The Rains

August 8, 2016
The apocalypse comes from outer space in this unsettling thriller, first in a planned series. When a meteor strikes the small town of Creek’s Cause, it infects every resident over the age of 18, turning them into terrifying monsters working in service to a higher, unknown purpose. As the transformed adults hunt down their own children, taking them away in cages, some manage to resist and seek refuge in the local school, including brothers Patrick and Chance Rain, and Patrick’s girlfriend, Alex. While Chance is 15, Patrick is swiftly approaching his 18th birthday; they have to find a way to stop the alien invasion before he, too, becomes one of the enemy. In his first book for teens, Hurwitz (Orphan X) crafts a tense, disturbing tale that’s simultaneously a story driven by brotherly love and the determination to survive against impossible odds. It’s a grim affair, the fight scenes brutal and visceral, and the cliffhanger ending will have readers desperate for answers. Ages 12–up. Agent: Lisa Erbach Vance, Aaron M. Priest Literary.

The alien-zombie mashup that science-fiction fans won't want to miss. When Asteroid 9918 Darwinia lands in the small town of Creek's Cause, it spells major trouble for 15-year-old Chance Rain and his 17-year-old brother, Patrick. For starters, all the adults have turned into zombielike parasitic hosts. What's worse? The alien spores from the asteroid will eventually infect all the children on their 18th birthdays. For some, 18 is years off, but for others, like Patrick, it's only days away. And so begins a race against the clock as Chance tries to save Patrick from a grisly fate. The novel's filmlike storytelling tactics don't always translate well to book form, and the numerous chapter cliffhangers make the writing seem repetitive and predictable; however, the novel's ultimate cliffhanger ending is a satisfying conclusion of intrigue and suspense and will leave readers wanting more. Chance's and Patrick's physical descriptions are limited to height and stature, making their race indeterminable. Alex, a major character and Patrick's girlfriend, is a blond, white girl and a feminist force to be reckoned with. Racial and ethnic diversity reflected in very minor characters feels tacked on. This zombie-esque sci-fi novel will feed the needs of readers looking for a fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping story with elements of horror. (Science fiction. 12 & up) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 1, 2016

Gr 7 Up-Following on the popularity of apocalyptic zombie fiction, this is an edge-of-your-seat test of survival. Set in an anywhere town, the narrative moves along at a breakneck pace. Creek's Cause is a peaceful community filled with farms and hardworking people. Chance Rain is a 15-year-old who feels that he will never measure up to his brother, Patrick. Star quarterback and homecoming king Patrick is the envy of the other young men around him. Living a normal life on the farm, the brothers are content with tilling fields, delivering calves, hunting, and driving tractors. In one horrifying night, Creek's Cause becomes a war zone when everyone under the age of 18 quickly realizes that they are no longer safe. Chance and Patrick have already fended off multiple attacks from infected adults by the time they arrive at the school, where other survivors are hiding. The parasite that transformed the adults into ferocious, inhuman beings affects teens the minute they turn 18. Unfortunately for Patrick, his birthday is a few weeks away. The siblings are determined to save Patrick and the remaining kids, so they set out on a seemingly impossible mission to find out the truth. This title is one of the better YA zombie-esque novels that has been written in the last few years. It is refreshing and surprising and won't leave teens feeling as though they've traveled this path before. VERDICT Recommended for all YA collections, especially where Jonathan Maberry's "Rot & Ruin" series is popular.-Amy Caldera, Dripping Springs Middle School, TX

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2016
Grades 9-12 Best-selling author of adult thrillers, Hurwitz turns to YA alien invasion in this suspenseful series starter. After the Dusting, a meteoric impact event that delivers alien plant life to the farming town of Creek's Cause, the adults fall prey to parasitic pollen. Children under 18 are captured and caged by once-trusted adults-turned-monsters; those who escape start a fragile community in the deserted high school. Finding out firsthand what happens when one turns 18 (hint: it's devastating) spurs 15-year-old Chance, his older brother Patrick, whose birthday is imminent, and Patrick's girlfriend, Alex, to take action. Modest, hard-working Chance, who narrates through diary entries, worships his lionhearted brother and will do anything to save him; their deeply caring relationship gives the action emotional intensity. Chance's transformation into a determined, selfless hero is well-earned. Though the science is dubious, it hardly matters: the aliens' full-scale plan is terrifying and viscerally repellent. A last-minute addition of a chosen one plot feels cliched but necessary for forward momentum. Readers with a 5th Wave-shaped hole in their sf-loving hearts will rejoice. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Best-seller Hurwitz has proven he knows how to hook an adult audience. Expect his YA debut to have the same effect on teens.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)