top of page

Audiobook Review

Pandemic

By
Yvonne Ventresca
Untitled design (6)_edited.jpg
average rating is 3 out of 5
Performance
average rating is 3 out of 5
Overall
Stars_edited.jpg

Excellent, Unforgettable, Best of the nest

Very good, thoroughly enjoyed, 

Good, Solid, Enjoyed many aspects

STAR RATINGS GUIDE

A Solid Pandemic Tale Meets Young Adult

THE BIRDICT

šŸ§” This sweet, poignant take on the pandemic-apocalypse genre has the coming-of-age YA feel of Susan Beth Pfefferā€™s Last Survivors series or Karen Thompson Walkerā€™s Age of Miracles. Told from the perspective of high schooler Lilliana, it has the distinctive perspective of a teenage girl, but also some serious trauma in the backstory as well as the plot. However, it remains a younger story, so avoid it if that's not for you. Having said that, at the time of writing itā€™s free on Audible Plus. If you have that option, give it a go.

šŸ’š This is a pandemic scenario written pre-Covid, which makes it an interesting point of comparison. I think itā€™s relatively accurate in many ways.

šŸ’œ Listen to this if pandemic/social-aspect apocalyptic is your thing. Or if you like YA fiction. It works on both counts. What I would say is that it doesnā€™t delve deep enough into any of the subjects it explores. It has the incomplete feel of the beginning of a series, but, to my knowledge, is not part of one.

Content warning for sexual assault.

Listened For Free on Audible Plus.

SQUAWKING THE TALK

šŸŽ§ This is a quick, light listen. Easy to follow and with enough to keep me interested. Narrator Monika Smith has a very sweet voice. This is totally in keeping with the character, but a bit too sugary for my cynical soul.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER: SIMILAR AUDIOBOOKS

Nothing for this one. Maybe Next time!
+_edited.png
-.png
Click For Spoilers

Pandemic

THE BLURB

Even under the most normal circumstances, high school can be a painful and confusing time. Unfortunately, Liliannaā€™s circumstances are anything but normal. Only a few people know what caused her sudden change from model student to the withdrawn pessimist she has become, but her situation isnā€™t about to get any better. When people begin coming down with a quick-spreading illness that doctors are unable to treat, Lilā€™s worst fears are realized. With her parents called away on business before the contagious outbreak - her father in Delaware covering the early stages of the disease and her mother in Hong Kong and unable to get a flight back to New Jersey - Lilā€™s town is hit by what soon becomes a widespread illness and fatal disaster. Now, sheā€™s more alone than sheā€™s been since the incidentā€ at her school months ago.

With friends and neighbors dying all around her, Lil does everything she can just to survive. But as the disease rages on, so does an unexpected tension as Lil is torn between an old ex and a new romantic interest. Just when it all seems too much, the cause of her original trauma shows up at her door. In this thrilling debut from author Yvonne Ventresca, Lil must find a way to survive not only the outbreak and its real-life consequences, but also her own personal demons.
bottom of page