YA Review: The Reapers Are The Angels by Alden Bell

The Reapers Are the Angels is a YA novel by Alden Bell from Holt.


Book Blurb:


Zombies have infested a fallen America. A young girl named Temple is on the run. Haunted by her past and pursued by a killer, Temple is surrounded by death and danger, hoping to be set free.


For twenty-five years, civilization has survived in meager enclaves, guarded against a plague of the dead. Temple wanders this blighted landscape, keeping to herself and keeping her demons inside her heart. 


She can't remember a time before the zombies, but she does remember an old man who took her in and the younger brother she cared for until the tragedy that set her on a personal journey toward redemption. 


Moving back and forth between the insulated remnants of society and the brutal frontier beyond, Temple must decide where ultimately to make a home and find the salvation she seeks.


My thoughts:


Temple does not remember a time without the ‘meatskins’.  Those dead things that won’t stay down without a bullet or sharp object to the brain.  Temple also doesn’t remember her parents.  She’s sure she must have had some - but she doesn’t know what happened to them.


She’s been on her own for a little while now.  Moving from place to place - trying to stay out of the way of the meatskins.  Trying to find what beauty is left in the world.


But not everything is beautiful - and not all survivors are trustworthy.  When Temple is placed in a dangerous situation she does what she must to stay safe.  Killing comes easy - whether man or meatskin.  


Temple actions - however justified - have consequences and now she is on the run.  And being pursued - not by the meatskins - but by a flesh and blood man out for vengeance.


I enjoyed The Reapers Are the Angels.  It is written a bit oddly - not a quotation in the whole book.  Once I wrapped my head around that I was okay.


This book fascinated me.  I’m not sure if it was due to Temple’s young age or the ease with which she dealt with whatever life handed her.  The ending made me angry though - really angry.


I give The Reapers Are the Angels 4 out of 5 stars.


Product Details
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Holt Paperbacks (August 3, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0805092439
ISBN-13: 978-0805092431