Garner, Em. Contaminated 2: Mercy Mode. New York: Egmont USA, 2014. Ebook.

ISBN 978-1-60684-357-4

Summary from Amazon:

"Seventeen-year-old Velvet, her little sister, Opal, their mom, who is recovering from the Contamination, and Velvet's sweet boyfriend, Dillon, are attempting to build a new life amid the rationing and regulations of the post-outbreak nation. But the outbreak isn't over: more people turning into "Connies," more madness erupting, more killings occurring. And what they are being told is not the truth; the truth is far darker and more threatening."

What an intriguing take on the current dystopian trend! Admittedly, I was a bit cynical, as I have read quite a few books in this genre in the last year. These authors have to work a bit harder to get my attention. Garner succeeded! I liked, very much, that the book is not set somewhere in the distant future. These events could conceivably be happening in our world right now. Such timeliness will engage student readers. Initially, I was pleased that Velvet was just a “normal” kid working to survive in a world gone mad, and that pleased me. Without a spoiler, her status changes a bit in the course of the novel, but in a way that is believable. Students will relate to her struggles and her triumphs. I worried a bit that a typical sort of “love triangle” was being set up, but I am relieved that such is not the case. While my students will likely enjoy the developing romance a bit more than their cynical teacher, this relationship and others are nicely developed throughout the series of adventures. The detailed writing, especially when Velvet is undergoing experiences as a captive made me cringe. Well done. While this book is the second in a series, background information is skillfully woven in so that it can be successfully read as a standalone. While I felt the narrative drug just a bit here and there, enough twists and turns surfaced that I will be adding this series to my collection. Fans of Susan Beth Pfeffer and Veronica Roth will be lining up for this one!

I received an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.