This Is Not a Test by Courtney Summers
Review by Lauren
From- I bought a copy!
Official Summary:
It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up.
As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, everyone’s motivations to survive begin to change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life–and death–inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?
Review: I’m not going to have a really long review for this book because it’s been all over the blogosphere for awhile now, so I figure you’ve heard it before. If you have not, read this book. It’s seriously wonderful. It’s emotional and suspenseful and interesting and full of questions that you don’t always get the answers too (or the answers you want) but that’s life, and yeah, you have to live it. Keep living and fighting and breathing. One day at a time.
This is my first book by Summers, though I believe I own her first. Now that I’ve read this one, though, I know I need to keep reading her stuff. Summers reminds me of John Green and This Is Not A Test is the same…just with zombies. And the zombies work. They represent a lot, but they are scary and curious…a living human resigned to this fate. Do they have a soul? What does that mean, anyway? Sloane isn’t sure she wants to be alive. She thinks giving in to the zombies might be for the best. But then she won’t find out what she’s truly capable of, and it’s a lot, both good and bad.
Two songs make me think of this book so I wanted to share them, especially for those of you who HAVE read this before. What do you think?
First up, The Zombies with “She’s Not There”!
And then, we have Young the Giant with “Cough Syrup”!
I have read a lot good things about this book so I'm happy you loved it too. I will need to read it one of these days. Sounds like one that makes you think.
I must have been blind because this book tells me nothing, huh, how did I miss it? Anyway, sounds good
Nice review! I've been wanting to read this as I am yet to read any of Summers' books – glad you enjoyed it! And I like that Young the Giant song 🙂
Zombies are taking over the world! Great review; this actually sounds like an interesting read – especially for fall / Halloween! 🙂
I agree with Erika above about this being a good fall book-back to school and creepy zombies! Hope you enjoy your exploration of Summers' other work-it's good 🙂
Not a book I've heard of until now, I'm glad you enjoyed it so much and I'll be certain to keep an eye out for it.
I love Cough Syrup….I know this was such an interesting thought provoking read something way more than zombies!
I thought the idea behind this book was really interesting! A zombie novel that's not QUITE a zombie novel. I'm glad you enjoyed this one so much. 😀
I'm really glad you liked this one, Lauren! I thought it was an extremely poignant novel, and I really liked Sloane and some of the other characters. Great review!
I still need to read this one (as well as the author's other books) because it sounds so amazing. I really like that it is emotional and well written and that it's not just about zombies.
Someday I'll have to breakdown and read this. Everyone raves about this story. I LOVE Young the Giant! I saw them in concert out here in Los Angeles and they were fabulous live. Great review. 🙂