The Scourge
by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Do you know anyone who always seems to end up in trouble? Well, Ani Mells can't seem to go a minute without causing a disturbance! From her obnoxious singing voice to her tendency to climb trees, everything with this girl is an adventure!
Ani Mells has gotten herself into trouble ... again. She is dangling upside down from a tree after attempting to reach some delicious fruit to ease her hunger. Suddenly, two guards come across Ani and bring her back to their base, along with her friend Weevil, to be tested for a deadly disease called the Scourge. Ani and Weevil escape their cell, but Ani is caught again when she tries to help a "pinchworm" (what Ani's people call the townsfolk) out of a bind. Ani and Della, the girl Ani tried to help, were taken back to base and tested positive for the Scourge. A large group of the sick, including Ani and Della, were sent to Attic Island, a colony made for those who had the disease. As the sick boarded the boats, Weevil came back for Ani, accompanying her to the colony.
Upon arrival, Ani realizes that Attic Island is far from the safe haven the governor had promised. With a limited supply of medicine, hard jobs, and worse living conditions, Attic Island was clearly a nightmare! In fact, on the first night there, Ani got in trouble with the officers and was forced to spend the night in a cage, suspended above the ground. Then, Della stole her medicine as revenge for being pushed into the water by Ani on their trip over. The only comfort Ani has is Weevil, who keeps her company despite an earlier fight.
Slowly, Ani begins to find her rhythm at Attic Island. She makes up with Della, and she finds an easy way to finish her work with the laundry. However, Ani continues to cause problems, unearthing a secret infirmary patients are sent to, and they don't seem to ever leave. All the jobs seem to just make things harder for the residents, and on top of all that, she's discovered a plot to get rid of her once and for all.
My favorite part of the book was the friendship between Ani and Weevil. Weevil and Ani stuck with each other, even through hard times. When Weevil felt betrayed by Ani, he still was there for her. These two are models of true friendship.
This story is so unique, it is hard to relate it to anything. However, this writer has a style and a suspense that can be seen throughout all her books! So, because of the twists and turns, I would compare this novel to the Ascendance series, also written by Jennifer A. Nielsen.
Will Ani unearth the mysteries of Attic Island? Will she find a way to escape before it's too late? Or will Ani perish in this hopeless colony, alone and forgotten? As I always say, read the book to find out!
A few helpful things I like to say about the books I read:
“Run and Get Mom” (how I describe the scariness factor – zero being not scary at all and fivebeing majorly scary): 3
“Yucky-Lovey Stuff” (how I describe the romance factor – zero having no yucky-lovey parts in it and five having major yucky-lovey parts): 3
I give this book 4 ½ wands.
This story was expertly crafted! It has just the right amount of suspense that keeps readers on the edge of their seats! The relationships between all the different characters are so complex and masterfully described. The battle for hope and truth was relevant and inspiring towards everyday life!