Lynn M. (officerripley) reviewed The Girl With All the Gifts (Girl With All the Gifts, Bk 1) on + 258 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Wow...just wow! Loved this book! Was assigned to read it for a book club & thought, "Oh, no; not another zombiepocalypse novel...sigh", but this is one of the best books--not just postapocalyptic books but all books, EVER!--I've read. Such great characters, so well developed, especially the little girl; very few authors can realistically write children; M. R. Carey can and how! Thanks for your art, dear author; keep writing!
Joan W. (justreadingabook) reviewed The Girl With All the Gifts (Girl With All the Gifts, Bk 1) on + 1726 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Eerie, odd, not expected, different and very thought provoking. A what the what? kind of book. Did not fail to entertain and keep the the pages turning.
JOANNE (joann) -
Helpful Score: 1
This book started out really good. Melanie is a "child" who is considered a "hungry" by humans who are not infected with a virus that has turned most of the world in to zombies. Melanie and many other children are living on a base manned by the normal humans. These children are living in cells, eat once a month and are showered with a disinfectant that makes the human smell not recognizable to the children.
The children are in class every day, learning what children learn. Helen Justineau is a favorite among the children, especially Melanie. She teaches them Greek mythology, math, reading, etc. Helen and Melanie create quite a bond and Helen Justineau seems to really care about Melanie and her fellow classmates.
There are instances of certain children being taken out of the mix and never returning, which concerns Melanie. Dr. Caldwell is conducting experiments to find out scientifically what the facts are about the virus that has infected the world, but doesn't seem to have a full hold on these children.
There is an attack to the base and some of the characters are forced to escape into the unknown. Adventure and danger ensue.
I thought the first part of this book was really intriguing. After the attack at the base and the nitty-gritty of having to survive on the outside, I found the book a little droll.
I am going to watch the movie and see if the story was made a little more exciting.
The children are in class every day, learning what children learn. Helen Justineau is a favorite among the children, especially Melanie. She teaches them Greek mythology, math, reading, etc. Helen and Melanie create quite a bond and Helen Justineau seems to really care about Melanie and her fellow classmates.
There are instances of certain children being taken out of the mix and never returning, which concerns Melanie. Dr. Caldwell is conducting experiments to find out scientifically what the facts are about the virus that has infected the world, but doesn't seem to have a full hold on these children.
There is an attack to the base and some of the characters are forced to escape into the unknown. Adventure and danger ensue.
I thought the first part of this book was really intriguing. After the attack at the base and the nitty-gritty of having to survive on the outside, I found the book a little droll.
I am going to watch the movie and see if the story was made a little more exciting.
Heather F. (AZmom875) -
I was amazed at page 6, page 102, and still page 322 where I had to stop to get some sleep. I just kept thinking wow this book would make a great movie. Turns out the author is an experienced Screenwriter and the UK will release this as a movie in SEPT 2016.
I could see Will Smith, playing Sargent Parks. A Dakota Fanning little sister or a look a like playing Melanie. I am disappointed in their casting choices, except for Glenn Close playing the determined Dr. I am sure it will work just fine with the actors that they chose. I made the mistake of looking up the movie so my image of the characters then changed in my head as I was reading. There is an explanation in the extra author chat about why the movie might be different than the book. See the first line talks about Melanie, whose names means black girl, being very blonde and white. Well, will that be important in the end? It kinda was, but I am sure in the movie it wont matter so much. In the book the teacher was black, and she is some cute white gal in the movie. The actor portraying Melanie is a very cute young African-American girl. From what I can tell I can accept her as Melanie. I think they will just remove the issue of her name and her very blonde hair in the movie and how this relates to Parks in the end. The race and hair color, of the two soldiers are also changed, but that is not as significant to the plot really. I would really like to see this movie if it gets released in the USA. I expect an R rating.
But back to the book. What an amazing book, and really not too scary if you are worried about that. I think the movie might be more gruesome, but I could control the images in my head vs what the media might present visually.
I liked the Greek myths being pulled into the story. I loved the two main characters Melanie and her teacher that she loves. I love the whole "end of the world infection" and the clues to problem and the solution being added slowly. I also love the solution to the problem. I love the idea that Pandora's box isnt just a story but a choice.
This book is very unique and well worth your time to read. Dont miss this one.
I could see Will Smith, playing Sargent Parks. A Dakota Fanning little sister or a look a like playing Melanie. I am disappointed in their casting choices, except for Glenn Close playing the determined Dr. I am sure it will work just fine with the actors that they chose. I made the mistake of looking up the movie so my image of the characters then changed in my head as I was reading. There is an explanation in the extra author chat about why the movie might be different than the book. See the first line talks about Melanie, whose names means black girl, being very blonde and white. Well, will that be important in the end? It kinda was, but I am sure in the movie it wont matter so much. In the book the teacher was black, and she is some cute white gal in the movie. The actor portraying Melanie is a very cute young African-American girl. From what I can tell I can accept her as Melanie. I think they will just remove the issue of her name and her very blonde hair in the movie and how this relates to Parks in the end. The race and hair color, of the two soldiers are also changed, but that is not as significant to the plot really. I would really like to see this movie if it gets released in the USA. I expect an R rating.
But back to the book. What an amazing book, and really not too scary if you are worried about that. I think the movie might be more gruesome, but I could control the images in my head vs what the media might present visually.
I liked the Greek myths being pulled into the story. I loved the two main characters Melanie and her teacher that she loves. I love the whole "end of the world infection" and the clues to problem and the solution being added slowly. I also love the solution to the problem. I love the idea that Pandora's box isnt just a story but a choice.
This book is very unique and well worth your time to read. Dont miss this one.
Heather M. (gargirl) reviewed The Girl With All the Gifts (Girl With All the Gifts, Bk 1) on + 36 more book reviews
I read this book after seeing the trailer for the upcoming movie and it is a wonderful new take on zombies. Well thought out and chillingly bleak, the novel feeds one just enough hope to keep moving, much as it does the characters. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the zombie niche' and is about 16 or older. It isn't super graphic or anything, just too bleak, in this mom's opinion, for younger teens and kids.
Nancy E. (baja45) reviewed The Girl With All the Gifts (Girl With All the Gifts, Bk 1) on + 174 more book reviews
This story line is very different but it grabs you in the first few chapters & doesn't let go.
Nancy D. (miz-firefly) -
AMAZING STORY
I am having a hard time reviewing this story. It was an amazing read. Dark and compelling the story all but leaped of the pages. I could hardly put it down. And am immensely glad to be finished, because it was an itense read
I am having a hard time reviewing this story. It was an amazing read. Dark and compelling the story all but leaped of the pages. I could hardly put it down. And am immensely glad to be finished, because it was an itense read
Karen S. (MKSbooklady) reviewed The Girl With All the Gifts (Girl With All the Gifts, Bk 1) on + 989 more book reviews
If you like zombies, this is the book for you. It has gotten a lot of great reviews, so I thought why not? I don't like zombies, or science fiction, both of which this book is. Got a little over 100 pages in, and gave up.
I made it a little less than halfway through before I had to quit due to the terrible bad language. I really liked the storyline and wanted to finish it but I couldn't get past all the curse words. Just a friendly heads up to any one like me who prefers good, clean books.
