First, a meteor strikes. Then weird plants grow and burst to release something into the air. Then all of the adults become some kind of zombie creatures that hunt down the kids and put them in cages. Chance, our narrator, his older brother Patrick, and Patrick's girlfriend are on the run trying to stay hidden. They find a group of kids holed up in the school.
As Patrick will soon be 18 years old (when he will magically turn into one of these zombies) the kids are desperate to figure out how to defeat this disease.
The dynamics at the school are familiar in teen survival stories. There's the asshole group that wants to lead but really has no interest in helping anyone or taking any risks. And there are the main characters risking life and limb time and time again to survive.
I just finished reading this book a couple of days ago, and I can't remember the characters. If you want action, The Rains hits the ground running and never stops. The pace is relentless -- so much so that I kind of got tired of reading it, and I just wanted it to be over.
The Rains is a fast-paced, quick read perfect for reluctant readers, including boys. It reminded me of books like Ashes by Bick, The Prey by Isbell, and Monument 14 by Laybourne. The Rains is also the first in a series, with an interesting set-up for the second book at the end.
Published by Tor Teen, October 18, 2106
eARC obtained from NetGalley
352 pages
Rating: 3.5/5
I like YA dystopian, even though it's all kind of the same these days. I've got this book and will read it eventually. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it!
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