The Scourge
The Scourge book cover

The Scourge

Hardcover – August 30, 2016

by
Price
$16.99
Format
Hardcover
Pages
368
Publisher
Scholastic Press
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0545682459
Dimensions
8.66 x 5.91 x 0.98 inches
Weight
15.2 ounces

Description

From School Library Journal Gr 5–8—Under orders from Governor Felling, wardens enter the River People's country to extract five grubs, a derogatory name given to its citizens. But the grub, Ani Mells, turns out to be a handful. When Ani is tested for the Scourge, a disease plaguing the people of Keldan, she gets quarantined on Attic Island with the other Colonists who test positive for the disease. The problem is, patients enter the island but never leave. Ani suspects there is more going on than meets the eye, and in order to survive, she must uncover the truth. The story quickly advances from there, with Ani embroiled in a fight for her life. The characters are well defined and memorable. Feisty Ani, a likable character who is thoughtful and strong, drives the story forward and keeps readers wanting to know more. VERDICT A solid choice for readers who enjoy tales of strong heroines set in the ever-popular dystopian genre.—Robyn Gioia, Antilles Middle School, Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico Praise for The Scourge : "A strong, feisty main character... narrates a story that is equal parts adventure, mystery, and political intrigue." -- The Horn Book "Ani's willingness to help others, a hard battle in herself as she tries to get over long-held assumptions, demonstrates effectively how emergencies can bridge distances." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "Nielsen's ( A Night Divided ) polished fantasy smoothly combines medieval elements with hints of mystery and romance.... it delivers a significant message about how misinformation breeds intolerance." -- Publishers Weekly "Nielsen provides readers with a strong, three-dimensional heroine and a plot that will keep readers guessing." -- School Library Connection "The characters are well defined and memorable. Feisty Ani, a likable character who is thoughtful and strong, drives the story forward and keeps readers wanting to know more.... A solid choice for readers who enjoy tales of strong heroines set in the ever-popular dystopian genre." -- School Library Journal Praise for A Night Divided : "Like Anne Frank before her, Gerta is small but mighty, a hardheaded heroine who dreams up big ideas and refuses to give up in the face of adversity and danger. Nielsen ( Mark of the Thief ) evokes the constant unease of life in a divided Berlin through Gerta's sober narration... but the family never loses sight of the power of humility and forgiveness." -- Publishers Weekly "Nielsen, best known for her fantasy novels, proves she is equally skilled at historical fiction in this solidly structured, balanced account of the origins of an infamous historical landmark... The novel's strong setting and tense climax will keep readers engrossed and holding their breath until the last page." -- School Library Journal Praise for Mark of the Thief : *"The fast-paced, ingenious plot, charismatic hero and highly diverse cast of characters -- including the ancient, eternal city itself -- make this series opener a captivating joy ride." -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review"Perfect for Rick Riordan fans." -- San Francisco Chronicle "Fans of Nielsen's Ascendance trilogy will be clamoring for this new series. This genre mash-up of history, fantasy, and action/adventure is fast-paced and explores themes such as class struggles, familial ties, and the immorality of slavery." -- School Library Journal Praise for the Ascendance Trilogy: A New York Times Notable Children's BookA Publishers Weekly Best Book of the YearA Chicago Public Library "Best of the Best" Children's BookA Cybils Award Winner"[A] pageturner." -- The New York Times Book Review "Sage proves to be a compelling character whose sharp mind and shrewd self-possession will make readers eager to follow him into a sequel." -- The Wall Street Journal "A swashbuckling origin story... chock-full of alluring details for adventure-loving boys." -- Los Angeles Times *"An impressive, promising story." -- Publishers Weekly , starred review"A fast-paced and thrilling read with twists and turns that never let up." -- School Library Journal "Gripping." -- Kirkus Reviews "Should appeal to fans of... Suzanne Collins... [A] surefire mix of adventure, mystery, and suspense." -- The Horn Book Jennifer A. Nielsen is the acclaimed author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Ascendance Series: The False Prince, The Runaway King, The Shadow Throne, The Captive Kingdom, and The Shattered Castle. She also wrote the New York Times bestseller The Traitor's Game and its sequels,The Deceiver's Heart, and The Warrior's Curse; the New York Times bestselling Mark of the Thief trilogy: Mark of the Thief, Rise of the Wolf, and Wrath of the Storm; the standalone fantasy The Scourge; and the critically acclaimed historical thrillers A Night Divided, Resistance, Words on Fire, Rescue, Lines of Courage, and the forthcoming Iceberg. Jennifer collects old books, loves good theater, and thinks that a quiet afternoon in the mountains makes for a nearly perfect moment. She lives in northern Utah with her family, and is probably sneaking in a bite of dark chocolate right now. You can visit her online at jennielsen.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @nielsenwriter. Jennifer A. Nielsen is the acclaimed author of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Ascendance Series: The False Prince , The Runaway King , The Shadow Throne , The Captive Kingdom, and The Shattered Castle . She also wrote the New York Times bestseller The Traitor's Game and its sequels, The Deceiver's Heart , and The Warrior's Curse ; the New York Times bestselling Mark of the Thief trilogy: Mark of the Thief , Rise of the Wolf , and Wrath of the Storm ; the standalone fantasy The Scourge ; and the critically acclaimed historical thrillers A Night Divided , Resistance , Words on Fire , Rescue , Lines of Courage, and the forthcoming Iceberg . Jennifer collects old books, loves good theater, and thinks that a quiet afternoon in the mountains makes for a nearly perfect moment. She lives in northern Utah with her family, and is probably sneaking in a bite of dark chocolate right now. You can visit her online at jennielsen.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @nielsenwriter. Read more

Features & Highlights

  • An electrifying new adventure from
  • New York Times
  • bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen!What happens when a plague isn't all that kills...
  • As a lethal plague sweeps through the land, Ani Mells is shocked when she is unexpectedly captured by the governor's wardens and forced to submit to a test for the deadly Scourge. She is even more surprised when the test results come back positive, and she is sent to Attic Island, a former prison turned refuge -- and quarantine colony -- for the ill. The Scourge's victims, Ani now among them, can only expect to live out short, painful lives there. However, Ani quickly discovers that she doesn't know the whole truth about the Scourge or the Colony. She's been caught in a devious plot, and, with the help of her best friend, Weevil, Ani means to uncover just what is actually going on. But will she and Weevil survive long enough to do so?
  • The Scourge
  • is an explosively thrilling tale of adventure and intrigue, courage and heart from
  • New York Times
  • bestselling author Jennifer A. Nielsen.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(269)
★★★★
25%
(112)
★★★
15%
(67)
★★
7%
(31)
★
-7%
(-30)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Good Story Overall, but Lacks Mystery

When I first read the synopsis of this book I truly thought I was getting something more along the lines of a gritty tale with mysterious abound. What I received instead was a super light read, with little mystery, and really no surprises at all.

The Scourge starts off with Ani, a young girl who seems to always get in trouble, or at the very least trouble seems to follow her like a loving puppy. In her world there is something known as the scourge, which is a fatal disease that anyone can catch, but luckily for her village, no river person has ever caught the dreaded disease. Until one day when she is captured, brought in for testing, and found with the horrible disease. Then her whole life is turned upside down as she is sent to a colony to live on a tiny island for the rest of her short days. But Ani has never been a quitter, and this disease will not get her down. Or for that matter keep her mouth shut. With wardens watching them day and night, and with her own sickness taking over her strength, Ani struggles to find a cure with the help of her friends. But little does anyone realize their true plight, and Ani will not back down until she uncovers the truth, and saves those she loves.

The Scourge was a nice, pretty steady book with interesting characters as I did enjoy Ani, her mischievous ways, and her friends. Even the villains were quite villainous. But the plot was completely see through. You already knew exactly what was going to happen before it did, which took the majority of the mystery out of the book. The ending was nice, and overall it was truly just a super light read. I do love children's books and young adult books, but this one seemed just a bit too young for my taste. So if you like a bit of adventure, a definite light read with a happy ending and not really any mystery then this one is for you!
8 people found this helpful
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My daughters new favorite book!

This was a page turner for my almost nine-year - old daughter. She loved it and is going through it for the third time.
5 people found this helpful
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An Exciting Adventure Full of Courage and Friendship

What’s there to say? The book was written by Jennifer Nielsen. Therefore, it was an amazing read. The end.

Seriously, I do have more to say. But really, fans of Nielsen will not be disappointed as she provides readers with another exciting adventure full of witty and courageous characters. The concept was unique and kept me turning the pages to figure some things out. I did guess what was happening halfway but did not know why it was happening, which made the read even more intriguing. I appreciated the idea of befriending those we hate or think we “hate" and getting along with them for the greater good. Without giving anything away, the main character Ani struggles with this and readers see her character and others change in that regard. Weevil and Ani are one of my favorite book couples of the year (Is that an official title? If not, it should be in the bookworm world.) As usual, some of the dialogue and narrative made me laugh out loud. All in all, it was a great read and I am looking forward to more of Nielsen's works!
4 people found this helpful
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The Scourge

What first drew me to this book was that is was written by Jennifer A. Neilson, and secondly the intriguing plot. I love science fiction and fantasy! And The Scourge is amazing! It was very interesting and engaging, and I just love the characters! It is almost as good as the Ascendance series. Ani and Jaron are very much alike, except she's a girl and he's a boy;) It's a very relatable setting, with a disease and everything. Also brings memories of The Maze Runner. I only wish there was a sequel, or that this was a series instead of a stand-alone. I just love Jennifer A. Neilson, I have read her Ascendance series and A Night Divided, this is the sixth book i have read from her. She is one of my top favorite authors. Anyway, The Scourge is definitely one of my top favorite books and comes highly recommended for kids 12 and up!
1 people found this helpful
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Five Stars

I loved the book and so did my family.
1 people found this helpful
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A good read.

Not as good as A Night Divided, hard to really get into.
1 people found this helpful
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Awesome. Flat out awesome.

My Summary:

One day when Ani is attempting to pick a vinefruit she gets stuck, while she is stuck hanging from a vine she overhears the governor’s wardens talking about a disease called the Scourge. Ani knows the Scourge has been spreading throughout the country, but she doesn’t believe that it has reached her people yet. So, when the wardens discover her hanging there and force her to be tested for the Scourge she is shocked. Ani’s friend Weevil is also taken to be tested, and they are forced to spend the night in a dungeon. Neither of them want to stay so Weevil uses his lock picking skills to help them escape. Once they get out of the cell they take off and begin running. Before long they get separated and when Ani pauses to help a girl in a boat, the wardens catch her. Since the wardens believe that the girl could be infected as well, they take her and Ani back to be tested in the morning. When morning arrives they are tested, the girl is positive and Ani is negative. Even though her test results indicate she if fine the wardens and governor insist that she be tested again, a different way. This time, she tests positive and within a matter of minutes, she is feeling horrible. She is then given a small flask of medicine and told she must live out the rest of her short life on the quarantine island. Just before she leaves Weevil returns and asks to go to the island with her. Although it is an odd request, the wardens allow it. As Ani and Weevil begin their new life they uncover some suspicious things, that if revealed, will lead them into sure trouble.

My Review:

This book was great! Like fantastically awesome! I loved the character’s humor and quirks, and the way Ani and Weevil never gave up, no matter what stood in their way. It is a truly inspiring story about undying loyalty, true friendship, and what can happen if you never give up. In this story, there was no language and nothing inappropriate except a sweet short kiss. There was a fair amount of violence, but half of it was the threat of death or extreme pain. For instance, in an effort to break Weevil and Ani’s friendship, they are told that the one who can prove himself the worst friend will be allowed to take the other’s beating. I would recommend this to anyone ages 12 and up.

For more reviews check out my blog:[...]
1 people found this helpful
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Great Book

This is a great book! It is very well written and keeps you on the edge of your seat with every turn of the page.

Back in the day when the plague was going around people were so afraid that they sent people to islands for them to die and to get them away from the rest of the population. This is where this book talks about and the story of a young woman named Ani. While this isn't a true story, in a way it could have been considering a lot from this book could have happened to many people. This book is filled with secrets and lies that will keep you turning the page. It's a great book and I love the diversity of the characters along with the depth the author has created with this story.
1 people found this helpful
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Another winner from Nielsen.

It is no secret that I’m a big fan of Jennifer Nielson and her books. From the first page of The False Prince, I was hooked by the way she spins a tale, throwing you right into the action with characters you can’t help but love and root for. The Scourge is no different, pitting the sassy and irreverent Ani Mells against impossible situations. As you’d expect from one of Nielsen’s characters, Ani does not play by the rules and she never goes down without a fight. Ani is gutsy and smart—truly a character I’d love to hang out with, which brings me to what I loved most about this book: Ani’s friendship with Weevil.

They’ve been friends for a long time and it’s evident on the page how close they are through their very witty banter. But nowhere is it more evident how they feel about each other than in the contest of sorts when they try to prove which one is the worse friend. I’m not going to spoil it here, but trust me when I say it’s both funny and heart wrenching.

How can you not love a book where there are passages like this one (taken from the ARC):
“The old legends say that the River People came from the union of a mermaid who had swum too far inland and a handsome young farmer who rescued her. Though I didn’t put much faith in most of the old stories, I believed this one. It explained why I had a singing voice that made people want to drown themselves. It also explained why all River People were excellent swimmers.”
The Scourge is funny, clever, and thought-provoking, as well as a fun adventure with characters you can’t help but wish were your friends.
1 people found this helpful
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Slow start, enjoyable middle, weak ending.

In the first 2-3 chapters of this book I nearly stopped reading. Somewhere between the 4-6th chapter my daughter and I were hooked and the book was a page turner. But then the book ended abruptly and thinly. The ending is so... weak.
The book has a really interesting and solid premise that at times is well executed, but there are other times the book is really unsteady or wobbly. The middle section of the book has many great ideas and passages and it really is a page turner with several bright moments. Although I really enjoyed the two main characters (Ani and Weevil) a great deal, I often found their dialogue to be too cutesy and often annoying - their sarcasm and joking criticisms of each other grew old fast (or maybe I'm too old...). The story ends abruptly. It felt like this book should have been shelved until the usually excellent writer and editor were ready to finish it properly, but instead it was rushed to print before it was fully cooked. The underlying premise is really good (and worthy of 4-5 stars and perhaps a multi-book series), and many parts of the story are really enjoyable (mostly 4 stars), but the final product was really a 3 star work cut short. This good author is capable of making this book what it could become rather than what it is currently. A completed, revised edition, with less campy dialoge and a stronger, fully developed ending would be very much welcomed.

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