In the After (455 Pages)

Demitria Lunetta has written her first YA book and it is filled with edge-of-your-seat reading! Amy is by herself, at home, watching TV, when she learns that the world has been attacked by "Them." This is how she refers to the creatures who have killed anyone not protected by electronic fences or some other protection device. Amy's mother works for the government in what sounds like it could be the CIA. As a result she has made sure that their home is safely guarded by the latest protective devices. She believes that her mother and father are dead as both were out of the house, and the creatures feed on living humans (or any other protein they come across.) As days go by, Amy ventures from her home being careful to avoid the creatures. One day, she goes into a grocery store and finds a baby. She scoops her up and takes her home. Baby and Amy live together for several years. Because the creatures are lured by even the slightest sound, the girls develop their own signing language. Baby has become very adept at moving silently and so they are able to get canned food and other supplies without being attacked by the creatures. Eventually, they are picked up by a silent helicopter and brought to a secure "town" known as New Hope. Life there is very safe, yet Amy finds that safety can be a facade and should not be trusted. This is an interesting, fast paced debut novel.