Sick by Tom Leveen

I was a surprisingly big fan of the last book I read by Tom Leveen, Zero, which was a contemporary read I wasn't really sure about before I picked it up, so when I saw that he'd written a zombie book, I was very curious to see what he would do with the genre. Sick is the story of a group of teenage outsiders, including the main character, Brian as well as his friends, sister, and ex-girlfriend. When their high school is overcome with a virus that turns people into mindless bloodthirsty beings, Brian and his best friend are stuck safe in the theater department. Unfortunately, his sister and ex are not, and Brian makes it his goal to bring them to safety, even if it may end up costing him his own life.

Sick reminded me a lot of the "stuck in a high school edgy YA zombie novel" This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers, but unfortunately I preferred her variation. This book was just a bit forgettable for me, but it is an easy read and in combination with the male narrator, might appeal more to a younger audience. Leveen's zombies are kinda cool, and the story has lots of action, but in terms the actual storyline it got a bit ridiculous with coincidences. I was most disappointed with the lack of explanation of about how the zombies started. I really wanted more background and science behind the storyline, instead of just feeling like something the reader had to accept. Brian is an okay narrator, but he's again, nothing memorable, and I just really preferred the title character in Zero.

Overall, I'm glad I gave Sick a shot as it was a quick read I devoured on an airplane ride, but I will be sticking to Leveen's contemporary in the future. There could be a sequel to this, but if there is, it's not for me.

Release Date: October 1st 2013 Pages: 288  Format: ARC
Source: Publisher  Publisher: Amulet  Buy It: Book Depository