08/08/2016
The apocalypse comes from outer space in this unsettling thriller, first in a planned series. When a meteor strikes the small town of Creek’s Cause, it infects every resident over the age of 18, turning them into terrifying monsters working in service to a higher, unknown purpose. As the transformed adults hunt down their own children, taking them away in cages, some manage to resist and seek refuge in the local school, including brothers Patrick and Chance Rain, and Patrick’s girlfriend, Alex. While Chance is 15, Patrick is swiftly approaching his 18th birthday; they have to find a way to stop the alien invasion before he, too, becomes one of the enemy. In his first book for teens, Hurwitz (Orphan X) crafts a tense, disturbing tale that’s simultaneously a story driven by brotherly love and the determination to survive against impossible odds. It’s a grim affair, the fight scenes brutal and visceral, and the cliffhanger ending will have readers desperate for answers. Ages 12–up. Agent: Lisa Erbach Vance, Aaron M. Priest Literary. (Oct.)
The Rains
Narrated by Todd Haberkorn
Gregg HurwitzUnabridged — 9 hours, 28 minutes
The Rains
Narrated by Todd Haberkorn
Gregg HurwitzUnabridged — 9 hours, 28 minutes
Overview
In the tradition of Rick Yancey's The 5th Wave, the first YA novel from New York Times bestselling author Gregg Hurwitz.
In one terrifying night, the peaceful community of Creek's Cause turns into a war zone. No one under the age of eighteen is safe. Chance Rain and his older brother, Patrick, have already fended off multiple attacks from infected adults by the time they arrive at the school where other young survivors are hiding.
Most of the kids they know have been dragged away by once-trusted adults who are now ferocious, inhuman beings. The parasite that transformed them takes hold after people turn eighteen—and Patrick's birthday is only a few days away.
Determined to save Patrick's life and the lives of the remaining kids, the brothers embark on a mission to uncover the truth about the parasites—and what they find is horrifying. Battling an enemy not of this earth, Chance and Patrick become humanity's only hope for salvation.
Editorial Reviews
A brilliant, terrifying, rule-breaking reimagining of the zombie novel. Hurwitz pulls no punches and takes no prisoners.”—Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of Rot & Ruin
“Gregg Hurwitz is a writer’s writer, fast on his feet, quick with the perfect turn of phrase. The Rains is one of those all-too-creepy-and-believable stories that leaves you looking in your backyard for the next strange weed to poke through the ground. Chilling!”—Ridley Pearson, New York Times bestselling author
“The Rains is a fearsome exploration of survival that turns the horrors of the natural world into our worst nightmares. Readers will hold their breath for the whole adrenaline-packed, terrifying ride. Biological sci-fi at its best.”—Lydia Kang, author of Control
“The alien-zombie mashup that science-fiction fans won’t want to miss. The novel’s ultimate cliffhanger ending is a satisfying conclusion of intrigue and suspense and will leave readers wanting more. Alex, a major character and Patrick’s girlfriend, is a blond, white girl and a feminist force to be reckoned with. This zombie-esque sci-fi novel will feed the needs of readers looking for a fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping story with elements of horror.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Best-selling author of adult thrillers Hurwitz turns to YA alien invasion in this suspenseful series starter. Modest, hard-working Chance, who narrates through diary entries, worships his lionhearted brother and will do anything to save him; their deeply caring relationship gives the action emotional intensity. Chance’s transformation into a determined, selfless hero is well-earned. The aliens’ full-scale plan is terrifying and viscerally repellent. Readers with a 5th Wave-shaped hole in their sf-loving hearts will rejoice. Best-seller Hurwitz has proven he knows how to hook an adult audience. Expect his YA debut to have the same effect on teens.”—Booklist
“In his first book for teens, Hurwitz crafts a tense, disturbing tale that’s simultaneously a story driven by brotherly love and the determination to survive against impossible odds. It’s a grim affair, the fight scenes brutal and visceral, and the cliffhanger ending will have readers desperate for answers.”—Publishers Weekly
03/01/2017
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.]—John R. Clark, formerly at Hartland Public Library, ME
10/01/2016
Gr 7 Up—Following on the popularity of apocalyptic zombie fiction, this is an edge-of-your-seat test of survival. Set in an anywhere town, the narrative moves along at a breakneck pace. Creek's Cause is a peaceful community filled with farms and hardworking people. Chance Rain is a 15-year-old who feels that he will never measure up to his brother, Patrick. Star quarterback and homecoming king Patrick is the envy of the other young men around him. Living a normal life on the farm, the brothers are content with tilling fields, delivering calves, hunting, and driving tractors. In one horrifying night, Creek's Cause becomes a war zone when everyone under the age of 18 quickly realizes that they are no longer safe. Chance and Patrick have already fended off multiple attacks from infected adults by the time they arrive at the school, where other survivors are hiding. The parasite that transformed the adults into ferocious, inhuman beings affects teens the minute they turn 18. Unfortunately for Patrick, his birthday is a few weeks away. The siblings are determined to save Patrick and the remaining kids, so they set out on a seemingly impossible mission to find out the truth. This title is one of the better YA zombie-esque novels that has been written in the last few years. It is refreshing and surprising and won't leave teens feeling as though they've traveled this path before. VERDICT Recommended for all YA collections, especially where Jonathan Maberry's "Rot & Ruin" series is popular.—Amy Caldera, Dripping Springs Middle School, TX
In this chilling account of an alien invasion, Todd Haberkorn portrays young Chance Rain—a small-town teen who fights for his life as the world descends into madness around him. This is Gregg Hurwitz's first YA novel, and teen audiences will find courageous, relatable protagonists; rousing action; and a mystery that unfolds against a background of horror and suspense. Haberkorn's pacing is admirable—he keeps a fast-moving story on track without rushing the narrative and treats the serious moments with appropriate gravity. His warm, wry delivery reflects Chance's thoughts as he tries to save the world, and his impressive range captures Chance’s friends and enemies. An ideal listen for fans of horror, dystopian novels, or sci-fi. K.S.B. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine
2016-07-20
The alien-zombie mashup that science-fiction fans won’t want to miss. When Asteroid 9918 Darwinia lands in the small town of Creek’s Cause, it spells major trouble for 15-year-old Chance Rain and his 17-year-old brother, Patrick. For starters, all the adults have turned into zombielike parasitic hosts. What’s worse? The alien spores from the asteroid will eventually infect all the children on their 18th birthdays. For some, 18 is years off, but for others, like Patrick, it’s only days away. And so begins a race against the clock as Chance tries to save Patrick from a grisly fate. The novel’s filmlike storytelling tactics don’t always translate well to book form, and the numerous chapter cliffhangers make the writing seem repetitive and predictable; however, the novel’s ultimate cliffhanger ending is a satisfying conclusion of intrigue and suspense and will leave readers wanting more. Chance’s and Patrick’s physical descriptions are limited to height and stature, making their race indeterminable. Alex, a major character and Patrick’s girlfriend, is a blond, white girl and a feminist force to be reckoned with. Racial and ethnic diversity reflected in very minor characters feels tacked on. This zombie-esque sci-fi novel will feed the needs of readers looking for a fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping story with elements of horror. (Science fiction. 12 & up)
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940169530605 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Brilliance Audio |
| Publication date: | 10/18/2016 |
| Series: | Rains Brothers Series , #1 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
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