Monday, May 12, 2014

The Girl with All the Gifts by MR Carey


The Girl With All the Gifts
by MR Carey

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Published by: Hatchette Book Group on June 10, 2014
Genres: Dystopian, Thriller, Mystery
Source: ARC from Publisher
Rating: 4.5 Stars

NOTICE: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Melanie is a very special girl. Dr Caldwell calls her "our little genius."

Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite, but they don't laugh.

Melanie loves school. She loves learning about spelling and sums and the world outside the classroom and the children's cells. She tells her favorite teacher all the things she'll do when she grows up. Melanie doesn't know why this makes Miss Justineau look sad.


Whoa! I could not put this book down! When I initially read the book blurb, I thought this would be a supernatural thriller where Melanie discovers her "powers" and changes the world - for better or worse. Melanie definitely changed the world, but not in the way I thought.

This book vacillates between the balance of the human condition and the science behind a worldwide killer virus. Will the human population become completely wiped out, or is there a "cure" for what ails everyone?

Melanie lives in a cell in a military facility several stories underground. This is the only life she's known. Melanie, better know as "Specimen One," doesn't know why she is there or who she is. There is the Sergeant who keeps order with military precision, the Dr. who examines the children, and the teacher who humanizes them. I don't want to write anything further because I don't want to spoil the plot!

The most interesting part of the whole book is that there is, indeed, a medical basis for the virus discussed in the book. It really does affect ants in the Amazon. Scary!

I wholeheartedly suggest you read this, then get back to me at once! I want to know what YOU thought of it!

My only suggestion is a title change. Something like "Pandora" or "Specimen One" would've been more appropriate.

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