Delee's Reviews > The Here and Now

3.5

What is the most dangerous creature on earth?

Before reading THE HERE AND NOW, I hadn't really thought about it...but after recently reading numerous articles and watching a BBC documentary on the spread of disease over the years- I found out, it very well could be the -ever so annoying- mosquito.

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Mosquitoes and the diseases they spread have been responsible for killing more people than all the wars throughout history. Transmitting diseases to millions, killing millions, debilitating millions by a host of mosquito-borne diseases, including Filariasis, Yellow fever, Malaria, Dengue and Encephalitis- and the newest scare- the Zika Virus. The First ever mosquito-borne STD.

Sooooooo when you are sitting on your deck this summer, covering yourself with bug repellent, basking by your citronella candle, and waving away the pesky things- just think- one day they could be responsible for the end of the world as we know it.

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April 2010 Haverstraw, New York - While fishing at Haverstraw Creek- Thirteen-year-old Ethan Jarves sees a girl that seems to appear out of nowhere. Naked, confused, cold and wet- Nathan is only able to give her his sweatshirt, before she runs off- leaving him to wonder about who she is. Two and a half years later she walks into his pre-calculus class. Her name is Prenna James.

2014- Four years ago, 17-year-old Prenna James- her mother- Molly- and just under a thousand others- immigrated- from the future- where plague, food shortages and global warming have brought about an environmental catastrophe- The Dama X Virus also called the blood plague. Terrified of ever being discovered- 'The Community" follows very strict rules and guidelines set out by their leaders- to blend in with their surroundings, always fearing what would happen if their true identities are revealed . Twelve rules- the last- the most important. 12) NEVER, under any circumstances, develop a physical or emotional intimate relationship with any person outside "The Community".

Ethan Jarves is not a member of "The Community"..but the more Prenna and Ethan get to know each other- the more Prenna starts questioning alllllll the rules.

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THE HERE AND NOW discusses some very serious and important subjects- first and foremost the issue of Global Warming- and what we are alllllll doing to this world of ours- but it does so for the most part without being too preachy. Compared to other apocalyptic/dystopian YA novels that I have read, I would call this apocalyptic/dystopian- LITE. It really is for a younger demographic. Mixed within the tale of a bleak future- is a sweet love story and there is very little violence or action. So those of you looking for hardcore science fiction/fantasy entertainment- you should probably steer away from this one...but I think as a pre-teen/young teen- I would have loved it!

*Received from NetGalley