Review: Viral Nation by Shaunta Grimes
What: Viral Nation (Viral Nation #1) by Shaunta Grimes
Who#2: Berkley Trade
When: 2013
How: A copy of this novel was provided on behalf of Berkley Trade via Net Galley.
After a virus claimed nearly the entire global population, the world changed. The United States splintered into fifty walled cities where the surviving citizens clustered to start over. The Company, which ended the plague by bringing a life-saving vaccine back from the future, controls everything. They ration the scant food and supplies through a lottery system, mandate daily doses of virus suppressant, and even monitor future timelines to stop crimes before they can be committed.
Brilliant but autistic, sixteen-year-old Clover Donovan has always dreamed of studying at the Waverly-Stead Academy. Her brother and caretaker, West, has done everything in his power to make her dream a reality. But Clover’s refusal to part with her beloved service dog denies her entry into the school. Instead, she is drafted into the Time Mariners, a team of Company operatives who travel through time to gather news about the future.
When one of Clover’s missions reveals that West’s life is in danger, the Donovans are shattered. To change West’s fate, they’ll have to take on the mysterious Company. But as its secrets are revealed, they realize that the Company’s rule may not be as benevolent as it seems. In saving her brother, Clover will face a more powerful force than she ever imagined and will team up with a band of fellow misfits and outsiders to incite a revolution that will change their destinies forever.
The world’s population is nearly wiped out by a virus. This virus claimed Clover Donovan’s mother, and nearly claimed her brother, West. The only thing that saved him was the suppressant, developed by The Company. Now, The Company controls everything; from the borders of the cities, to the amount of food that citizens receive. And also, who is allowed to attend the Waverly-Stead Academy. That is where autistic sixteen year old Clover comes in. Clover passes the Academy entrance exams with flying colours, but is denied entry because of her service dog, Mango. Because of this, she is sent to The Company, to become a Time Mariner; a person who travels through time in order to gain information. But when on a mission into the future Clover discovers that her brother is in danger, and that is the beginning of the events that will change her life forever.
Completely unrelated to this book, but I feel like saying it: I love making up my synopses of books that I review. It’s so much fun!
Anyway, onto Viral Nation.
I was mainly interested in this novel because it is dystopian (one of my most loved genres of YA novels), and the main character, Clover, is autistic. I have never (well, I have now, after reading Viral Nation) read a novel with an autistic protagonist. I was eager to find out how the author portrayed a young girl with autism, and how she managed mental health themes. And I must say, I was impressed. Grimes didn’t overdo it, and she didn’t demonise Clover, either. I am very pleased with how the author handled things.
Personally, I loved Clover. I didn’t find her unrelatable because of her autism, and I found the descriptions of her perception of things very insightful. I physically cringed in one of the early chapters when her primary school bullies were giving her a hard time, and I wished that I could jump in the pages, and tell them all to back off.
Because Viral Nation was written in the third person, I didn’t gain as much insight as I would have liked into Clover’s emotions. I would have loved to see how her feelings towards people affected her, and how her feelings for a certain boy developed over time.
The world building, and plot of Viral Nation was addictive, to say the least. It was definitely one of those books that you don’t want to put down, but you don’t want to finish, either. And I think those are often the best kinds of books.
Jude. Oh, how I love thee. I fell in love the moment that he was introduced, and I could just tell that he was going to play an important role in this novel. I would love some Jude chapters in the second instalment of this series (which I would like to know the name of – is it Viral Nation, or something else?).
I loved Mango deeply, and if anything happens to that dog, in any of the books, I will be absolutely devastated.
I must say that at around page 250, there was some confusion on my part. It was when the time travel aspect of this novel was being explained, and I got a little lost. But other than that, the book was easy to understand, and flowed really well.
Overall, I highly enjoyed this unique novel, and I cannot wait until the second book in this series is released.
© 2013, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.
You could totally delete the above comment cause I’m lame and forgot my link :P
Here is the second try…*slaps forehead*
I NEED TO READ THIS! Really lovely review, Chiara! :D
*bumps it up on the TBR list*
– Emma @ Books Forget Me Knot
I noticed that, haha. ‘Your link text’ :P
Thank you! ^.^
I’m glad you’re bumping it up, it deserves it :D
NOW THIS JUST LOOKS SO CONFUSING.
DELETE THE FIRST COMMENT CAUSE I AM LAME! HAHAHAHA. I THINK IT’S TIME FOR MY BED TIME o.O
Okay, about to delete it! :D
It’s only 3pm here, it’s funny that you’re talking about bed time haha.
I am such a spaz. It’s been a long day…I got of at work at 6 and didn’t come home until close to 9 :'( it’s barely 10 p.m so I may read for a little before I head off to bed. Shower be damned. Lol wait…I may do that though cause I feel icky.
Work until 6 D: Not home until 9 D:
I can’t settle until I read before bed, so I know how you feel.
I bet you’ll feel better after a shower; wash off your tiredness!
Uh huh. I’ve been there since 10:15. I have 7.5 hour shifts. But there for about 8 hours. 3-4 days a week. I’m off for the next two days. Thank goodness! Haha and I will! A shower always wakes me up after. Okay, so I’m going to stop spamming you here. I’ll message you on goodreads after! I think I have to reply to your message from a couple of days ago…? Btw do you have a twitter?! :D
7.5 hour shifts sound pretty horrid!
Well at least you can rest up for the next two days :D
Okay, I shall go check goodreads then!
Yup, I have a twitter: https://twitter.com/eternaldelicacy
This sounds really interesting! For starters, it sounds more like a true dystopia instead of the diluted ones we’re seem to be getting a lot of. Secondly, I also love that it features an MC with autism, because I imagine it’s not easy to tackle! I might have to check it out!
It was a really interesting book, and is definitely one of my preferred dystopian novels.
I doubt it was easy to portray Clover’s autism, but I think the author did a good job :)
Let me know what you think!
THANK YOU for musing about this book the other day, because I loved it! I can’t wait to post my review, but it sounds like we felt very similar about it :)
That’s okay! I’m glad you found a book though my blog :D
I shall keep an eye out for your review!
Sounds better than I imagined! Will have to add this to my TBR
To be honest, it was better than I expected, too!
Ooh, I like the sound of this one. Time travel is always a plus in my book!
It was an awesome twist to the dystopian theme!
OMG wow! How come I’ve never added this book to my TBR list? I’ve seen it quite a few times but never really got interested enough to add it there. Now I definitely have to read it! It really sounds like a legit dystopian (probably more dystopian that what I’ve been reading lately). Awesome review Chaira! :D
Andrea K. @ Books and Bindings
Useless and unrelated to anything side note: It’s weird how my comment says I posted it July 6th at 8:44am when it’s only July 5th here at 4:44pm. Feels like I went to the future, commented on your blog, and came back to present. :D
Haha! That’s so true!
Sometimes I will comment on someone’s blog at their 3:00am, even though it’s nowhere near that time here!
It’s so bizarre I love it! :)
I don’t know! But you definitely should :D
It is such a good book, I hope you enjoy it!
Thank you ^.^