The Girl with All the Gifts

M R Carey

This book was published in the year 2014 in UK by orbit books and subsequently in India by Hachette. M R Carey is an established writer who has his stamp on both DC and Marvel world. The book “The Girl with All the Gifts” grew out of a short story “Iphigenia in Aulis” for US anthology and consecutively the movie screenplay with same name.

Certainly, one of the most original books that I have read in recent past. The plot Zombie is not that unique though the presentation scale and approach to Zombie infection is definitely unique. By now one must feel that we have seen the latitude and longitude of zombie culture but this book will present a different perspective. It is genius of the author to explore some of the uncharted territories and establish a niche. The premise of this novel is cleverly and genuinely plotted. This book is fast paced thriller bit dark and gore in parts odd 400 pages yet a certain page turner. The characters are complex yet lovable and reading this is visually appealing. The description is surreal and takes you into an imaginative world post a fungal infection that has wiped most of the population and both humans and zombies thrive for survival.

The book opens up in a strange classroom ever. After zombie apocalypse in England some infected have for reason unknown been turned into zombie yet have also retain their human intelligence. Melanie is definitely more gifted amongst others; she and her other classmates are strapped in chairs for the safety of teachers. Children’s are made to go through lessons and read stories so that the scientist can figure out how and what makes them different. Melanie is not aware of what she is and why she is there. She is skeptical that her classmates disappear in lab and never come back. One day all of this change as a few survived the sudden zombie ambush on secret facility. Amidst all this chaos they have to travel to another secure facility with Melanie in captivity and Melanie has to decide weather she is human of humans are her food.

Chilling and it takes hold of you till the last page.