Is there a teenage girl anywhere in this world who would not be tantalized by a novel in which a passageway through a wardrobe opens into a hidden room filled with stacks of forbidden novels? Under the rule of Communist president Nicolae Ceaușescu, Adriana’s future — becoming an engineer — is locked in place. But didn’t Leonard Cohen tell us there’s a crack in everything — that that’s how the light gets in? Just wait until Adriana sees the crack in the concrete block, begins to tug and pulls out a metal box. Spellbinding and inspiring.

~ Dannye Romine Powell, Charlotte Observer Books Editor

Taryn Hutchison has vividly brought to life one of our modern world’s most challenging decades, set in a country so few of us learn about or experience. Through the eyes of teenagers Adriana, Gabi and their friends, readers are plunged into Cold War-era Romania in this compelling narrative that grabs you from its first pages. Government spies, family bonds, hidden rooms, fierce friendships, the search for faith, childhood rebellion … it’s a book that will draw in and enlighten YA readers while reviving nostalgia and longing among older generations. Hutchison deftly weaves hope among darkness, reminding us that all we have to do is return to the stories where our heroes exist, so that we can become the heroes of our own lives.

~Catherine Campbell, author, editor & essayist (Writer’s Digest, NYT)

Rich with Romanian culture and vibrant imagination, One Degree of Freedom explores the liberation found in books and how fiction often reflects its readers. Hutchison crafts an immersive read perfect for fans of historical and classic literature, seamlessly blending nostalgia with relevant truths, not to mention an abundance of secret tunnels, wardrobes, and dusty reading nooks. This novel is sure to captivate booklovers of all ages.

~Caroline George, author of award-winning Dearest Josephine

From the beginning, I felt like I was immersed in a classical tale. The voice is reminiscent of C.S. Lewis, with Hutchison’s own flair. I immediately fell in love with the detailing, and I’m certain readers are going to feel completely that they’ve traveled back in time to 1980s Romania, a time which I’m certain we all wish we knew more about. Luckily for us Hutchison fills us in, and we cannot help but fall in love with Adriana and her curiosity and imagination. She reminds me of a 1980s Lucy Pevensie. I can’t wait to see what else this author writes, and she’s definitely one to watch.

~Hope Bolinger, author of the Blaze trilogy and the Dear Hero duology

Enchanting and captivating, One Degree of Freedom is a novel I could not put down. Taryn R. Hutchison transports readers into 1980s Romania with visceral clarity and hope-filled resonance. Fans of classic authors like Louisa May Alcott and current YA historical greats, like Stephanie Morrill, will fall in love with Hutchison’s honest and sincere voice.

~Tara K. Ross, author of Fade to White, and cohost of The Hope Prose Podcast

As an avid reader of historical fiction and particularly little-known tales of female heroines, I was delighted to meet Adriana in One Degree of Freedom by Taryn Hutchison. The strong characters, references to classic children’s literature, detailed historical research, and smooth writing made me feel a part of Adriana’s world. This book will appeal to readers of all ages and has excellent potential for use in the classroom.

~Peggy Wirgau, author of The Stars in April, historical fiction

Taryn Hutchison has crafted a compelling story about a young girl coming of age in the tightly controlled government state of Romania when it was under Communist rule. She immediately drew me in with her strong characters and authentic details. Hutchison allowed me a glimpse of a world I had heard of but had never experienced. Because of her vivid storytelling, I got to feel what it was like to live under such a repressive state. Yet, her story is full of hope, courage, and even joy. It’s the kind of story I’d like to read again, just to be reminded of how circumstances don’t have to determine our trajectory. And I can’t wait for my teenage granddaughter to read it!

~JoHannah Reardon, author of The Blackberry County Chronicles

Set in 1980s communist Romania, One Degree of Freedom is a tale of bravery perfect for those who grew up with a love for literature. By the time I finished reading the first chapter, I completely fell in love with it (there were several audible gasps of excitement). The voice! The references! The suspense!

~Alea Harper, YA author and graphic designer

In One Degree of Freedom, Taryn Hutchison displays her gift of capturing the atmosphere of the time and place. Taryn understands what the day-to-day life was like for the ordinary person living under Communism. I can easily identify with Adriana because I was a Romanian teenager in the 1980s. From the very start of One Degree of Freedom, the names Taryn chooses for her characters, the sensory details, the accuracy of events mentioned from our history, take me all the way back to that era, where each of us had to find our own degree of freedom. Her story evokes many memories I have from a time where access to information was “classified” and there was no way to really know what was going on in our country. I can’t wait for my three children to read this book.

~Dana Alupei Dove, Global Ministry Rep, Central & Eastern Europe

Poetic, empathetic, emotionally riveting! One Degree of Freedom demands to be read as a true depiction of communism at its height, written by a brilliant author who witnessed the final demise of such a sad era. The story of 15-year-old Adriana will capture young readers and teach an important history lesson. Older readers will remember the cold war and the terror they felt as the Eastern Block finally fell. Taryn Hutchison is an author whose appeal requires attention. 

 ~Madelyn Bennett Edwards, author of The Catfish Trilogy