Gus is an endangered new breed, half human and half animal hybrid. He is human with the features of a deer with antlers pointy ears. Children started being born with various animal features after the “affliction” started.
Gus lives with his father in the woods. His mother died of the affliction years ago and his father will die soon. All adults are dying off rapidly. It is only the hybrids who are immune. Gus has to stay very near their cabin and hide from the hunters. Hybrids are very valuable, for research purposes, as scientists race to find a cure for the adult population.
When his father dies, Gus tries to keep his promise to his promise to stay in the cabin but he still has to go outside for firewood, food, and water. One day a mysterious man, Jepperd finds Gus. He tells him that he will take him to a hybrid sanctuary where he could live with other children like himself, in peace. With food getting hard to find near the cabin, Guys goes with him.
Is Jepperd as honest, as he seems to Gus?
I finished this book in one short sitting. It has Jeff Lemire’s amazing drawing with the added bonus of color by
Jose Villarrubia. Though the premise sounds crazy, Lemire makes it work with his spare words, relying heavily on the graphics. There is quite a bit of violence in this book, which I don’t care for but it was needed for this book. I found myself caring deeply for the fate of young Gus and am awaiting Sweet Tooth 2, on hold at my library.
4/5
Also reviewed by:
Copyright 2007-2010: All the posts within this blog were originally posted by Teddy Rose and should not be reproduced without express written permission.
If the cover’s any indication, I bet this book is fabulous!
Kathy, while I didn’t enjoy it as much as his Essex County trilogy, I still enjoyed it a lot.
Wow, I never saw this book before! The cover is very attention grabbing (great artwork that kind of makes me chuckle) and the plot sounds engaging and original… I think I’ll be picking this up!
YW, if you haven’t read the Essex County Trilogy, I can’t recommend it high enough!
I found it rather amazing that I could be somewhat repulsed and totally engrossed in this book at the same time! Thanks for the shout-out Teddy, glad to hear you enjoyed this one too!
Wanda, so true. Happy Canada Day!