Fire & Ash

Gr 9 Up—Benny Imura and his friends Nyx, Lilah, and Riot have suffered through the zombie horror that destroyed most of the world. All they want to do now is survive and save Chong, who is stuck in between life and zombie status. Their best chance lies in finding Dr. McCready, a woman who was working on a cure before she disappeared. When Benny finds pertinent information on a zombie corpse, he learns the truth about what started the plague. The true villains are not the dead, but the Reapers, who want to destroy the world for their god Thanatos, and the adults who started the plague in the first place. It is up to Benny and his friends to fight for the entire world. Brian Hutchison's narration keeps teens on the edge of their seats as he captures Maberry's suspenseful plot perfectly. Each individual character is imbued with his or her own quirks. Hutchison gives voice to the pure evil of the Reapers, Lilah's breathy eeriness, and Benny's change from an unsure young man to a grown hero. More than just a horror story, Maberry's deep morality checks will leave listeners considering the true nature of evil and pondering some of the choices facing our world today. Perfect for fans of The Walking Dead and Darren Shan.—Sarah Flood, Breckinridge County Public Library, Hardinsburg, KY