Hunger by Michael Grant

Synopsis:

It’s been three months since everyone under the age of fifteen became trapped in the bubble known as the FAYZ.

Three months since all the adults disappeared.
Gone.
Food ran out weeks ago. Everyone is starving, but no one wants to figure out a solution. And each day, more and more kids are evolving, developing supernatural abilities that set them apart from the kids without powers.
Tension rises and chaos is descending upon the town. It’s the normal kids against the mutants. Each kid is out for himself, and even the good ones turn murderous.
But a larger problem looms. The Darkness, a sinister creature that has lived buried deep in the hills, begins calling to some of the teens in the FAYZ. Calling to them, guiding them, manipulating them.
The Darkness has awakened. And it is hungry.

My Take:

The name of this sequel says it all.  Hunger for food, hunger for power, hunger for love.  The kids of the FAYZ have been struggling for survival for months now, and just as things seem to be getting moderately better, they take a turn for the worst.  You see, they plant cabbages and go fishing for food, and have meetings, and choose leaders, but they just can't get cut a break!  

At the start of the book, Sam Temple, Edilio Escobar (my favorite character!) and a new character named E.Z. are arriving at the cabbage field to collect the day's supply.  E.Z. was one of the only kids to willingly pick cabbages in Hunger. He was a victim of the Zekes, getting killed while trying to pick a cabbage. Sam then burned his body, not wanting to carry the body back to his little brothers.  The Zekes are mutated, territorial worms with razor-sharp teeth that made the cabbage patch their home.  This serves as a problem to Sam and the others, because, even though the zekes are carnivorous and do not consume the cabbages, humans are unable to pick cabbages, which is one of their main food supplies.  

On the other hand, the thing called the Darkness, or the 'gaiaphage' is lurking in an old mine shaft outside of town, and is beginning to stir up trouble.  Remember Drake, the enraged psycho who hangs around with Caine?  Him and the Darkness are good pals.  And you thought Drake was scary enough!

I would definitely say this is my favorite of the four books in the series so far.  The action never stops! There isn't one slow part in the entire book.  So, if you don't enjoy obsessing over amazing books and having your eyes glued to a page for hours, this book is SO not for you.

Rate: 10 out of 10

P!nky