I’m a bit of a chicken when it comes to horror, but so many cannonballers loved The Girl With All the Gifts that I thought I should give it a try. And I’m so glad I did! What a beautifully inventive story that kept me turning pages. There were some tense parts, but nothing strong or gory enough to give me nightmares. However, this is maybe not the kind of book you want to read on your lunch hour unless you have a strong stomach. Some of the science is… unappetizing.
In a post apocalyptic England, Melanie lives in a jail cell on a military base. Officers come for her every morning to escort her to school after strapping her into a wheelchair. She’s the smartest kid in her class, but she can’t figure out why her life is the way it is. Luckily she finds comfort in her favorite teacher, Miss Justineau. Melanie idolizes her and fantasizes about running away with her or saving her from an awful fate. I’m being vague about the plot here, because half the fun is figuring out what is going on in the book and then letting it take you for a wild, slightly terrifying ride.
I read this a few months ago, but the story really stuck with me. It’s a very memorable and unusual book. The writing is good, the characterizations are great, and both the setting and plot are fantastic. Definitely one to put on your TBR list, even if science fiction or horror aren’t usually your favorite genres.
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