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Melanie is a very special girl. Dr Caldwell calls her "our little genius."
Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant 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.
Melanie loves school. She loves learning about spelling and sums and the world outside the classroom and the children's cells. She tells her favorite teacher all the things she'll do when she grows up. Melanie doesn't know why this makes Miss Justineau look sad.
The Girl With All the Gifts is a sensational thriller, perfect for fans of Stephen King, Justin Cronin and Neil Gaiman.
Kindle Edition
Published January 7, 2014
131 people are currently reading
2519 people want to read
About the author
M.R. Carey
41 books6,614 followersMike Carey is the acclaimed writer of Lucifer and Hellblazer (now filmed as Constantine). He has recently completed a comics adaptation of Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, and is the current writer on Marvel's X-Men and Ultimate Fantastic Four. He has also written the screenplay for a movie, Frost Flowers, which is soon to be produced by Hadaly Films and Bluestar Pictures.
Also writes as Mike Carey
Also writes as Mike Carey
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 432 reviews
August 13, 2017
You’d think by now we would have reached ‘peak zombie,’ right? I mean, there’s only so much you can do with a genre. But Carey mines the territory for new gold and finds it. The Girl with All the Gifts opens in the strangest classroom ever. (And as a teacher, I’ve seen some pretty strange classrooms.) After the zombie apocalypse in England, some infected children have, for reasons unknown, been turned into zombies but have also retained their human intelligence. Melanie is the research lab’s star pupil. Along with her classmates, who are all strapped in their chairs to keep them from, you know, eating the human teacher, they go through lessons and read stories, so the scientists can try to understand what makes these bright young zombies tick. Melanie is not really aware of what she is, or why she is there. This ‘school’ is the only life she’s ever known. But she is aware that once in a while her classmates disappear into the lab and never come back. She fears she may be called to leave sooner or later, and she doesn’t want to part with her beloved teacher.
Then one day, Melanie’s world changes. Class is dismissed forever. Melanie will have to decide where she stands. Is she one of the humans? Or are the humans her food? The book does a great (terrifying) job describing the sort of fungal infection that could plausibly mutate into a zombie-type disease. The characters are great. The death count is high, like worse than Walking Dead high, and the ending is both terrifying and beautiful. Like zombies? Check it out!
Then one day, Melanie’s world changes. Class is dismissed forever. Melanie will have to decide where she stands. Is she one of the humans? Or are the humans her food? The book does a great (terrifying) job describing the sort of fungal infection that could plausibly mutate into a zombie-type disease. The characters are great. The death count is high, like worse than Walking Dead high, and the ending is both terrifying and beautiful. Like zombies? Check it out!
June 7, 2014
This is a book that is going to capture teen readers and keep them engaged until the very last page. Melanie is a fascinating character and one I will not soon forget. Carey was masterful in creating this young character (as well as the others) in such a way that readers could imagine an innocent, intelligent, curious child while at the same time, understand the consequences of underestimating her threat to humankind. Remarkable gift of story telling.
Readers who have enjoyed Maberry's series,beginning with ROT & RUIN, are going to be excited to discover this novel.
Share this with Biology teachers - or at least the passages (there are several)that could be used when discussing the brain, parasites, fungus, etc. I know I would have enjoyed learning biology if a teacher read some of this novel to the class before assigning reading from the textbook.
I received an ARC from NetGalley
Readers who have enjoyed Maberry's series,beginning with ROT & RUIN, are going to be excited to discover this novel.
Share this with Biology teachers - or at least the passages (there are several)that could be used when discussing the brain, parasites, fungus, etc. I know I would have enjoyed learning biology if a teacher read some of this novel to the class before assigning reading from the textbook.
I received an ARC from NetGalley
April 4, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. It has a little bit of everything to offer, and kept me on edge, so I had to push through. This is the first book that I've read in awhile that did not waste much time on the love interest aspect. This book is definitely original, and I'm excited to watch the movie whenever it is released. Everyone should read this book. Writing style reminded me most times of Elizabeth Flock's in What Happened to my Sister. The Girl With All The Gifts is well written, unique, and recommendable. The characters are fantastic and the ending had me thinking... this is frightening, and HOW CREEPY WOULD THAT BE. Even if zombies are not your thing- read this. This is a gem, loved it! :) http://lovemebooksandstuffblog.blogsp...
July 2, 2015
This is a very good book. It is also a great book. I mean two different things. A good book is well-written - the sentences are proper, the characters are interesting, the plot makes sense and so on. In The Girl with All the Gifts, MR Carey does all that. But a great book tells you something about what it means to be human. And The Girl with All the Gifts does that, too.
It is set in England, about 20 years after a plague has turned most humans into "hungries" - barely sentient animals who live only to eat. They'll eat any meat, but their favorite is human flesh. Socieity has almost completely fallen apart. But the novel starts in a school, a small island of civilization.
The main characters (and memorable ones they are) are Sgt. Eddie Parks, a noncomissioned officer in what used to be the British army. Susan Caldwell, a scientist trying to figure out a way to reverse the plague, Helen Justineau, a teacher at the school, Private Kieran Gallagher and at the center, Melanie. A 10 year old. She is the girls with all the gifts.
An amazing work.
Warning: There are scenes of cannibalism and savagery. They are central to the book. They are disturbing.
It is set in England, about 20 years after a plague has turned most humans into "hungries" - barely sentient animals who live only to eat. They'll eat any meat, but their favorite is human flesh. Socieity has almost completely fallen apart. But the novel starts in a school, a small island of civilization.
The main characters (and memorable ones they are) are Sgt. Eddie Parks, a noncomissioned officer in what used to be the British army. Susan Caldwell, a scientist trying to figure out a way to reverse the plague, Helen Justineau, a teacher at the school, Private Kieran Gallagher and at the center, Melanie. A 10 year old. She is the girls with all the gifts.
An amazing work.
Warning: There are scenes of cannibalism and savagery. They are central to the book. They are disturbing.
June 29, 2014
A book that is so phenomenal I can't stop saluting to the writer. This book captured me from the first page and had me gripped in its fist until the last page.
I love how sentimental and heart wrenching the book start and keep going with outstanding information and flow that keep me dizzy with wonder. I love this book and recommend it to everyone who love to read.
I love how sentimental and heart wrenching the book start and keep going with outstanding information and flow that keep me dizzy with wonder. I love this book and recommend it to everyone who love to read.
March 18, 2015
I didn't find this book entertaining or interesting. I didn't like any of the characters. The girl was mildly interesting but the journey that the characters embark on after leaving the military compound is dull without any suspense. The scientific discovery and story ending is definitive.
January 25, 2021
Not that bad.. thought it was more scary but not really..the cool part that it was kids.. most of time its about adults being zombie but not on this book. Its abased on how the kids are alive but still affected.. they would act as humans and talk but they would eat humans when they would be hungry
November 19, 2020
Sometimes, I enjoy reading a book without knowing a single thing about it. It's fun to let a story unfold without having any preconceived ideas. I started reading this book because of a recommendation at my local library, and I'm so glad I did. GoodReads calls this book, "a sensational thriller" and they aren't wrong. Part post-apocalyptic novel, part zombie story, The Girl with All the Gifts is an exciting ride.
I'm not always a fan of adult books written from a child's point of view. A child's viewpoint is usually very limited, and I think that often stifles the story. There are exceptions to that, such as Room, but I'm just not drawn to these kinds of books as a rule. When I started reading The Girl with All the Gifts, I was concerned that I'd get bored of Melanie's POV, but that never happened. She was both an innocent and a super brain. I also loved how badass and resourceful she was. Though she was a child, Melanie made an excellent protagonist.
The adults' stories, too, are interesting. The story shifts from one point of view to another, but is never confusing. Each voice is unique and has a fascinating story to tell. I also like that some of the characters who come off as bad guys actually change over the course of the story. Those kinds of things make the book so much more interesting.
I've purposely not commented on the plot in order that you may experience it without prejudice. However, believe me when I tell you it's a thrill ride. With zombies.
I'm not always a fan of adult books written from a child's point of view. A child's viewpoint is usually very limited, and I think that often stifles the story. There are exceptions to that, such as Room, but I'm just not drawn to these kinds of books as a rule. When I started reading The Girl with All the Gifts, I was concerned that I'd get bored of Melanie's POV, but that never happened. She was both an innocent and a super brain. I also loved how badass and resourceful she was. Though she was a child, Melanie made an excellent protagonist.
The adults' stories, too, are interesting. The story shifts from one point of view to another, but is never confusing. Each voice is unique and has a fascinating story to tell. I also like that some of the characters who come off as bad guys actually change over the course of the story. Those kinds of things make the book so much more interesting.
I've purposely not commented on the plot in order that you may experience it without prejudice. However, believe me when I tell you it's a thrill ride. With zombies.
July 4, 2015
A post apocalyptic thriller, The Girl with All the Gifts once more relates an end-of-mankind tale. In a world in the process of being destroyed by a kind of zombie making virus, an infected girl, Melanie, her beloved teacher, a crazy scientist and a couple of soldiers must survive in a mostly destroyed England.
Although this book is captivating and has an unusual and oddly satisfying end, I am so absolutely tired of zombies, end of the world as we know it, and dystopian fiction, that I simply couldn't feel enthusiastic about this book. Apart from this complaint, I enjoyed the suspense and the believable and scientific way in which the virus, which turns humans into hungries, is explained.
The characters, and especially Melanie, the main character, are fleshed out and lifelike. All of them are believably flawed and some, like the sergeant, even show some change towards the end.
What also kept me reading were the numerous rather unexpected plot twists and, of course, most exciting of all, the wonderfully unique end.
If you like zombie-like tales with a definite tendency towards horror, realistic characters and lots of action and suspense, The Girl with All the Gifts most certainly is a worthwhile read. (Ellen Fritz)
Although this book is captivating and has an unusual and oddly satisfying end, I am so absolutely tired of zombies, end of the world as we know it, and dystopian fiction, that I simply couldn't feel enthusiastic about this book. Apart from this complaint, I enjoyed the suspense and the believable and scientific way in which the virus, which turns humans into hungries, is explained.
The characters, and especially Melanie, the main character, are fleshed out and lifelike. All of them are believably flawed and some, like the sergeant, even show some change towards the end.
What also kept me reading were the numerous rather unexpected plot twists and, of course, most exciting of all, the wonderfully unique end.
If you like zombie-like tales with a definite tendency towards horror, realistic characters and lots of action and suspense, The Girl with All the Gifts most certainly is a worthwhile read. (Ellen Fritz)
August 18, 2015
Nope! Didn't reel me in! Lost interest completely
March 22, 2017
Story flowed well, interesting characters. Definitely one I looked forward to listening to every day!
April 20, 2021
I first read this in hardcover six years ago, and enjoyed the audiobook version even better because the narrator (Finty Williams) can do an astonishing number of character voices. She mimics ten-year-old Melanie just as convincingly as the battle-hardened Sgt. Eddie Parks, and it remains the most plausible zombie apocalypse story I've ever read.
It's also a very sad tale where you gradually sympathize with its most unpleasant characters, including the stonyhearted Dr. Caldwell and a fanatical military leader who escorts them cross-country. The ten-year-old zombie with a genius IQ develops an especially touching bond with her beloved teacher, Helen Justineau, that's heartbreaking. Melanie is a teacher's pet EVERY child should emulate.
Although the story's conclusion feels very rushed while the schoolteacher's fate stretches credulity, it doesn't detract from the overall story, especially the four earlier memorable and terrifying zombie encounters.
It's also a very sad tale where you gradually sympathize with its most unpleasant characters, including the stonyhearted Dr. Caldwell and a fanatical military leader who escorts them cross-country. The ten-year-old zombie with a genius IQ develops an especially touching bond with her beloved teacher, Helen Justineau, that's heartbreaking. Melanie is a teacher's pet EVERY child should emulate.
Although the story's conclusion feels very rushed while the schoolteacher's fate stretches credulity, it doesn't detract from the overall story, especially the four earlier memorable and terrifying zombie encounters.
September 17, 2024
I’ll preface this by saying I’m very much not a sci-fi/ zombie/ apocalypse person… at all. I read this because I was sold by reviews that this was a thriller and so much more than what you’d expect. I don’t know what I expected but it was more than what I got.
This was not a bad book by any means. It was well written, but there were no big surprises. I felt like it dragged on far longer than necessary and I more forced myself through it hoping for the twists and originality it promised but failed to totally deliver. I just didn’t really enjoy it.
I’m sure it’s a solid book. Just for someone else that isn’t me.
This was not a bad book by any means. It was well written, but there were no big surprises. I felt like it dragged on far longer than necessary and I more forced myself through it hoping for the twists and originality it promised but failed to totally deliver. I just didn’t really enjoy it.
I’m sure it’s a solid book. Just for someone else that isn’t me.
February 2, 2017
I don't recall being so totally absorbed in a book from start to finish in a long, long time. It never drags and once you get started it's impossible not to read "just one more chapter." The fact that most of the chapters in the book - and there are more than 70 of them - are extremely short helps make it hard to put this book down. I was anxious to finish because I know the author, M.R. Carey, was also writing a screenplay and I discovered the film is set to be released shortly in the USA. I'm looking forward to it, but as always, I'm afraid some of my favorite parts of the book won't make it to the screen.
In addition to being a thrilling, action-packed tale, The Girl with All the Gifts also creates some very fully-formed, totally believable characters that you can't help love - or hate. And Carey obviously did his research. The dystopian, dangerous world of the book is so carefully explained, often with tremendously accurate backup science, that you can't help but wonder how plausible something like this could be in the planet's future. It adds a chilling level often not found in this type of fiction. You don't really have to suspend your disbelief very much, and that's often a terrifying part of the story. Man, this COULD happen!
One thing that truly impressed me about Carey's writing is how adeptly he changes style throughout the book. When he is describing the world as seen through a child's eyes, you get simple, naive explanations and language that lets you identify fully with the character. When he reverts to a soldier, you get straight-ahead, no-nonsense, mission-oriented views of the world. And when the scientist steps in, you get a detailed, dispassionate look at what is happening that perfectly reflects the observations and attitudes of that particular character's obsession with the truth. It's brilliant to experience this skill and made each chapter strongly stand alone in addition to being a part of the whole, compelling, unified story.
Highly recommended.
In addition to being a thrilling, action-packed tale, The Girl with All the Gifts also creates some very fully-formed, totally believable characters that you can't help love - or hate. And Carey obviously did his research. The dystopian, dangerous world of the book is so carefully explained, often with tremendously accurate backup science, that you can't help but wonder how plausible something like this could be in the planet's future. It adds a chilling level often not found in this type of fiction. You don't really have to suspend your disbelief very much, and that's often a terrifying part of the story. Man, this COULD happen!
One thing that truly impressed me about Carey's writing is how adeptly he changes style throughout the book. When he is describing the world as seen through a child's eyes, you get simple, naive explanations and language that lets you identify fully with the character. When he reverts to a soldier, you get straight-ahead, no-nonsense, mission-oriented views of the world. And when the scientist steps in, you get a detailed, dispassionate look at what is happening that perfectly reflects the observations and attitudes of that particular character's obsession with the truth. It's brilliant to experience this skill and made each chapter strongly stand alone in addition to being a part of the whole, compelling, unified story.
Highly recommended.
December 28, 2019
Wow. That was quite a book. I have to preface this by saying that I found this book misplaced on my Kindle from when I apparently requested it via Netgalley years ago and accidentally misfiled it. I had no idea what it was about and since I review lots of kids' books, I started it thinking it was a children's book.
It most definitely is not. Oh my goodness. By the first page I'd figured out that it wasn't the sweet read-aloud I was expecting, and it got pretty dark pretty quickly. It's a post-apocalyptic horror novel set in England. Horror is not my usual forte (to say the least), but this is a really well written one. The author, who apparently writes for Lucifer, Neil Gamon and Marvel projects, really knows how to write. As a writer and a lover of words, I appreciate great writing in any genre. Carey is a craftsman, like Stephen King in his good days.
I'm not going to say what this book is about since it kind of worked well for me to go in blind, so to speak. The main character is a 10 year old girl in a really bad place. She's brilliant and she's wonderfully written. We also see the world through a handful of other characters from all different walks of life, and they all come across as real, full characters -- eventually. Most are not overly likeable, but I don't know how likeable I'd be in that world either. And we do eventually get to really know them and see their humanity (okay, other than one).
The science is also a fascinating slant on things.
Dark and memorable. Melanie and these characters will stay with me, for better or worse.
It most definitely is not. Oh my goodness. By the first page I'd figured out that it wasn't the sweet read-aloud I was expecting, and it got pretty dark pretty quickly. It's a post-apocalyptic horror novel set in England. Horror is not my usual forte (to say the least), but this is a really well written one. The author, who apparently writes for Lucifer, Neil Gamon and Marvel projects, really knows how to write. As a writer and a lover of words, I appreciate great writing in any genre. Carey is a craftsman, like Stephen King in his good days.
I'm not going to say what this book is about since it kind of worked well for me to go in blind, so to speak. The main character is a 10 year old girl in a really bad place. She's brilliant and she's wonderfully written. We also see the world through a handful of other characters from all different walks of life, and they all come across as real, full characters -- eventually. Most are not overly likeable, but I don't know how likeable I'd be in that world either. And we do eventually get to really know them and see their humanity (okay, other than one).
The science is also a fascinating slant on things.
Dark and memorable. Melanie and these characters will stay with me, for better or worse.
January 25, 2014
An Interesting Premise For Zombyism.
I'm not sure the "children" are zombies, but that is the way the plot of the first ten chapters are going. Also, the "children" are sentient, emotionally capable beings--though they appear to be one-in-a-million among the infected individuals who are collectively called "hungries." The hungries' description definitely fits the zombie template. There is great potential for examining the nature of what makes us human. I hope the full novel fulfills that promise.
I'm not sure the "children" are zombies, but that is the way the plot of the first ten chapters are going. Also, the "children" are sentient, emotionally capable beings--though they appear to be one-in-a-million among the infected individuals who are collectively called "hungries." The hungries' description definitely fits the zombie template. There is great potential for examining the nature of what makes us human. I hope the full novel fulfills that promise.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2014
El extended preview gratuito (que se puede conseguir en Amazon) me da muchas ganas de que llegue la fecha en que se lanzará la versión completa de este libro. Melanie es un personaje fantástico y la forma en que el autor narra la historia (en tercera persona) es fantástica. Me pareció que Helen Justineau es una versión más elegante de Whoopi Goldberg. Tómense la libertad de disfrutar de las primeras 67 páginas de una historia en un escenario casi apocalíptico bastante interesante y del que sé que pocos autores tienen la habilidad para imaginarse un mundo así.
September 10, 2015
The Girl With All The Gifts by M.R. Carey
A Must Read!
Utterly Terrifying, heartfelt and intoxicating!
The Girl with all the gifts kept me on the edge of my seat thirsting for more.
M.R. Carey is brilliant, his characters are flawless, captivating and unforgettable.
You must read this Novel and meet Melanie, a girl you will never forget.
I give The Girl With All The Gifts by M.R. Carey 5 stars for it's captivating story and well developed characters.
I would recommend this book to everyone!
A Must Read!
Utterly Terrifying, heartfelt and intoxicating!
The Girl with all the gifts kept me on the edge of my seat thirsting for more.
M.R. Carey is brilliant, his characters are flawless, captivating and unforgettable.
You must read this Novel and meet Melanie, a girl you will never forget.
I give The Girl With All The Gifts by M.R. Carey 5 stars for it's captivating story and well developed characters.
I would recommend this book to everyone!
November 17, 2015
Can't wait to discuss this at book club...so many questions! I feel like any review I write would include too many spoilers.
July 29, 2016
Fast paced and interesting, this is a slightly different take on the zombie apocalypse. I felt the ending was bit too tidy, but otherwise a fun read.
August 7, 2017
Miss Honey and Matilda, but in the middle of the zombie apocalypse. Gory, thrilling, lots of fun. One thing bothered me, though. Whenever people from the base meet a child hungry, they describe it by saying what age it was infected. They'd be able to do that only if they thought child hungries don't age. But we learn that they do! So if the base has had child hungries for four years, how did they not notice them growing?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2018
I listened to the audiobook version and was very skeptical at the beginning. This book was recommended to me and I had no idea what the story was about, so was surprised to find it was another book about zombies. However, after getting into the story, I was pleasantly surprised! And, by the end I had a hard time turning the book off!
If you want something different, that offers suspense and emotion, I say give The Girl With All The Gifts a try!
If you want something different, that offers suspense and emotion, I say give The Girl With All The Gifts a try!
July 6, 2017
Dr. Ian Malcolm would love this book, because, after all, life finds a way.
More cerebral than your average zombie book. Loved the ending. There's one plot point on which I remain confused, but I suspect someone on the Interwebz has figured it out for me.
More cerebral than your average zombie book. Loved the ending. There's one plot point on which I remain confused, but I suspect someone on the Interwebz has figured it out for me.
April 15, 2017
Loved every page of this...brilliant characters, wonderful spooky story with a lasting taste of the end of the world that you can't get away from.
April 7, 2017
This was a bit different than anything else I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Its not your typical zombie story.. it has a twist. Well... a few twists.
April 9, 2022
Gripping apocalyptic novel. Great character development.
October 7, 2016
The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey is a fascinating read. The book is full of tense, thriller moments that make you sit at the edge of your seat! This book is about a young girl named Melanie. Melanie is a hungry. Hungries eat people for the main part, but Melanie is different than other hungries, and is why Melanie is Dr. Caldwell's "favorite." Every student in her class is a hungry, which is why the are wheeled in to their class from their cells by Sergent Parks, keeping them armed with rifles. They enjoy learning with their favorite teacher, Miss Justineau. Melanie is a unique character that you would not see in your everyday book. I really loved this book because of such description! I think one part that touched my heart is the relationship between Melanie and her teacher, Miss Justineau. They are absolutely amazing with their relationship. The book is in third-point-of-view, but the prespective is switched off with different characters at certain times. Overall, you can not absolutely put this down! It has a very original plot attached with many stong actions. At the right moments, you feel very chilling, disappointed, and many, many other emotions that build on up as you read. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a challenging intense book!
December 30, 2016
I am not really one who generally reads zombie apocalypse books. As far as this genre goes, I liked this book. The premise that humans may inevitably join the long list of species facing mass extinction feels apt.
Further, the willingness to dissect, cage, manipulate, and in the end, sacrifice the lives of things we do not quite understand in the name of cold and calculated science felt equally salient.
Carey's novel felt on many ways like an oracle warning us all that we cannot survive if we are to continue on our current path. While some may argue that my argument is a leap, as I read, I couldn't shake the terrible feeling that the story was more than a page turning end of times tale. It served as an escapist warning.
Even if one is not into the idea that zombies and monsters serve as metaphors to our subconscious (or not so subconscious) fears, this was a well written story. The pacing was fluid and engaging. The characterization left me wondering who I would be if left to the end. Lastly, the zombie story did not feel totally and completely implausible. Think Ebola.
If you love zombie stories read this. If you don't, I recommend you give this a try.
Further, the willingness to dissect, cage, manipulate, and in the end, sacrifice the lives of things we do not quite understand in the name of cold and calculated science felt equally salient.
Carey's novel felt on many ways like an oracle warning us all that we cannot survive if we are to continue on our current path. While some may argue that my argument is a leap, as I read, I couldn't shake the terrible feeling that the story was more than a page turning end of times tale. It served as an escapist warning.
Even if one is not into the idea that zombies and monsters serve as metaphors to our subconscious (or not so subconscious) fears, this was a well written story. The pacing was fluid and engaging. The characterization left me wondering who I would be if left to the end. Lastly, the zombie story did not feel totally and completely implausible. Think Ebola.
If you love zombie stories read this. If you don't, I recommend you give this a try.
March 24, 2015
Dystopian zombie thriller -- yikes! I thought I'd never read a zombie story, but somehow I kept hearing about this one and finally gave in.
This is a well written, almost believable tale of a future fungal menace. Humans become infected with this awful growth in their brains and nervous systems and are driven to eat other humans. A few, a precious few humans have not been infected, including a team of scientists, teachers and guards who are working to find the cause and cure for this awful pandemic. A subset of these folks are driven from their safe haven at the north of England to travel to the south and the last bastion of normalcy. One of this little group of travelers is the girl with gifts, a child of genius mind, infected with the fungus.
Therein lies the tale.
This is a well written, almost believable tale of a future fungal menace. Humans become infected with this awful growth in their brains and nervous systems and are driven to eat other humans. A few, a precious few humans have not been infected, including a team of scientists, teachers and guards who are working to find the cause and cure for this awful pandemic. A subset of these folks are driven from their safe haven at the north of England to travel to the south and the last bastion of normalcy. One of this little group of travelers is the girl with gifts, a child of genius mind, infected with the fungus.
Therein lies the tale.
January 9, 2017
Wow, what a wild ride this book was; I almost missed a family lunch because I didn't want to stop reading it! The writing is pitch-perfect in terms of cliffhangers and character development. It was like watching a movie more than reading a book, and when I discovered that the author was actually writing a screenplay as well as a novel on the same subject at the same time, it all made sense. The ending was a teeny bit abrupt--I understand the direction the story was taking, but after such careful build-up, I think the author should have spent just a little more time on the finale. It ended like a movie that wants a sequel, and that is really the only problem I had with the book. By and large, a fantastic piece of fiction.
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