Review: In The After by Demitria Lunetta

"In the After"

 

Author: Demitria Lunetta

Publisher: Harpercollins

Published: June 2013

*Science Fiction/Dystopian

*On order at the library

 

 

Summary:

Attack.

Not isolated.

Fate of Americans: unknown.

Amy is watching TV when the world is attacked by Them. Most of the population is overtaken, but Amy manages to survive-and even rescue "Baby," a toddler she finds in an abandoned supermarket.
Then, after years of hiding, they are miraculously rescued and taken to New Hope, a colony of survivors living in a former government research compound. While at first the colony seems like a dream, with plenty of food, safety, and shelter, New Hope slowly reveals that it is far from ideal. And Amy soon realizes that unless things change, she''ll lose Baby-and much more.
You''ll tear through the pulse-pounding narrow escapes and horrifying twists of fate in this thrilling debut from author Demitria Lunetta.


My Review:

Recently, I read a fast-paced page turner, In the After by Demitria Lunetta. It was a fantastic book that caught my attention despite the numerous lucrative distractions around me. If you are a fan of science fiction and coping with an apocalypse, this is your book!

Before, Amy Harris was the daughter of an environment advocate and a workaholic. After, she is caring for a toddler she calls Baby. Amy has to rapidly grow up in order to provide for two meanwhile trying to escape from Them. Them are green aliens with glowing yellow eyes, uncanny hearing, and an unquenchable appetite for human flesh; Them caused an apocalypse. The two relied on each other for companionship by communicating with a modified version of American Sign Language until they were rescued by New Hope, a post apocalyptic city dedicated to preserving the remaining members of the human species. Amy is surprised to discover that her mother, whom she thought was dead, was alive and directing this entire initiative to rebuild society. She attempts to live up to her mother’s and her community’s expectations. In New Hope the safety, security, and prosperity of the community was placed above all else, including the freedom of individuals. Curious Amy had trouble adapting to a life where propaganda and confidentiality were the foundation of society. What is the secret that New Hope is trying to hide? Why do leaders of New Hope want her dead? Will Amy choose freedom over safety?

This book kept me captivated and intrigued from the first page to the last. It was well written in the sense that the descriptions touch on all the senses and flowed together to create a perfect imaginary movie.

“I walked slowly, carefully placing each foot on the sidewalk to avoid making noise. The night was windy, which made me jumpy. Any movement of a bush or free and I froze. After constantly stalling, I had to force myself to calm down again. I didn’t want the sound of my hyperventilating to bring Them.”

The books did have some weaknesses. It was cliché and there was improper use of binomial nomenclature. They referred to the monsters as Florae sapiens when in biology no two species names can overlap. Usage of the word sapiens was scientifically inaccurate, but usage of the word Florae was incredibly witty. Flora (plural: Florae) refers to both plants and bacteria living inside of humans. This name is appropriate because the creatures resemble plants and is the result of biological warfare. In terms of rhythm, the beginning of the books was a bit slow and repetitive, and the ending was too fast. The idea for the conclusion, in my opinion, was the most interesting part of the entire story. In the sea of confusion, the ending held all of the answers. Unfortunately, it lasted only a couple of pages.

In the second and third part of the book, there are these episodes written in italics that confused me terribly. They seem to be dreams, but they also occur when she is awake. The episodes describe her treatment process in a mental institution. There is a possibility that these scenes are flashbacks to when she transitioned from the After into New Hope. Due to my lack of understanding for the purpose of these episodes, I felt like they were there to take up space, and didn’t contribute a whole lot to the plot.

I would categorize this book as a science fiction story with aspects of a utopian society. It follows the Hunger Games theme of trying to survive alone and learn how to live in a society that values productivity over individuality. The societies in both books are ruthless. New Hope used captives to test antidotes to biological weapons, while Hunger Games used children fighting for their survival as a method of entertainment. Both books also incorporate a very realistic and authentic romance.

Overall, the writer does a great job in making a believable post apocalyptic atmosphere by examining all aspects of how it functions, e.g. how humans will reproduce, how they will get their food source, and how they would defend themselves against the monsters. The protagonist is very believable. Through Amy’s actions, the reader can feel her maternal instincts, her desire for freedom, and her fear of the unknown. She embodies a beautiful and strong woman who is capable of facing the goods and evils of society without a male protector. I especially enjoyed her suitor because he was normal. He was not the unbelievably hot, super secretive, and incredibly charismatic alpha male, we normally read about. His personality is what pulls people in. He respected Amy instead of attempting to control her. He used his love and his dedication to earn her love. I would say her suitor, Rice, has to be one of the most attractive and realistic personalities in young adult literature.

“He reminds me of the boys I went to school with Before. Not the jocks or the popular kids. The geeky ones who looked a little socially uncomfortable, but you always knew they were going to go to Harvard and change the world.”

“He smiled crookedly, softening his striking features and wild blonde hair making him look kind. He looked familiar with his sharp features and wild blond hair. When I noticed a pair of glasses shoved in his white coat…”

Happy Reading,

Betty
Teen Reviewer