MEDIA

The Rains

by Gregg HURWITZ
8 CDs. 9:30 hrs. Brilliance. Oct. 2016. $26.99. ISBN 9781501238505. digital download.
COPY ISBN
Gr 7 Up—Listeners will be grabbed almost immediately by this story of what happens to a quiet farming community when space debris brings something unexpected and downright scary. Chance Rain and his older brother Patrick discover that the fragments carry something that has infected everyone over the age of 18. Several nifty plot twists keep listeners on edge as the story unfolds, with the author narrating his work skillfully. The three teens barely get past one hurdle before another more daunting one pops up. Secondary characters are interesting, ranging from very likable to just short of nasty. Even the family pets, Rhodesian ridgebacks, have their moments. This is a dandy and gripping audio, with the author's innate understanding of pacing and emotion adding a bit extra to the narration.
VERDICT Because of the violence, this title is not for the squeamish or fainthearted, but fans of alien invasions and postapocalyptic and zombie tales will be delighted, albeit surprised and possibly frustrated by the unexpected ending. ["Refreshing and surprising and won't leave teens feeling as though they've traveled this path before. Recommended for all YA collections, especially where Jonathan Maberry's "Rot & Ruin" series is popular": SLJ 10/16 review of the Tor Teen book.]
Reviewed by John R. Clark, formerly at Hartland Public Library, ME , Mar 01, 2017

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

BLOGS

Read Rec Rachel: New YA Releases for November and December 2024
by Rachel Strolle
BLOGS

Surviving the Slow Burn of Middle Grade, a guest post by Shannon Messenger
by Amanda MacGregor
BLOGS

Mysteries and the Teenage Search for Identity, a guest post by Jan Gangsei
by Amanda MacGregor
BLOGS

Co-Writing a Story of Trans Joy Across a Barbed Wire Fence, a guest post by Teghan Hammond and Mel Hammond
by Amanda MacGregor
BLOGS

Falling in Love with History, a guest post by Tonya Bolden
by Amanda MacGregor
BLOGS

Why Anthologies? A guest post by Henry Herz
by Amanda MacGregor
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?