Friday Feature: PODS by Michelle Picket

Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Eva is a chosen one. Chosen to live, while others meet a swift and painful death from an incurable virus so lethal, a person is dead within days of symptoms emerging. In the POD system, a series of underground habitats built by the government, she waits with the other chosen for the deadly virus to claim those above. Separated from family and friends, it's in the PODs she meets David. And while true love might not conquer all, it's a balm for the broken soul.

After a year, scientists believe the population has died, and without living hosts, so has the virus. That's the theory, anyway. But when the PODs are opened, survivors find the surface holds a vicious secret. The virus mutated, infecting those left top-side and creating... monsters.

Eva and David hide from the infected in the abandoned PODs. Together they try to build a life--a new beginning. But the infected follow and are relentless in their attacks. Leaving Eva and David to fight for survival, and pray for a cure.

My thoughts:

I couldn't help but feel for Eva when she has to leave her family to die, knowing she's been chosen to survive. And I liked that when Eva does go to the PODs things are tough. First she has to go through a quarantine period, which isn't pleasant and weeds out others who were chosen but who carry the virus. Eva is basically losing everyone she gets close to.

Life inside the PODs isn't great either. The crew Eva is stuck with for the year is made up of very different characters. You have your token jerk who everyone would like to see leave, the hot guy Eva says she doesn't want to get involved with but can't help falling for, the pregnant girl whose baby will need to be delivered inside the POD by Eva and the others, a girl who barely speaks English, and so on. I loved the diversity.

The story really got good when things began to go really wrong. PODs are shutting down, and then they are freed, but instead of being free, they have to live in these communities where their lives are dictated to them. Eva and David are split up and she's forced to be a teacher, the one profession she said she didn't want. 

I won't give spoilers, but Eva won't stay away from David, and he won't stay away from her. That's where I really got into this story because life on the outside is full of monsters, and we all know I love that. :)

This is a fun read for anyone who likes dystopian novels.