All Better Now by Neal Shusterman
This is the newest release by dystopian fiction author Neal Shusterman, who some of you might know from his other page-turners Scythe, Unwind, and Dry (all of which I loved and think you should read!).
All Better Now focuses on a world in the beginning stages of a global pandemic (a virus called Crown Royale) that claims the lives of 4% (1 in 25!) of the population it infects. Here’s the kicker…those who recover find themselves changed. They experience “utter contentment. Stress, depression, greed – all negative feelings are gone.”
You might think that sounds pretty great…I get sick, get better, and end up happier and more fulfilled on the other side. However, what emerges are two distinct factions: those who have recovered from the sickness (the “enlightened” or the “compromised,” depending on your perspective) and those who have been able to avoid Crown Royale (and who are still able to feel angry, sad, depressed, and greedy). Both groups feel confident that THEIR way of life should be the only way.
This is a great look at a world divided, and brings up some really interesting arguments about the “right” way to live.
The Names by Florence Knapp
As Juliet (from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet) said, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” But is this true? You have one name, but how might your life have changed if you grew up with a different label? How do our names shape and affect us?
This is the question asked in Florence Knapp’s novel. As The Names opens, Cora is on the way to register her new baby son and to officially give him a name. But does she choose the name her abusive husband wants, the one her 9-year old daughter wants, or the one she feels is best? What happens from there is three complete life paths, exploring how very different each name would affect not only the infant boy as he grows up, but all of his family as well.
I recommend this book if you like the idea of “multiverses” where we can imagine multiple futures for different characters.
