of the world so they build and underground shelter known as the silo. Pioneer teaches people in the community that they will need to protect the chosen even if they have to kill the unchosen. Lyla has never questioned the believes of her community until an encounter with an unchosen boy has her questioning everything she always thought was truth.
I honestly never understood how people could be so easily taken into a cult until I read Gated and seen how Pioneer prayed on people when there lives were in turmoil. This story takes you right in the heart of cults and there believes and how easily people can be brainwashed. Overall Lyla was a strong main character who wanted to be better for the Community but she never seemed to measure up to Pioneers standards. I found this story to be a little slow in the beginning, but once it really got going I couldn't stop reading until the heart stopping conclusion. I am glad I went into reading this without really knowing what it was about because I probably wouldn't normally read something like this and I am so glad I did.