Book Review: The Rain by Virginia Bergin

Because films just don't include the important detail of bathroom habits during the apocalypse.

One minute sixteen-year-old Ruby Morris is having her first proper snog with Caspar McCloud in a hot tub, and the next she’s being bundled inside the house, dripping wet, cold and in her underwear. Not cool. As she and Caspar shiver in the kitchen, it starts to rain. They turn on the radio to hear panicked voices – ‘It’s in the rain . . . it’s in the rain . . . ' That was two weeks ago, and now Ruby is totally alone. People weren’t prepared for the rain, got caught out in it, didn’t realize that you couldn’t drink water from the taps either. Even a drip of rain would infect your blood, and eat you from the inside out. Ruby knows she has to get to London to find her dad, but she just doesn’t know where to start . . . After rescuing all the neighbourhood dogs, Ruby sets off on a journey that will take her the length of the country – surviving in the only way she knows how.

The thing is about this book is that unusual in that the main character in no way or form should survive the apocalypse. Ruby has survive mostly from luck. She is not at all practical, she wastes drinkable water a lot. I guess it would be highly unlikely if she didn't have practical people around her. It interesting to have apocalypse from that point of view.

I feel like they run out of liquid too soon. I mean they run out of any form of water the next day after the run came. I guess it could just be greatly unfortunate that grocery day was tomorrow when it suck. I also don't think the science is quite all there. Certain things don't make sense, like why does it only effect the humans so explosively and there nothing at all to indicate that the water is infected at all. There's probably a science thing that could at least test it, but we don't really meet anyone with that skill set. This the start of series so hopefully we get those answers. Also who cut off all the phone lines.

Overall, I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars for murderous neighbours. This book had it funny moments with featured reference to that if this was Hollywood movie and of course mostly it was just tragic as everyone dies in the world and there no water to be had. The story could have ended where the book does but I am glad there is going to be a sequel and plan to read it.

I got this off Netgalley for Review. It is being published by Macmillan Children's Books on 17th July (tomorrow).