2021-07-01
In first-time author Mitchell’s dystopian novel, a father and son try to save their family during an epidemic.
John Davison, a biological fluid courier in Cincinnati, observes the first signs of a new deadly virus. This hypercontagious blood disease kills everyone it infects within mere hours. Surprisingly, it doesn’t affect people with type B blood; those with any other blood type who are past puberty are at risk. Though John and his 14-year-old son, Peter, are safe, his wife, Paula, is susceptible, and Peter’s little sister, Beth, soon will be. A blood transfusion can save Paula, should she be infected, so John suggests searching for donors. They’ll need a prepubescent child with her blood type. They could just ask nicely; instead, Peter and his friend Ken Moore chloroform kids and test their blood. By this time, the virus has spread globally, and parentless children form vicious gangs. They make money by stealing blood for transfusions, so now Peter and Ken have competition in an increasingly ugly world. Mitchell excels at building tension; John and his colleagues keep the virus a secret until news reports spark chaos among the public. Character development, however, is less successful. Virus-related discussions trump virtually all character development. As such, readers may find it hard to sympathize with anyone, even the ones who die. And as the novel progresses, Ken’s moral compass slowly corrodes, inciting truly unsettling scenes involving adolescents. Nevertheless, Mitchell knocks out an impressive ending that proves both memorable and convincing.
A potent, grim apocalyptic tale marred by tepid characterization.
