Le Refuge, by Marie-France Zerolo

When Chloé and Marie wake up in the hospital, there are police officers waiting to interrogate them about a dead man. As they retrace their steps, they recall the nature hike they had embarked upon two days earlier, the religious community led by Chloé’s estranged father, and the intimate confessions each girl shared after they got lost in the woods. Indeed, Marie is struggling to choose between a deeper spiritual commitment and a career as a concert pianist while Chloé is grappling with her father’s hypocrisy and abandonment.

As the two confront their experiences and faith, they reveal the vulnerability of teenagers in the face of powerful leaders and the satisfaction that comes from self-awareness and making one’s own choices.

Novel, 15 x 22 cm, 176 pages