Monday, September 12, 2011

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick - ADVISABLE


Bick, Ilsa J.  Ashes, 480 p.

Language:  R (64 swears and 3 ‘f’); Violence PG-13 (zombie-like feeding and such).  

One minute Alex is dying from a brain tumor and then, after a weird electromagnetic pulse, she seems to be fine but people around her are dropping in droves and other have been changed in bizarre ways – almost like the fictional zombies.  Alex is saddled with a cranky preteen, who really thinks no one knows what’s good for her, but then she finds Tom, just slightly older, and together the three form a little family.  But when they decide to reconnect with the outside world, things become dangerous (more dangerous), confused and distressing.  The Changed are not the only danger and even refuge will hide secrets that can kill.  

Without writing a classic zombie novel, Bick still gives us an interesting look at human nature as they react – for better or worse - after an apocalyptic event.  It is certainly up there with many of this type of novel that has been published recently – Maze Runner (Dashner), The Dead (Higson) – but not as satisfying for me as The Forest of Hands and Teeth (Ryan) or Hunger Games (Collins).  

MS, HS – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher

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