The Epidemic (4) (Program) - Hardcover

Young, Suzanne

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1481444700 ISBN 13: 9781481444705

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2016

Synopsis

Can one girl help others find closure by slipping into the identities of their loved ones? Find out in this riveting sequel to The Remedy and companion to the New York Times bestselling The Treatment and The Program.

In a world before The Program...

Quinlan McKee has spent her life acting as other people. She was a closer—a person hired to play the role of the recently deceased in order to give their families closure. Through this process, Quinn learned to read people and situations, even losing a bit of herself to do so. But she couldn’t have guessed how her last case would bring down her entire world.

The only person Quinn trusts is Deacon, her best friend and the love of her life. Except Deacon’s been keeping secrets of his own, so Quinn must set out alone to find Arthur Pritchard, the doctor who’s been trying to control her life. The journey brings Quinn to Arthur’s daughter, Virginia, who tells Quinn the truth about Pritchard’s motives. The former closer will start to see that she is the first step in fighting an epidemic.

But Quinlan doesn’t want to be a cure. And with all the lies surrounding her, she realizes she has no one left to rely on but herself—even if she doesn’t know who that is anymore.

About this title

About the Author

Suzanne Young is the New York Times bestselling author of The Program series. Originally from Utica, New York, Suzanne moved to Arizona to pursue her dream of not freezing to death. She is a novelist and an English teacher, but not always in that order. Suzanne is also the author of Girls with Sharp Sticks, All in Pieces, Hotel for the Lost, and several others novels for teens. Visit her online at AuthorSuzanneYoung.com or follow her on Instagram at @AuthorSuzanneYoung.

Review

*Starred review* VOYA, April 2016 (Vol. 39, No. 1) - Jen McIntoshIn a dystopian society, closers are hired by grieving families toimpersonate a deceased child and give the family a chance at closure.Quinlan McKee is the best closer there is, but then she discovers thateverything she has ever believed is a lie. Not sure who she can trust,Quinn flees her controlling employers and sets out to discover who shereally is, uncovering far more than she could imagine. Quinn is asympathetic character, and readers will want her and fellowcloser-on-the-run Deacon to succeed in their mission and theirrelationship. Young's latest book perfectly illustrates how goodintentions can lead to horrible results. An effort to save people frompain and grief actually causes much more damage than simply lettingpeople feel hurt. The Epidemic is the sequel to The Remedy (Simon Pulse, 2015/Voya April 2015), and both novels serve as companion books that lead to the events in Young's popular Program duology. Although this new duology can stand on its own, teens who have read The Program (Simon Pulse, 2013/Voya April 2013) and The Treatment (Simon Pulse, 2014/Voya June 2014) already will finish The Epidemic with a deeper understanding of how and why society could wind up like it does. Readers who have not read the Program duology yet will be interested enough to continue with Young's unique dystopian world. Reviewer: Jen McIntosh; Ages 12 to 18.

Praise for THE REMEDY:

"A visceral exploration of the eternal and misguided search for pain-free happiness in an almost-now Brave New World." (Kirkus)

"This poignant and well-written novel does an exceptional job of providing fans of The Program with a vivid picture of how the suicide epidemic began." (SLJ)

About this edition

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1481444700
• ISBN 13: 9781481444705
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 384