Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don’t like her. She jokes that she won’t bite, but they don’t laugh.
Rating: 4/5
Brutal – that’s really the only word I can use to describe this book. BRUTAL.
In the beginning you get a sense of unease, but the tension is ratcheted up throughout the novel – and that ending? It just flips everything upside down and leaves you gawping like a fish. The pacing is excellent, the writing is great, and the scientific details were enough to provide a solid explanation without becoming overly complex.
I think one of the strengths of this book is that the author manages to make you feel for characters you wouldn’t necessarily want to sympathise with – mostly the afflicted kids, but also the battle-hardened Sergeant and the cold, calculating Caldwell, a scientist. Miss Justineau’s character, on the other hand, represents the struggles of humanity that she debates and deals with everyday, both in her role as a teacher and in the aftermath. Melanie, one of our main narrators, and a child, also represents part of this struggle.
It’s a book where you don’t want to go in with too much information – part of the joy, if I can use that word, is finding out for yourself exactly what is going on.
In short, while the world and landscape may be bleak and uncertain, there are moments of compassion, affection and hope from our central band of characters. A fantastic, pulse-pounding read.
I loved this book, for all the reasons you mentioned. I was surprised by how much sympathy I ended up having for the characters that I DIDN’T like in the beginning of the book. The author just makes everyone so human.
LikeLike
Yes! I really was feeling for the Sergeant at the end, which I was not expecting at all. Making everyone seem human is really a feat in this book where the question of who qualifies as human is certainly up for debate!
LikeLike
This book as absolutely amazing!! Probably the best zombie book that I have ever read, that made mr think and made me feel not just sad for thr characters but for the situation as a whole. So amazing how character-centric it was and yet the atmoaphere was top-notch!!! So glad to see that you loved it, Hannah.
Faye at The Social Potato
LikeLike
I’m definitely not a zombie-book person, but this was so, so well done. I was a bit hesitant to start it, but the great reviews convinced me to give it a go. It was definitely a great blend of character-centric and atmospheric – great way of putting it!
LikeLike
Wow, this is quite notable praise from you. I’ll have to try it out :) Happy Fourth of July!
LikeLike
Ha I was very impressed, it totally deserved it! Hope you’ve had a lovely day.
LikeLike