This is Not a Test by Courtney Summers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Goodreads Summary:
It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?
My Review:
Man I love anything Zombie. And I mean LOVE.
Carrie Ryan's series? Love. THE WALKING DEAD? Love. I AM LEGEND? Love. THIS IS NOT A TEST? Holy WTF Batman?
The last twenty pages alone, I just about fell out of bed while reading it. Courtney Summers did NOT hold back in those last few pages. And I mean AT ALL.
The beginning may have been a tad bit slow for my zombie tastes, but once it started going, it never stopped. And all I kept thinking was what I would do if I were stuck in Cortege High School. Then again, if I were stuck with Rhys, it might not be so bad.
Then the story unfolded and it was exactly how I would've imagined it would be, if the world was suddenly taken over by zombies. Mass hysteria. A frantic search for refuge. Never being alone.
Especially that last one.
And normally you read about how slow zombies are, dragging a foot behind them. Slugging along with their arms outstretched, moaning. Zombies that aren't smart enough to climb over a fence. Or open a door. But what really did it for me, is that the zombies in THIS IS NOT A TEST were fast. They actually ran. And I think that scared the crap out of me. Something that could actually keep up? So. Not. Cool. Ms. Summers. Not cool at all.
Okay, you know I loved it. Really.
And the external battle wasn't the only one our MC Sloane was up against. Deeply flawed with her own personal demons, she struggled between fighting and giving up. In fact, all of the characters had their own issues, each bringing something different to the table.
In the end, I'll say I thoroughly enjoyed THIS IS NOT A TEST. And as sick and twisted as it sounds, I love a book that can make me pull my foot in from hanging off the edge of the bed. Or close my closet door. Or jump when my dog's ears perk up at a strange noise in the house. And THIS IS NOT A TEST? Yeah, it didn't disappoint.