Savage

Gr 9 Up—Reading Sniegoski's most recent tome right after a big meal isn't recommended. Sidney Moore, an aspiring veterinarian prepping to head off to college in Boston, finds herself battling more than just the weather when a massive storm wallops her small town of Benediction, MA, mysteriously changing all of the local animals and insects into bloodthirsty killers. Simultaneously, a scientist, Dr. Sayid, is investigating the aftermath of a similar storm in the South Pacific, a storm that left behind one lone survivor and dozens of brutally savaged bodies. Sidney notices that all of the creatures coming for her and her town share one thing in common, aside from their single-minded hunt: one eye that appears to be covered with a silvery film. The journey to find a solution to the terrifying epidemic is, to put it mildly, a treacherous one. Hordes of insects crawl through the smallest cracks to bite and pinch, and manic animals of all shapes and sizes fearlessly fling themselves against windows and doors. The stomach-turning climax brings up a whole new set of questions, obviously setting readers up for a sequel, which promises to be equally unnerving, as teens are left with the uncanny storm turning its attention toward Boston.