This is more than just a review of a finalist title–Hearts Still Beating ended up being the winning book this year, after much discussion by the Round 2 panel of judges. You can read the full blurb we wrote (and blurbs for the other winners) on the Cybils website. But as the group blurb alludes to, I was one of those who generally doesn’t gravitate to zombie fiction. I read it every now and then, but it has to be really good–and this one was really good. It follows two narrators, Mara and Rory–former best friends who separated after the world went bad and Mara was infected with a virus that turned her (and many others) into a semi-alive flesh-eating monster that regular humans call a Tick. At the beginning of the story, we find out that Mara has been under treatment for her condition and, as long as she takes her regular dose of antidote, she’ll remain normal-ish…mostly. Unfortunately, when she and Rory find each other again, Rory isn’t quite ready to trust her former friend, let alone act on their feelings hinting at more than just friendship. And then, of course, throw in an antagonist who is on the psychopathic side of things…he was a bit over the top, but certainly compelling and scary, and well suited to this type of story.
Something I liked about this book was the idea of zombies not being actually fully dead, but in a sort of stasis due to an infection, with the possibility of treatment and even a vaccine. It’s an explanation that might appeal to the more science-minded who question the realism of zombies–or, anyway, satisfy such a reader enough for them to suspend their disbelief for the duration of the book (which is usually how it works for me). There was plenty of action to keep things moving, and great setting details; I enjoyed recognizing landmarks in a post-apocalyptic ruined San Diego/Coronado Island. Both narrators were relatable, including the difficult choices they had to make, and there was definitely romance, but not so much that it was distracting; rather, the love between the characters added a variety of complications. Mara’s POV, as an infected person figuring out how to be human again, was particularly convincing and interesting. It reminded me a little of another zombie book I liked, The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey.
Perhaps just as important, the alternating narrators were both distinct and each had their own well-developed story. One of my pet peeves as a reader is losing track of who’s talking when there are multiple narrators because the voices and/or perspectives are too similar. The writing overall was very good, though, and everything seemed well plotted. Thematically, too, there was a lot to sink into in this book. There was some disability representation, in that Rory has to contend with a poorly healed bullet wound to the leg, and arguably, the illness that turns people into Ticks can be viewed through a disability lens. The story also contained a healthy dose of one of my favorite themes in fiction, which is the theme of found and/or chosen family. In a ruined world where so many are dead (or undead), you have to find family where you can, and that is one of the overarching messages I was left with at the end–a hopeful message, I think. All in all, a very impressive book by a debut author.
