Electric Monkey Plague Book

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In the ongoing story of the FAYZ, a bubble with a ten-mile radius around the nuclear power plant in California where all adults "poofed" out and left anyone under the age of 15 to fend for themselves, is getting darker and darker with each new book. Plague is the fourth book in Micahel Grant's Gone series, and it doesn't disappoint. Kids are tested time and time again by the supernatural terrors in the FAYZ, but can you stomach them long enough to finish the book?A lot went down in the months since the FAYZ wall went up, trapping the kids and leaving them to fend for themselves. After finally "burrying" the gaiaphage- a creepy mind-controlling entity that eats nuclear waste- the kids think they have a chance at a normal life. Boy are they wrong. Caine, Diana, Penny, and Bug are living the high life on the impenetrable island (after scooting its multicultural adoptees off the island unceremoniously) with plenty of food and drinking water, electricity, and nothing to bother them. Astrid and Sam were estranged after Astrid tried to kill a girl that convinced the littles to jump off a cliff. The new council is a hodgepodge of kids, including Howard, a known criminal. Edilio is struggle to maintain control of the town, but it is a constant battle, especially since he doesn't have any superpowers himself.All is bumbling along until Albert, the town business man/banker realizes they are almost out of clean drinking water. He sends Sam, Jack, Dekka, and Taylor out to the other end of the FAYZ to find the large lake he thinks is there. Hopefully it will keep the kids from dying of dehydration, but they have to get there quickly. On their way, they run across Hunter, who got gooped on by one of the flying snakes. Unfortunately, the snake goop seems to carry insect eggs that get into your body and eat your from the inside out. It doesn't hurt, and you don't know they are there at first, because they numb you up while they eat you, but when they find Hunter, he is so far gone they have eaten half his face and is beginning for Sam to finish him off. Sam obliges, but he can't seem to kill the bugs- they aren't fazed by his ultra-hot green lasers, and it takes Jack and Dekka's powers to realize they can at least crush the bugs.Meanwhile back at town, a plague is sweeping through the community. Kids are coming down with what seems like the flu, but what clearly has supernatural implications and becomes the most violent cough you have ever seen, eventually causing the kid to cough so hard they either break their neck or cough out their lungs (I told you this book was dark). Not even Lana the healer can stop this plague, despite her futile efforts. When the hostile kids who resent not having power decide to take it out on the one man who controls their status in the FAYZ, Albert, everything starts to fall apart. The final straw is when the immortally evil Drake (who bounces between being forceful Drake and plump, innocuous Brittney) escapes and returns to the Gaiaphage to serve his master. In the meantime, the bugs have grown bigger than SUVs and can snip a man in half. The Gaiaphage gives Drake control over the bugs, and Drake immediately sends some to attack the town and takes the rest with him to finally kill Sam Temple. What he doesn't understand is that his murderous rage is nothing compared to the will to live and protect that Sam and the others wear proudly like a badge of honor. But will it be too late to protect the town from the terrifying bugs?The reading level for this books is the same as the rest of the series- moderate language but some mature situations. I think this is the most adult book so far in an ever-maturing series, and I am constantly shocked at how dark Grant is willing to go. He certainly doesn't pull any punches even though this is a kids series, and he isn't afraid to lay it all out, gory bits and all. I am a huge fan of this series because it is like a modern day Lord of the Flies. Actually, if I had a student who was reading Lord of the Flies in their literature class, I would love to read this with them at the same time as an independent reading book. The comparisons would make for excellent discussions as well as great topics for essays.My favorite part about this book is that there are no clear heroes- everyone is flawed in some way. It makes the story more real and scarier than if you had some knight in shining armor who rode in and saved the day every time. Sam, Astrid, Edilio, and the other leaders are often tested and they don't always do the right thing. This is a very human story with tons of moral ambiguity- would you lock up a kid who was being eaten from the inside out by indestructible bugs to save other kids in the town once the bugs finished with him? Would you be able to kill an autistic nine-year old if it meant getting out of a place like the FAYZ? Michael Grant is an author who isn't afraid to make the reader feel uncomfortable with the tough questions. In fact, I think he revels in making the reader uncomfortable!

Just when you think that things can't get worse. That surely, life has to throw you a bone, that surely not everything is going to be this bad forever. It does in fact get worse. For the kids in the FAYZ this has happened once more. Every time that they think maybe this time something will change, maybe now things will get better.. they're proved wrong in the harshest way.Water is running out. People are getting sick. A plague is going around. Something nasty. Killing people, before they have a chance to get well. But there is more than one plague on the world of the FAYZ, a new mutant species has made itself known, and it too is killing members of the surviving community.Michael Grant has captivated me from the beginning with his Gone series. I started it with the very first book and since then have jumped on every single new release that comes out. He doesn't fail to impress once more. Another gruesome story, another lesson in sociology. What happens when you're already hungry, thirsty, dying, and without your parents when everyone gets sick. So many are dying. Who do you turn to? Where do you go?Sooo very much happened in this book. Grant never fails to fill every chapter and every page with more and more information. More development and every book is filled with surprises. I cannot wait for the next book, and I eagerly await for it to continue. I enjoyed the ending and it makes me excited for what is to come.

This is another great book in the gone series! As I've mentioned in my reviews of the other volumes in this series, some parts of this book were definitely mature and disturbing, but nothing that I don't think today's YA audience wouldn't be prepared for (in particular I'm thinking about some of the violence that the kids inflict on each other - and, of course, the crazy insects...). I have to say, I think Plague (compared to the other books in the series) was the most disturbing to me - perhaps because I'm squeamish about bugs (that's all I'm going to say about that...).Overall, the plot moved at an appropriate speed - quick enough to keep me engaged for hours on end. I read this book cover to cover in two or three sittings - just like the others prior. The continued character development that followed through from the first few books was great - as I've mentioned in reviews of previous entries is the series, everyone was flawed in some way, which i enjoy and appreciate. I also really enjoy stories that span a series of books. When I find a story and characters that I like, it's always fun being able to stay with them for a while.In short, I highly recommend this book and series for teens and adults who enjoy YA fiction. I wish this kind of YA literature had been around when I was growing up!

A-MAZ-ING! I was literally sad after finishing this book because I didn't want it to end. I couldn't even move on to read another book because this one is still in my head. Michael Grant has done it again! The book just takes your breath from the beginning and doesn't even allow you to gasp for air until the end. It's not for weak stomachs, he had me itching and checking over my shoulders while reading this. All the books are fabulous but I think this is my second fav after Gone. I love all the characters and the stories. I'm sad some of my favs died or nearly died and the developements in this book keeps you thirsty for more. Can't wait until the next one comes out. The title of the next one alone has me shaking in my boots, I won't spoil it for you unless you ask. Stephen Spielberg if you want a huge hit on your hands I suggest you get the movie rights to this series PRONTO. It's the best series I've ever read. And I'm no teenie bopper.