In an America devastated by war and plague, the only way to survive is to keep moving.
In the aftermath of a war, America’s landscape has been ravaged and two-thirds of the population left dead from a vicious strain of influenza. Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his family were among the few that survived and became salvagers, roaming the country in search of material to trade. But when Stephen’s grandfather dies and his father falls into a coma after an accident, Stephen finds his way to Settler’s Landing, a community that seems too good to be true. Then Stephen meets strong, defiant, mischievous Jenny, who refuses to accept things as they are. And when they play a prank that goes horribly wrong, chaos erupts, and they find themselves in the midst of a battle that will change Settler’s Landing--and their lives--forever.
In the aftermath of a war, America’s landscape has been ravaged and two-thirds of the population left dead from a vicious strain of influenza. Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his family were among the few that survived and became salvagers, roaming the country in search of material to trade. But when Stephen’s grandfather dies and his father falls into a coma after an accident, Stephen finds his way to Settler’s Landing, a community that seems too good to be true. Then Stephen meets strong, defiant, mischievous Jenny, who refuses to accept things as they are. And when they play a prank that goes horribly wrong, chaos erupts, and they find themselves in the midst of a battle that will change Settler’s Landing--and their lives--forever.
The thing about this book, The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch, is that I can actually see an epidemic like this happen in the near future. While it's a dystopian of sorts, it has some events that are life-like. It's kinda scary to read a book about war and disease and then think to yourself, "Oh my God. This can actually happen!"
While the writing style of the author is mediocre- I say that because it would definately cater to a younger crowd, the premise behind this story is frightening. After the loss of Stephen's hateful grandpa, he and his father traveled the deserted land and woods which suffered from the eleventh plague, a disease that was released by China in the midst of war, killing most of the population. There was no government, there was no military. Those that were left, it was up to them to survive, to trade goods, to not get murdered by rogue survivors. Stephen was almost not so lucky.
Geez, to imagine a world like this. To face reality while you live in fear in a world full of doom. To imagine children trying to survive this, and poor Stephen who had his late Grandpa in his conscience, constantly filling him up with fear and telling him to only live for thyself. But maybe that's what kept Stephen and his dad alive for so long. It just sucks to have been robbed of your childhood in order to survive.
After a bad run in, Stephen came upon other travelers who he questioned whether he could trust, or not. He ended up in Settler's Landing and making some friends... something that he didn't understand existed. Eh, he had an enemy as well. He also meets Jenny, a chinese girl who was adopted and rescued. She was bullied because of her ethnicity, so the girl was tough.
Stephen learns what humanity is in a world of chaos. But a new war awaits them. There is a great morale behind The Eleventh Plague. Can you learn to trust when the world is so full of hate?
Kimberly
No comments:
Post a Comment