Parable of the Sower

When global climate change and economic crises lead to social chaos in the early 2020s, California becomes full of dangers, from pervasive water shortage to masses of vagabonds who will do anything to live to see another day. Fifteen-year-old Lauren Olamina lives inside a gated community with her preacher father, family, and neighbors, sheltered from the surrounding anarchy. In a society where any vulnerability is a risk, she suffers from hyperempathy, a debilitating sensitivity to others' emotions.

Precocious and clear-eyed, Lauren must make her voice heard in order to protect her loved ones from the imminent disasters her small community stubbornly ignores. But what begins as a fight for survival soon leads to something much more: the birth of a new faith, and a startling vision of human destiny.

Reader Fit: Perfect for readers who enjoy speculative fiction that examines social change, resilience, and the human capacity to build community in difficult times.

Why We Carry It: We carry Parable of the Sower because it imagines a future shaped by inequality, climate instability, and social unrest while remaining deeply focused on hope, community, and resilience. It encourages readers to reflect on the choices that shape society and the possibilities for creating something better.