The Hit

Gr 10 Up—In a gray, futuristic Manchester, England, society is on the brink of revolution. Discontentment abounds (though for reasons not well fleshed out), and thousands of people are willing to consider taking Death, a pill that gives you one week to live. Ironically, the drug makes you feel more alive than you have ever felt. Seventeen-year-old Adam gets caught up in the movement along with his girlfriend, Lizzie. After making the decision to take Death, Adam embarks on a quest to check off items on his bucket list, which include have sex with as many girls as possible, do cocaine, kill someone who deserves to die, and get Lizzie pregnant. The plot spirals out of control with the addition of a homicidal drug dealer hell-bent on turning people into paraplegics. The highlight of the audiobook is Samuel Roukin's narration. At best, this book might interest mature students with a love for dystopian/action novels, but ultimately the level of senseless violence and social depravity will not appeal to many listeners, especially in a school library. Not recommended.—Suzanne Dix, The Seven Hills School, Cincinnati, OH