Viral Nation #1
By Shaunta Grimes
Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult, Sci-Fi
Published July 2013
Pages: 320
Pages: 320
Publisher: Berkeley Trade
View on Goodreads.
Summary: "After a virus
claimed nearly the entire global population, the world changed. The
United States splintered into fifty walled cities where the surviving
citizens clustered to start over. The Company, which ended the plague by
bringing a life-saving vaccine back from the future, controls
everything. They ration the scant food and supplies through a lottery
system, mandate daily doses of virus suppressant, and even monitor
future timelines to stop crimes before they can be committed.
Brilliant but autistic, sixteen-year-old Clover Donovan has always dreamed of studying at the Waverly-Stead Academy. Her brother and caretaker, West, has done everything in his power to make her dream a reality. But Clover’s refusal to part with her beloved service dog denies her entry into the school. Instead, she is drafted into the Time Mariners, a team of Company operatives who travel through time to gather news about the future.
When one of Clover’s missions reveals that West’s life is in danger, the Donovans are shattered. To change West’s fate, they’ll have to take on the mysterious Company. But as its secrets are revealed, they realize that the Company’s rule may not be as benevolent as it seems. In saving her brother, Clover will face a more powerful force than she ever imagined… and will team up with a band of fellow misfits and outsiders to incite a revolution that will change their destinies forever."
Brilliant but autistic, sixteen-year-old Clover Donovan has always dreamed of studying at the Waverly-Stead Academy. Her brother and caretaker, West, has done everything in his power to make her dream a reality. But Clover’s refusal to part with her beloved service dog denies her entry into the school. Instead, she is drafted into the Time Mariners, a team of Company operatives who travel through time to gather news about the future.
When one of Clover’s missions reveals that West’s life is in danger, the Donovans are shattered. To change West’s fate, they’ll have to take on the mysterious Company. But as its secrets are revealed, they realize that the Company’s rule may not be as benevolent as it seems. In saving her brother, Clover will face a more powerful force than she ever imagined… and will team up with a band of fellow misfits and outsiders to incite a revolution that will change their destinies forever."
Review: Well done, Shaunta Grimes. This is the first book I have ever read by her, and I don't plan on it being the last!
She quickly draws you in with a great prologue where a virus has broken out and most the the US population is dying. Suddenly there is a cure! But for many, it was too late. Each state was reduced to a single city worth of people. In the state of Nevada, only 20,000 remain, many of them children. Yikes! What a way to start, right?
Jump up 16 years to young Clover (16) and her older brother, West who is her guardian. These are our main characters and they are very well done. The relationship is strong and easy to relate to. Clover is autistic and the author did a superb job capturing that. The lack of touch, need for space and quite. The reactions to sudden movements, etc. Due to the autism she has a dog, Mango, who is just the sweetest thing and I want to take him home myself.
The world is vastly different and well done as a post-apocalyptic society. With a cool twist. Certain people can go two years into the future to see what is happening. It is how the cure was found in the first place. They go to the future for updates and to learn and crimes to stop them before they happen. Soon after Clover ends up being one of those that go into the future, she and West are given some shocking news that he will soon be killing someone. Clover is also visited by a young man who gives her some odd information that changes everything she knows about the cure, the company and the very world she lives in.
While I enjoyed this book, I did notice some small plot discrepancies that I hope will be explained in the next book. Also I really, really wanted to know about the rest of the world. Was this a US only virus? If so, why? What about Canada or Mexico especially since they are right next to the US? Nothing. The only reference we have is in the plot summary but nothing in the actual story. To me, that was important to the world building an a fairly big miss.
So beside the above mentioned flaw, I found this book to be quite well done, relatively realistic to follow, great characters and concept. I hope the next book brings out more of the other characters, such as Leanne, Jude, etc more. This was not a book easy to put down. Once you start, you just want to keep going. The pace is never ending. We are constantly being feed more pieces of the story and this world. It leaves you craving to know what will happen in the next book.
Special thanks go to Penguin Group through Netgalley for my original eCopy. Right after I requested the title I also won a print copy on Goodreads, hosted by Marissa. So lots of thanks to everyone for these! Book was given free in return for a fair and honest review.
She quickly draws you in with a great prologue where a virus has broken out and most the the US population is dying. Suddenly there is a cure! But for many, it was too late. Each state was reduced to a single city worth of people. In the state of Nevada, only 20,000 remain, many of them children. Yikes! What a way to start, right?
Jump up 16 years to young Clover (16) and her older brother, West who is her guardian. These are our main characters and they are very well done. The relationship is strong and easy to relate to. Clover is autistic and the author did a superb job capturing that. The lack of touch, need for space and quite. The reactions to sudden movements, etc. Due to the autism she has a dog, Mango, who is just the sweetest thing and I want to take him home myself.
The world is vastly different and well done as a post-apocalyptic society. With a cool twist. Certain people can go two years into the future to see what is happening. It is how the cure was found in the first place. They go to the future for updates and to learn and crimes to stop them before they happen. Soon after Clover ends up being one of those that go into the future, she and West are given some shocking news that he will soon be killing someone. Clover is also visited by a young man who gives her some odd information that changes everything she knows about the cure, the company and the very world she lives in.
While I enjoyed this book, I did notice some small plot discrepancies that I hope will be explained in the next book. Also I really, really wanted to know about the rest of the world. Was this a US only virus? If so, why? What about Canada or Mexico especially since they are right next to the US? Nothing. The only reference we have is in the plot summary but nothing in the actual story. To me, that was important to the world building an a fairly big miss.
So beside the above mentioned flaw, I found this book to be quite well done, relatively realistic to follow, great characters and concept. I hope the next book brings out more of the other characters, such as Leanne, Jude, etc more. This was not a book easy to put down. Once you start, you just want to keep going. The pace is never ending. We are constantly being feed more pieces of the story and this world. It leaves you craving to know what will happen in the next book.
Special thanks go to Penguin Group through Netgalley for my original eCopy. Right after I requested the title I also won a print copy on Goodreads, hosted by Marissa. So lots of thanks to everyone for these! Book was given free in return for a fair and honest review.
What do you think of the book? Or what is a favorite dystopian book you have read?
I also enjoyed this book. Great review, pretty spot on to what I thought too.
ReplyDeleteJoAnn @ Paperback Lass
Sweet! Always cool to feel similar about a book. Thanks for commenting!
DeleteI loved this book too! So glad you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Thanks! It was a fun read.
DeleteViral Nation sounds like a great new YA Dystopian.
ReplyDeleteShaunta Grimes is a new author to me, so I'll have to check her out since I love Sci-Fi/Dystopia. Glad you enjoyed the book and thanks for the great review!
It is definitely worth looking into. :) Hope you like it!
DeleteI have this one, too. Glad to see how much you enjoyed it! I love dystopia.
ReplyDeleteI just finished THE PROGRAM by Suzanne Young and absolutely loved it!
I really want to read The Program! Unfortunately, I am broke and my library hasn't ordered any copies yet.
DeleteYou did a great review on this book. I am always interested in new authors and I think I will have to check this book out.
ReplyDeleteThanks. It is a really good. Book. I am keeping an eye out for information about book two right now :)
DeleteThis sounds like an interesting book, even with the holes that you mentioned it sounds like it could be really good.
ReplyDeleteAs for my favorite dystopian novel, well I love the Newsflesh trilogy. They were well written and the plot kept me interested through the whole series. It is definitely a book I would recommend.
Thank you so much for the giveaway.
Melissa
this was good. I will have to look into the Newsflesh trilogy. :)
DeleteI just recently bought this book from a discount store. I had an eARC of it but I never got around to it. It sounds different and sounds like something I would enjoy. I might have to move this up in my TBR. I reall enjoyed your review and I'm glad you liked the book
ReplyDeleteIT is really good. I am eager to read the second now!
DeleteThis one is on my to-read book list. It looks awesome.
ReplyDeleteI have had this on my Kindle for a long time, but I haven't read it yet. I don't know why, since it is one that I was so stoked about. I had honestly forgotten about it, so I am very glad that your review reminded me, and that you loved it!
ReplyDeleteI have many on my kindle that I forget about too. So easy to do. Another reason I prefer print. They are constant reminders. :) I hope you enjoy it!
Deletei want to read this book *.* this sounds like survival and post apocalyptic which is one of my favorite genres to read about. im glad u liked it
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed it. I have the next book but just have yet to get to it. I think I need to re-read this one first again.
Delete