Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “New Zapata” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

New Zapata

Teri Hall (Goodreads Author)

3.76 · Rating details · 37 ratings · 9 reviews

It’s 2052, and there’s one less state in the union. Texas, now known as the Republic of Texas, has seceded, just like it did in 1861, though for different reasons this time.

Rebecca lives in New Zapata, a border town in The Republic of Texas. She’s nineteen years old, born and raised in the R of T, and doesn’t remember a time when things were different, though her Aunt Ca ...more

Get A Copy

Kindle Edition, 262 pages

Published February 25th 2013

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about New Zapata, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about New Zapata

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 3.76 ·

Rating details

· 37 ratings · 9 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of New Zapata

Mar 31, 2014 Joy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book has been on my radar for a while, and I bought it last week with some Amazon credit and set to reading. The story covers some serious material, including the political and emotional tolls and reasons around abortion and when life begins (though oddly not so much on the religious side), and does have violence including rape. Even with those topics, however, this is a serious book that addresses serious issues in our world today by setting up a dystopian future where reproductive choice This book has been on my radar for a while, and I bought it last week with some Amazon credit and set to reading. The story covers some serious material, including the political and emotional tolls and reasons around abortion and when life begins (though oddly not so much on the religious side), and does have violence including rape. Even with those topics, however, this is a serious book that addresses serious issues in our world today by setting up a dystopian future where reproductive choice is gone - and it's a book that EVERY woman needs to read, especially those who think that limiting control over their bodies is acceptable.

Set in 2052, the town of New Zapata is in the Republic of Texas, which seceded from the USA around 2020, exiled nearly everyone of Mexican descent/origin for being illegal, sealed the borders completely, and instituted policies around the sanctity of life. Women are not encouraged to go through school past the 10th grade, they are fired from their jobs when they are 3 months pregnant (and not allowed to work after having children, though no mention is made of whether an older woman whose children are grown can work), and must take monthly blood tests from the onset of menarche through menopause so that all pregnancies are found and registered. Men legally cannot rape their wives, and it's incredibly difficult to decree that a woman was "legitimately raped" even when she was beaten half to death in the process - and this decision is made by a council of old white men. Abortion is unheard of, even with the "exemption hearing" available to a woman who requests one, but only if her husband agrees. The one bright spot, and even it is rather tarnished, is that all men have their DNA profile registered and if they get a woman pregnant they are required to marry her and support the child. Divorce is unheard of.

This is the situation where Becca finds herself, at age 19 with a 1yo son that nearly killed her to bring into this world. Her husband Chad has no interest in getting a vasectomy to protect her life from another pregnancy, instead mouthing off convenient religious-like platitudes to support his "husband's rights" and "what God means for us" when he wants to get his way. Becca finds herself pregnant against her wishes, and the story is the journey of what happens to her afterwards.

I found the setting to be stark and scarily possible, right down to the small-town gossip mentality and culture of shame around a woman who wants to get rid of a pregnancy. The discussions of when life begins were a little lacking, but brought forth good points despite some of the not-quite-formed bits. The responsibility of Becca to decide what she believed and to decide what she wanted to do on her own terms was heavily emphasized, even when she didn't know enough to make that decision she was given information and left to make it anyway. This is important, not only acknowledging that women have the agency to make this decision themselves but ensuring that they get the information to do so as well. The story has a few twists that are unsurprising yet shocking at the same time, and the snarling bitches of that small town made me cringe as they were so accurately portrayed.

This is an important book. Anyone who reads this and says "yeah but it wouldn't happen" hasn't paid attention to the political climate in the US recently. This book, along with Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale and many others, point out that this kind of thing is all to easy to realize, and if we don't take steps to prevent it, we and our daughters will be stuck in these types of hells faster than we think. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 16, 2013 Al rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, read-2013

Dystopian fiction, besides taking place in a society that is the opposite of a utopia, typically explores some of the reasons that things are so bad. An example familiar to many is Orwell’s Nineteen Eight-Four. Usually these reasons are related to current real world issues and extrapolate what the results of continuing in a particular direction might be. New Zapata does exactly that, taking aim at recent attempts in the US to decrease the rights women have over their own reproductive systems.

Whe ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Mar 08, 2013 René Houin rated it liked it · review of another edition

A gripping tale of what a woman's world could be like in a state where reproductive rights are policed. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 12, 2013 mad mags rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2013, reviewed

A Timely Dystopia

Trigger warning for rape.

Nineteen-year-old Rebecca Johnson – Becca for short – is a young woman who suddenly and unhappily finds herself pregnant – again. Though she loves her young son Luke, his birth almost killed her. Did kill her, in fact: her heart stopped beating for several minutes before doctors were able to revive her. Despite the doctors’ grave warnings that a second pregnancy would most likely kill her, Becca’s husband Chad continues to insist upon sex as his husbandl ...more

flag Like · see review

Jun 07, 2013 Jodie rated it liked it · review of another edition

New Zapata is a dystopian novel in which Texas has seceded from the union. After secession, they adopt a strict pro-life agenda. Birth control and abortions are outlawed. Women are forced to give birth and raise babies conceived by rape. The borders are closed. The main character almost died in child-birth and was warned not to have any more children. When her husband rapes her, and she finds herself pregnant, she must decide what to do in hopes of saving herself and protecting her young son.

Whi New Zapata is a dystopian novel in which Texas has seceded from the union. After secession, they adopt a strict pro-life agenda. Birth control and abortions are outlawed. Women are forced to give birth and raise babies conceived by rape. The borders are closed. The main character almost died in child-birth and was warned not to have any more children. When her husband rapes her, and she finds herself pregnant, she must decide what to do in hopes of saving herself and protecting her young son.

While nothing like the books I typically love, I enjoyed this one. The characters were likeable and the story was emotional. Written in first person POV you follow the emotions and decisions of the main character. Supporting characters are loving and they allow you to see and understand how some people will sacrifice their own safety for the safety and welfare of those they love. While you are saddened by those who are left behind to suffer, their actions provide a hope.

The writing was fluid and I didn't feel as though the author was shoving beliefs down my throat. Don't get me wrong I believe the author has strong beliefs but I feel that she has treated the subject appropriately. While I know some people believed that she was preaching from her own pulpit, I didn't feel this way. The story unfolds through the main character's development. While supporting characters offered information and even their views, no one forced the main character into her decision nor did they preach their view as law. That being said, the topic is a controversial one and there are bound to be people who are offended at the mere thought of an opposing view. I was hesitant to read this book because of the topic, but I am glad that I read it.

The dystopian world was developed as much as it needed to be. While this book was drastically different than the other two that I have read by Teri Hall, I did enjoy it even if I enjoyed it less than the other two. This book is more appropriate for an older audience where the other two could be read and enjoyed by an audience of a wider age range.

I'd give it a 3.5 but since I can't it's being recorded as a 3. After I digest it, I may upgrade it to a 4. ...more

flag Like · see review

Jul 17, 2013 Peacegal rated it liked it · review of another edition

3.5 stars -- New Zapata is set in a Texas that has seceded from the US, closed its borders, and imposed theological rule upon its people. This Republic of Texas imagines a legislature in which conservative Christians' wishes have all come true, the feature of which is both abortion and birth control have been banned from public access.

Rebecca is a young woman who already has one child, and the doctors said a second could kill her. Yet her husband won't take no for an answer, and rapes Rebecca. ...more

flag Like · see review

Nov 09, 2016 Mrs. Schonour rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopia-apocalyptic-young-adult, realistic-fiction

This book is terrifying, especially finishing it today. This novel shows what America could be like and it's very scary. The writing wasn't excellent, but I liked the plot. It was kind of predictable, but had some good surprises. I loved the message. My favorite quote is, "things don't change if you're afraid...things don't change if you let your fear rule you, if you let it stop you from doing what's right." ...more

flag Like · see review

Feb 11, 2014 Julie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian-apocalyptic

A slow start but a powerful finish. The story plays out in all too believable future. I hope to pass this one on to a few of my young friends.

flag Like · see review

Feb 27, 2013 Jennifer Calhoun rated it did not like it · review of another edition

This book was nothing but one long pro abortion propaganda pamphlet. Characters weren't even developed any more than to find out just how pro choice they were. Very disappointed. ...more

flag Like · see review

Marléne rated it liked it
Mar 03, 2013

Schuyler Esperanza rated it really liked it
May 16, 2013

Lehana rated it really liked it
Jul 29, 2013

Kelly Berry rated it it was amazing
Mar 05, 2013

Lily rated it did not like it
Feb 15, 2017

Susan rated it it was amazing
Sep 05, 2014

Nicole Davis rated it really liked it
Aug 15, 2013

Candace rated it it was amazing
May 01, 2020

Marlene rated it liked it
Mar 09, 2014

Elaine Miller rated it really liked it
Jun 27, 2013

Barbara Jacobs rated it really liked it
Jan 07, 2014

Alex Kirchner rated it it was amazing
May 14, 2014

Bittern rated it really liked it
Mar 04, 2018

Saraah Jackson rated it it was amazing
Sep 22, 2015

Tiffani Mauldin rated it did not like it
Oct 24, 2013

Kelly J rated it really liked it
Mar 09, 2013

Allyce rated it it was amazing
Jun 21, 2014

Courtney Stoker rated it really liked it
Sep 02, 2014

Kate Garrett rated it really liked it
Sep 27, 2013

Julie Montgomery rated it it was amazing
Feb 15, 2014

Sara rated it liked it
Mar 16, 2013

« previous 1 2 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend It | Stats | Recent Status Updates

Genres

Science Fiction > Dystopia

2 users

See top shelves…

About Teri Hall

Teri Hall

282 followers

Read the first chapter of The Line on my website! www.terihall.com The sequel, Away, is out now! The Island, the third book in the trilogy, is also out! ...more