The 5th Wave

The 5th Wave

Rick Yancey
(5th Wave #1)

My rating: ★★★★

ISBN: 9780399162411

Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons

Date of publication: May 7, 2013

Age: Grade 8 and up

Genre: Science Fiction

Themes: Alien invasion, destruction of human race, epidemic, warfare

Awards: 2014 Best Fiction for Young Adults (YALSA).

After the 1st wave, all power on Earth was fried with a single electromagnetic pulse. After the 2nd wave, any city within 60 miles of a coastline was underwater. After the 3rd wave, only those with an immunity to the plague remain. With the 4th, it is clear not every human is what they say they are. Cassie knows that she can trust no one if she wants to survive. But she needs to rescue her little brother and Evan Walker may be her only hope. Can she really trust him? Is he even human? And what exactly will happen in the 5th wave?

While there was a sense of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" and "War of the Worlds," this novel was a fantastic exploration into the mindset of the desperate human. Cassie now faces life and death decisions, where six months earlier, she only needed to worry about who was asking her to prom. It's heart-wrenching and well-written. The plot does slow a bit in the middle, while waiting for the worse to happen, but the ending is well worth it.

Warning: Explicit Content
Language
Some sexuality