Review Detail

It's been eighteen months since Hetty and her friends have been quarantined at the Raxter School for Girls. A deadly virus, the Tox, has infected them and the staff. They are left to fend for themselves while those around them either die a grisly death or are transformed into something terrible. Hetty though knows that there's more going on than the authorities are letting on. When her friend goes missing, she searches for the truth. Only she finds there's much more to their story and fate.

What worked: Think futuristic twist of LORD OF THE FLIES set in a quarantined girl's school. Add climate change to the mix and you have one mesmerizing, chilling survivalist tale.

Hetty and her classmates transformation after being infected by the Tox is shown in sometimes gruesome images. Hetty is strong and even though the virus has affected her sight(the description of what she feels is very chilling), she struggles with feeling deep down that the headmaster and authorities aren't being totally honest with them. Most of the adults at the school have died and those who did survive have changed in their own gruesome ways.

There is a Sci-fi element throughout this story, though it could be based on something that could very well happen in the near future with the consequences of climate change. Not only are the girls affected, but all life on the island.

Provocative, haunting story that is guaranteed to keep you turning the pages until the early hours.