About the Book
-
Author:
- Scott Cramer
- Genres:
- Dystopia
- Science Fiction
- Voices:
- Cis Boy
- Cis Girl
- White (Non-Specified)
Cover Story: Alright!
BFF Charm: Yay
Talky Talk: Blow By Blow
Bonus Factors: Location!
Relationship Status: Study Partners
Cover Story: Alright!
I love the stark contrast of colors and the simplicity of this cover. Totally not embarrassing.
The Deal:
A comet is coming close to earth’s atmosphere, and while some gloom and doomers are saying it’s the end of the world, most folks are camping outside to watch the sight. Unfortunately for everybody, space dust from the comet enters the atmosphere and works like a germ, attacking the hormones of every person past puberty and killing them.
On Castine Island of the coast of Maine, sister and brother Abby and Jordan are just as devastated as every other kid left alive, but they decide to work together with the other kids on the island to survive. Sadly, puberty is not far away for many of them, and the updates they are hearing from the CDC — where the few remaining adults left alive are working to develop medicine that will fight the germs — aren’t coming fast enough…
BFF Charm: Yay
I have to say I was super impressed by almost all of the kids in this story, and would be happily handing out charms on Castine Island. They actually worked together through hardship after horrible hardship and established a working society. If it weren’t for the fact that they were all getting older, I think they could have all gone on to do just fine without any help. Cramer gives us insight into what a lot of the kids are thinking and feeling, but this isn’t the kind of book where you feel like you get to know too many characters in depth, on account of the fact that most of them are just trying to survive the next day.
Swoonworthy Scale: 3
There are some really sweet moments between a few of the characters, but this isn’t really a kissing book. By the time two people could fall in love, they, you know, might be dead.
Talky Talk: Blow By Blow
Cramer’s writing style is concise and fast-moving, with an almost rat-a-tat cadence: something happens, they deal, and then move on, without giving the characters or readers much time to reflect before the next big issue arises. As an adult reader who loves apocalypse books, I enjoyed his no-nonsense approach, and feel that it will especially appeal to younger readers. It’s a YA novel that a lot of middle-graders could sink their teeth into.
Bonus Factor: Location!
I love it when stories take place somewhere I’ve been, and this story is set on and island in Maine! Where I’ve lived! And in Cambridge, MA! Where I’ve also lived! Cramer paints a vivid picture of both locations, so even people who haven’t had the pleasure of living there will be able to visualize his world.
Relationship Status: Study Partners
This book and I might never share secrets about boys or become best friends, but man is it smart! So we’ve decided to be study buddies, and you guys! My test scores already went up! We’ll be partnering up for a science project soon, about how to build a peaceful society, and don’t tell anyone, but I’m pretty sure this book’s going to carry the grade.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received my review copy from the author. I received neither money nor cocktails for this review (damnit!). Night of the Purple Moon is available now.
