Common Sense Media Review
By Sage Moreaux
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Haunting dystopian tale explores what it means to be human.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Growing up in an underground cage with 39 other women, all strangers, the girl doesn't remember her life before imprisonment. With no understanding of why they are locked up, the women pass the time in a daze. As days and years pass, the girl grows from a child into a young woman. Her mind awakens, and she finds a new desire to give meaning to her life. Then, the unexpected happens, and it's up to the girl to help the other women survive in a world without men.
Is It Any Good?
Short but intense, this story is both haunting and unforgettable. While not a happy tale, I Who Have Never Known Men is hard to put down. Though the protagonist makes the ending clear from the beginning of the book, the story never drags, even when little is happening.
Exploring the concepts of freedom, humanity, community, and what it means to be a woman, this story gives the reader much to consider. What gives purpose to a life with no chance of marriage or children? What does it mean to be a woman and a human, when all your freedoms have been taken from you? The plot is ultimately dissatisfying, but perhaps that's the point. Slow and introspective, with very little action, the style of this novel is quite different from modern young adult dystopian fiction, but no less enjoyable.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the author's choice to keep the main character nameless in I Who Have Never Known Men. Why do you think she made this decision? What does this add to the story?
Why do you think the author didn't reveal why the women were caged? How would the meaning of the story change if this were revealed?
The main character perseveres even when it seems all hope is lost. What do you think keeps her going in the darkest of times?
The author, Jacqueline Harpman, was a young girl who fled her homeland to escape the Nazi invasion during World War II. How do you think her childhood exile might have influenced this novel?
The story is told in first person, with no chapter or section breaks. Why do you think the author made these stylistic choices?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Literary Fiction
- Topics : Adventures
- Character Strengths : Curiosity , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Vintage
- Publication date : January 1, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 18 - 18
- Number of pages : 188
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate