Leaving Fishers

By Margaret Peterson Haddix

Book Overview

Now with a new trim size and a new line look, "a chilling portrait of an insecure teenager gradually relinquishing her autonomy to a religious cult" (Kirkus Reviews) from New York Times bestselling author Margaret Peterson Haddix.

Dorry is unbearably lonely at her new high school until she meets Angela and her circle of friends. She soon discovers they all belong to a religious group, the Fishers of Men. At first, as Dorry becomes involved with the Fishers, she is eager to fit in and flattered by her new friends' attention. But the Fishers make harsh demands of their members, and Dorry must make greater and greater sacrifices. In demonstrating her devotion, Dorry finds herself compromising her grades, her job, and even her family's love. How much is too much? And where will the cult's demands end?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1442443146
• ISBN13: 9781442443143
• Release Date: April 2012
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.56 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 8.2"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

Not as described

I selected the Hardcover option, and the item that arrived was a paperback with different cover art. The quality was as described, but the content type was not.

Leaving Fishers

Leaving Fishers by Margaret Peterson Haddix is about an eleventh grade girl named Dorry that feels unbelievably lonely at her new school after moving from a small town like Bryden, Ohio to a large city in Indianapolis. That is, until one day, a girl named Angela invites her to sit with her and her friends. Dorry soon discovers that Angela and her friends are part of a religious group called the Fishers of Men. Overjoyed by her new friends and their compliments toward her, Dorry tries to spend as much time with them as possible. She attends religious services, and parties and in doing so, decides to join their group. Little does she know of their high expectations and their strict beliefs. Dorry finds herself caught up in a twist as she tries to keep herself balanced between Fishers and the life she had before. Will Dorry ever be able to keep up with the Fisher's demand? I highly recommend this realistic fiction book to mature kids who can relate to Dorry's feelings and can handle strong religious content. After all, it was extremely enjoyable and it would be a bummer for someone to put it down because they weren't ready.

Snared in a Net of Deceit

When 11th-grader Dorry Stevens is forced to move from her small hometown of Bryden, Ohio for Indianapolis due to financial reversals, she laments having no friends and nobody to eat lunch with. She also laments the higher standards at Crestwood High where she has to work harder to maintain the high grade point average she took for granted at Bryden. Within days of starting school, Dorry is approached by rich, popular Angela. Angela takes Dorry under her wing and introduces her to a whole new group of people. In time, Angela tells Dorry that the group is the Fishers of Men (or "Fishers") because they cast their nets far and wide to catch truth and weed out unbelievers. Dazzled with being part of a group, Dorry spends as much time with them as possible. She receives social invitations such as to a Fishers' service in a local auditorium and to parties. Initially friendly, the group's control over Dorry is insidious and frightening. Angela calls her daily and insists that Dorry pray a certain way; she tells Dorry that the only the Fishers pray correctly and to pledge utter devotion to the group. Dorry attends a fall retreat with the Fishers and sees people claiming to have holy visions and contact. Angela becomes more sinister and controlling. She cuts Dorry off from contact with others; she or other Fishers call Dorry daily and they hound Dorry to "witness," that is prosletyze and convert new members. In time, Dorry starts to question the Fishers and their motives. Angela declares herself Dorry's "discipler," meaning one whom Dorry will report to for all decision making. Dorry even goes so far as to wipe out her life savings and give it to the Fishers at Angela's request. Dorry also fasts on Thanksgiving, much to her dismay and her family's displeasure. Angela tells her that to do so is to strengthen her in the face of temptation. In time, Angela's lies are exposed. Dorry realizes just how far her unquestioning devotion has taken her and how much it has cost her. When Dorry tries to "witness" the children she babysits for and ends up terrifying them, she realizes that it is past time to reassess what the Fishers are all about. A masterful, powerful novel with believable characters and an excellent portrayal of just how insidious cults are and how people can easily be lured into them. Gloria D. Miklowitz' book, "The Love Bombers" is another excellent book about the dynamics and workings of cults.

Leaving Fishers Book Review

"You are damned Dorry Stevens! You are one of the lost! " Angela called after her............. Dorry Stevens was just a regular teenage high school student attending Crestwood High in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Noone liked her, noone ever talked to her, and noone even cared that she was there. Dorry was awfully lonely. All she wanted to do was go back to Bryden, Ohio, USA. Thats where all of her friends were. But her mom and dad wouldn't let her. One day, while eating lunch at school, a beautiful blonde haired girl comes up to Dorry and asked her to eat lunch with her and her group of her friends. Dorry almost choked, and she was soooo happy. So day by day Dorry ate lunch with the group. Soon Angela, the blonde haired girl, persuades Dorry to join a religious group she's in called Fishers of Men. She says it's a wonderful experience and the answer to everything. So Dorry figured "Why not? My parents don't care, they don't attend church! I don't think they even believe in God!" So 1 Saturday night, Dorry goes to a Fishers party and absolutely loves it. Then Angela asks Dorry to go with her to the church on Sunday. So she does. Time goes by and Angela tells Dorry more and more about Fishers. The only thing she doesn't tell her is that it's an evil, brain-washing cult. Soon Dorry finds herself spending less time with her family and doing wierd things. Will Dorry realize Fishers is a cult? Will she stay or quit? I wont tell you, go get the book and find out. Margaret Haddix is a great author and even though she based this particular book at a high school level, she uses words that you easily understand. Even at a junior high level. I really enjoyed this book. I will tell you that for me, the beginning was kinda boring, but by the 4th or 5th chapter you really start to enjoy it. So go get this book and read it and DO NOT just skip to the end, you won't understand a thing unless you read it from beginning to end.

An enthralling story of Religion and being wanted.

This book is heart touching as well as humorous. Dorry a new girl from a small town enters the real world of lies distrust. Dorry willing to do just about anything for poeple to like her, joins a religios group called the Fishers of Men. She's happy in the new big life she has, full of Parties and Friends. But the cult starts demanding and asking to much of her and her time. The Fishers of Men start pulling her away from her family, old friends, and job. Dorry has to make a desicion whether to continue the life with the Fishers or to go back to her old ways. This book relates to the real world all of us are facing now. Full of challenges and sacrifices. If you'd take my advice I'd advice you to read this book.

A Provocative and Terrifying look into Cults

Leaving Fishers is one of the creepiest, most fascinating books I have read in a long, long time. In this book, Dorry Stephens is a sweet, shy and lonely girl who is new in school and friendless. A group of attractive and well-dressed girls and boys come to her and accept her in their group. Soon she is swept into the Christian sect to which they all belong--the Fishers of Men--and finds herself enjoying the unconditional love and security she find with her new group of friends. However, once she gets more deeply into the group, she finds that she is compromising every aspect of her well being to live up to the expectations of the cult. By the time she realizes this, she has no idea what to do--and she fears the wrath of the group if she disobeys in any way. After I read this, I took a whole new look into religion--both the good and bad aspects of it. I highly recommend this book for the over-12 crowd (lots of complex and mature subject matter). It will cause you to think long and hard about the things a lonely person will do for friends and how once you've been brainwashed into doing something, it is nearly impossible to stop.