Contaminated

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this for review from netgalley.com.

This is a hard book to categorize. It's not really a “zombie” book, but there's elements of it there. It's not really a coming of age book, but there's bits of it there too. Contaminated tells the story of Velvet and her sister Opal, as they struggle to remain together after the Contamination, an event that left their parents sick with a disease. Velvet is sure she'll find here mother and ends up doing so.

The first part of the book is about Velvet's struggles as she tries to keep the 3 of them together. As her mother is contaminated, no one wants them around. Her neighbors kick them out of their house, Opal's school creates rumors to get her out, and Velvet is unable to handle the burden of working a job and taking care of three people. They are forced to leave the town and head towards their old house.

This story of struggle, of doing what matters despite the odds and what's expected, is a great story to write. Velvet is doing her best... and succeeding. I'm not sure that Garner knew this when writing this story, but it's an important tale to write. Of what struggles we go through just to survive.

The second part of the book is where things devolve again. Another outbreak happens and the Contaminated are rounded up. Only people who can speak are spared. With the help of her new friend Dillon, they learn that Velvet's mom can talk by removing the collar. Things end with a glimpse of hope but not much.

There is a lot of good and bad in this book but it's Velvet's strength to keep going... despite how everyone feels about her mother that makes this book so strong and what kept me reading. As always when there's a cliffhanger ending, I can only hope that the next book gets written and this isn't any different.