The Fearless

February 2, 2015
Civilization ended after a drug intended to cure PTSD turned those who took it into aggressive monsters intent on converting or killing the rest of humanity. Seven years after society’s fall, 17-year-old Cass ekes out a meager existence with other survivors on an island refuge. Everything changes after the Fearless sneak onto Hope Island and kidnap Cass’s younger brother. Breaking a fundamental rule of her home, Cass journeys to the British mainland on a rescue mission; her sole ally is Myo, a mysterious young man who claims to be from another colony of survivors. Cass and Myo grow close, but their secrets may tear them apart as they contend both with the Fearless and with the Magpies, a military organization dedicated to ending the Fearless scourge. Pass (ACID) creates a vivid post-apocalyptic world, subverting several familiar zombie tropes (while her Fearless are intent on spreading their condition, they’re more coordinated and intelligent than the typical shambling hordes). However, the meandering plot suffers from predictability and a lack of focus, and Cass’s developing romance feels overly engineered. Ages 14–up. Agent: Carolyn Whitaker, London Independent Books.

February 1, 2015
Society falls after an attempted cure for PTSD manifests terrible side effects.When Cass was 10, the military administered a wonder drug to prevent PTSD that eliminated not only anxiety, but also fear itself. But the Fearless then lost their consciences, and enemies obtained the drug to create a concentrated dose. A Fearless invasion begins; they inject anyone they catch. Cass is a lucky one, taken by a wealthy neighbor to a private island where survivors create a small, insular society. After this intense first act, the book's pacing slows, and the main plot begins. Seven years later, Cass dodges her childhood best friend's affections before developing a connection to a new boy, Myo, who sneaked onto the island. Then some Fearless abduct Cass' baby brother from the island, leading Cass and Myo on an off-island rescue mission during which Cass learns that much of what she's been told since the collapse of society is a lie. She encounters fellow survivors, the Fearless and a paramilitary group trying to rebuild society as she tries to save her brother. Occasional chapters from Myo's viewpoint elaborate on his own mission. The leads lack chemistry, creating a rote, obligatory-feeling relationship, and character motivations and the drug's rules both bend to the plot's requirements. The abrupt ending isn't a cliffhanger but doesn't rule out a sequel. Post-apocalyptic paint-by-numbers. (Post-apocalyptic adventure. 12-17)

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January 1, 2015

Gr 7 Up-Cass was just a kid when the invasion happened. The whole world was taken over and conquered by "the fearless"-unstoppable humans who feel no pain, have no feelings. At first, the serum was thought to be revolutionary-something to give to soldiers to do away with their PTSD symptoms. However, after rushing to give the serum to every soldier in every country on Earth, the creators soon realized that Neurophyxil caused side effects that no one expected. Unparalleled strength along with a loss of humanity, soon the fearless took over every country on Earth. Cass escaped with her pregnant mother to Hope Island, a safe haven purchased by the father of Cass's best friend, Sol. Fast forward to the present: Cass's baby brother Jori is now seven years old and Cass is 17. She's annoyed by Sol's affection for her, and now everyone on the island is up in arms because a boy her age named Myo has come from the mainland. That's when everything goes wrong. Jori is captured by a fearless who somehow made it on to the island. With no support from her community or Sol, Cass is forced to trust the one person she's not sure she can-Myo. This is a fun and fast read that will appeal to lovers of zombie invasions as well as books that feature strong females in a dystopian setting. Though the story feels familiar, it's action-packed and the characters are developed enough to keep readers interested. There is some graphic violence, but it is not gratuitous and is crucial to the story and building of suspense. Give to those who enjoyed Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth(Random, 2009) but be ready to hear groans from readers when they reach the cliff-hanger ending.-Traci Glass, Eugene Public Library, OR

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2015
Grades 10-1 The scientists who invented neurophyxil had only the best intentions; the drug was supposed to cure soldiers of PTSD. But instead, it removed any trace of terror, giving rise to the Fearless, a horde of zombie-like supersoldiers bent on destruction. Unlike typical zombies, however, the Fearless are smart, and they've developed a fast-acting version of the drug, which they use to forcefully convert humans to their ranks. When Cass is 10, her father is taken by the Fearless just as she and her pregnant mother escape to privately owned Hope Island. Seven years later, Cass' story picks up, and it's here that the action really begins. In alternating viewpoints, Cass and a cadre of other teens narrate their life on the Patrol. After spending seven years isolated from the rest of the world in relative safety, the teens are eager to find out what life is like on the mainland following the invasion. Smart zombies are truly terrifying, and Pass' take on the dystopian genre will keep fans, particularly fans of horror, on the hook.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)