My rating:
4 of 5 stars
My opinion, as is true for anyone, is a subjective thing. Each of us has our own criteria for judging a book. While reading Pandemic, I started to feel nervous about looters and actually thought for a second about if it would be safe to have lunch with my sister the day I finished the book. I judge this to be a good thing for a book!
Pandemic is a story of a flu pandemic that quickly spreads throughout New England and eventually throughout the United States with little to no warning. As many government and health organizations will tell you, this is not a far-fetched scenario. Lilianna, or Lil as she is called by her friends, is a 16 year old girl who has recently suffered a trauma at the hands of a trusted teacher. As the flu begins its spread, she is already dealing with an obsessive need to feel safe and prepared for any disaster, as well as a strong need to avoid being touched. Lil has broken up with her boyfriend Ethan mostly due to these issues, and she is attempting to avoid a new boy called Jay who is showing interest. For the first time since "the event" as she calls her experience with the teacher, Lil is left home while both parents are traveling for work.
Lil's first exposure to the flu is while helping her best friend Megs get ready for a date. Suddenly Megs becomes seriously ill and is hospitalized. The worst part of this flu pandemic is the need to avoid people in order to stay healthy. But, Lil also has some anti-viral medication her father has placed in their safe for just such an emergency.
As the flu seriously spreads throughout Lil's town, the deaths become overwhelming. School is closed, businesses close, people are unable to travel due to quarantine or overwhelmed transportation, hospitals are overrun with the sick, and the bodies begin to pile up.
This is the point where Lil faces her own demons. Does she stay alone in her own home where she is mostly safe, or does she put herself out, facing her fears, to assist those in need. As the kids from her high school attempt to assist, with both Ethan and Jay involved, should Lil participate? What will this mean for her relationships? And, what can a 16-year old do?
I found Pandemic to be a gripping tale and a great debut for Yvonne Ventresca. Information about flu pandemics is well researched and provides a chilling example of what is possible. There may be some aspects of the story that are a bit coincidental, but overall, this is a solid story.
For those YA readers who have been enjoying the stories similar to Fault in our Stars, this is another title to add to your reading list. It is a quick, absorbing read with a great deal of tension, sadness, fear, and the maturing of the main characters. Definitely recommended.
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