Spotlight: The Weepers by Susanne Winnacker

Hardcover, 261 pages

Published May 15th 2012 by Marshall Cavendish Buy it on Amazon

3 years, 1 month, 1 week and 6 days since I’d seen daylight. One-fifth of my life. 98,409,602 seconds since the heavy, steel door had fallen shut and sealed us off from the world

Sherry has lived with her family in a sealed bunker since things went wrong up above. But when they run out of food, Sherry and her dad must venture outside. There they find a world of devastation, desolation...and the Weepers: savage, mutant killers.

When Sherry's dad is snatched, she joins forces with gorgeous but troubled Joshua - an Avenger, determined to destroy the Weepers.

But can Sherry keep her family and Joshua safe, when his desire for vengeance threatens them all?

I am a huge fan of dystopian and zombie fiction, so I knew this was a book I had to read. And it didn’t disappoint. The story starts by laying out the scene that has been Sherry’s life for the past three years. Her life is lived in a small bunker with her family. When they run out of food, they are faced with a grim decision. Leave their safe haven or starve. Sherry and her father must venture out into the rabies-infected world in search for food, and this is where the story kicks off. In her first encounter with the Weepers (rabies infected humans), Sherry’s father is taken. She then pairs up with the boy who saves her. Another survivor named Joshua who helps in the search for her father.

I loved everything about this book. Especially Susanne Winnacker’s voice. Her writing style is flawless. From the perfectly placed flashbacks, to the countdown of days since Sherry had lived in civilization, her writing style is fresh and unique and grabbed me from the very first line. It was gritty and dark and the emotions were so real I ached for each character. The moments between Joshua and Sherry are sweet and fleeting as their feelings bloom for each other throughout the book. But those small moments are even more beautiful in a world that is so broken.

The Weepers is a welcomed addition to the dystopian genre and has this reader hooked. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!

Tara

Miniview with Author Susanne Winnacker

1.) You get to pick any YA hero to be your book boyfriend for the week. Who do you choose?

Tucker from Unearthly. Swoon-worthy, down-to-earth kind of guy who would take me hiking through beautiful nature. No stalker, so that’s a plus too! ;)

2.) If you could be any character in YA fiction, who would you be and why?

So many characters I admire live in dystopian societies, so I’m not really keen on being them if that means I’ll have to live in their world. Maybe Puck from The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater because I’d love to live on Thisby and see the Capaill Uisce (water horses), at least for a little while. What I like about her: She’s stubborn and tries to do the best for her family.

3.) Favorite candy on movie night?

Nachos with cheese and jalapenos.

4.) Who would win a battle between a weeper and a ninja?

I guess that depends on the ninja. A great ninja might stand a chance even without weapons. But Weepers are fast

If you want to know more about Susanne and her awesome books click here.