The Enemy by Charlie Higson

Release Date: Available Now in the UK from Puffin Books/ Available May 18, 2010 in the US from Hyperion Book CH

Source: Personal Collection

Synopsis: (UK)


When the sickness came, every parent, police officer, politician--every adult--fell ill. The lucky ones died. The others are crazed, confused and hungry. Only children under fourteen remain, and they're fighting to survive.

Now there are rumours of a safe place to hide. And so a gang of children begin their quest across London, where all through the city--down alleyways, in deserted houses, underground--the grown-ups lie in wait.
Synopsis: (Amazon US)

In the wake of a devastating disease, everyone older than sixteen is either dead or a decomposing, brainless creature with a ravenous appetite for flesh. Teens have barricaded themselves in buildings throughout London and venture outside only when they need to scavenge for food. The group of kids living at Waitrose supermarket is beginning to run out of options. When a mysterious traveler arrives and offers them safe haven at Buckingham Palace, they begin a harrowing journey across London. But their fight is far from over— the threat from within the palace is as real as the one outside it. Full of unexpected twists and quick-thinking heroes, The Enemy is a fast-paced, whiteknuckle tale of survival in the face of unimaginable horror.

First of all, I think it's interesting that the UK version of the synopsis says that no one over 14 was affected, while the US version puts it at 16. That's the only reason I printed both. I'm just wondering if the US synopsis is wrong, or if they are really changing the age in the US version. I guess I'll have to read and find out.

This was a great read!! I love zombies--zombie movies, zombie books. zombie comics--every kind of zombie you can thing of....I love them. So, when I originally read the description for this book on Wondrous Reads, I knew I had to have it. It just took me awhile to get up the nerve to order it from the UK, because it costs so darned much. Thanks to my weakness for books, though, soon it was in my hot little hands.

If you like horror or post-apocalyptic fiction, you should definitely check this out. It's a non-stop scarefest and it's beautifully written at the same time. It shifts seamlessly between the viewpoints of different characters who are all experiencing their own terrors while trying to make their way to "safety."

It's got a lot of elements of Lord of the Flies as well, as these young people strive to rebuild some semblance of their lost past, they find themselves just grasping at the hope of normalcy in the face of utter devastation. And in their quest to survive, they start to slowly turn on one another.

It's just a great page-turner that kept me reading all night. It also made me a little afraid to turn off the lights, which is exactly what I want in a zombie book. It's the first in a series, so I'm really looking forward to book 2 although there's no date for it yet. I guess I can safely turn out the lights at least for a little while longer.