The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian novel by Margaret Atwood, where the United States has been replaced by the Republic of Gilead, and women called Handmaids are used to help the elite bear children, as the Republic suffers from low reproduction rates. The book is very interesting and is told from the protagonist, Offred’s (the Handmaid of the Commander of the Republic) perspective. A good portion of the story is told through flashbacks, and the ending is rather cryptic, but the overall novel explores themes such as women and their rights, freedom, and power in an interesting manner. This novel helps people educate themselves on these themes and relate them to issues today (women’s rights), which I thought was very fascinating, as well as important.
Review Written By Elizabeth, 12th Grade