Series: In the After (bk. 1)
Genera: Dystopian Sci-fi
Subjects: post-apocalyptic, survival, monsters,
zombies
Age/Grade Level: Teen
Length: 455 pgs.
HC/PB: Hardcover
List Price: $17.99
Publisher: HarperTeen
Summary/ product description: “They hear the most
silent of footsteps.
They are faster than anything you've ever seen.
And They won't stop chasing you...until you are dead.
Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue “Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs.
After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she’ll lose Baby—and much more.
Rebellious, courageous, and tender, this unforgettable duo will have you on the edge of your seat as you tear through the pulse-pounding narrow escapes and horrifying twists of fate in this thrilling debut from author Demitria Lunetta.”
They are faster than anything you've ever seen.
And They won't stop chasing you...until you are dead.
Amy is watching TV when it happens, when the world is attacked by Them. These vile creatures are rapidly devouring mankind. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to escape—and even rescue “Baby,” a toddler left behind in the chaos. Marooned in Amy’s house, the girls do everything they can to survive—and avoid Them at all costs.
After years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she’ll lose Baby—and much more.
Rebellious, courageous, and tender, this unforgettable duo will have you on the edge of your seat as you tear through the pulse-pounding narrow escapes and horrifying twists of fate in this thrilling debut from author Demitria Lunetta.”
5 Stars
My Review: One of the best post-apocalyptic/dystopian
books I’ve read this year. It really surprised me. I had no idea what was going
to happen. It started out in a silent, post-apocalyptic Chicago. And then moved
to New Hope, an attempt to rebuild civilization located in Kansas. But, being
from Chicagoland myself, I loved that she set at least of 3rd of the
book there. Demitria is a Chicago native, after all. And she mentioned Oz park,
which I heard has Wizard of Oz statues.
At the beginning of the book there was only Amy and
Baby. And they were living in Amy’s house, which has solar panels and an
electric fence. It’s even got electricity and water, due to Amy’s father’s
efforts at a self-sustained home. The electric fence was her mom’s idea. How
convenient. And that’s why Amy’s been able to survive for the last three years.
Also, her and Baby use sign language and don’t make any noise if they can help
it. Because They (the monsters) have super hearing.
Some people have been comparing this book to The 5th
Wave, which I haven’t read. This book isn’t an alien book really. It mentions
that they think the creatures are aliens, but are they? That’s the mystery. I
was very surprised to find out. This book is more of a zombie book. But these
aren’t the walking dead. These creatures have green skin and yellow eyes. They
do eat people and their own dead. They are fast, and of course have supersonic
hearing. Very different from any other zombie or alien book I’ve ever read.
This book manages to combine different things from
dystopias and still be very unique. Of course, like any other dystopian, the
main girl must get a haircut. Because you just can’t have long hair if the
world is ending. I know I won’t want to be bald, though. There’s Twinkies, too.
And other survival stuff. But sign language? No other dystopia has ever used
that before.
Amy, much later on in the book, reminded me of Tris
from Divergent. She’s brave, a good fighter, and has strong character. She’s definitely
dauntless. And she cares for Baby so strongly. I loved their sisterly bond.
While there are parts in which Amy is training to
become a Guardian, there are also parts that happen 4 months later. The story
in Part 2 & Part 3 switches between past (serif-typeface) and present (san-serif
typeface). It’s an interesting way of unfolding a story. It became even most
fast paced and exciting. I kept wondering how she would get to the point. What
happened? And it was done way better than Lauren Oliver’s Pandemonium.
There’s also a love interest, but not much romance.
Rice is pretty geeky and smart. I like him because he’s realist and still sound
cute, with glasses and shaggy blond hair. He has to keep thing secret, so it’s
hard to completely trust him, but he’s helpful. I wonder if book 2 will have
more romance. I wonder what will happen next. There’s a lot of stuff I didn’t
mention in this review because I don’t want to spoil the surprise.
I recommend this book to fans of Divergent, Rot &
Ruin, Ashfall, The 5th Wave, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, and any
other survival/dystopian novel. If you love dystopia and post-apocalyptic
books, this is a must-read. And help spread the word about the shear
awesomeness that In The After is.
Cover Art Review: I love the textured cover and
embossment. The cracked pavement with the title is really cool. It scream
dystopia novel. The green offsets it well.
~Haley G
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