Beasts is a brief, gripping YA novel set in a world where most of the population has been devoured by “beasts”. Thirteen-year-old Abdi’s mother has gone missing, leaving Abdi to look after his five-year old sister, Alva. No longer safe in their home, situated in a neighborhood where people quickly turned on each other, Abdi and Alva head toward the coast, to try and find their father. Along the way, they encounter horrific and desperate people, as well as the occasional good soul.
I loved how Bjerkeland’s intense, sparse prose reflects the panic of Abdi. Abdi is constantly making quick, frantic decisions in order to keep himself and his sister alive. The fast-moving narrative left me breathless.
I wept for Abdi, dealing with a terrifying and unfamiliar situation, all while caring for Alva. As a parent, I often find myself masking my feelings to spare my child; I can’t imagine a young teenager going through the same thing, especially when society has collapsed.
More mature YA readers will love this; it reminded me of Josh Malerman’s brilliant Bird Box, but less gruesome.
California Reading 