Rarely does a book come along that’s equal parts comedy, tragedy, horror, and romance. Gripping from the start, The Girl With All the Gifts tells the story of a special little girl named Melanie. Smart beyond her years and eager to learn, Melanie waits in her little cell every morning to be picked up for class. A big man we’ll call The Sergeant keeps a gun pointed at her head while two of his soldiers strap her into a wheelchair and take her to school. Melanie’s not sure why this procedure is necessary, and she jokes with the men saying that she won’t hurt them, but they don’t laugh…
In class with Miss Justineau, Melanie is a shining star. She loves learning about spelling and has big dreams about what she wants to do when she grows up. However, it’s not Melanie’s wit and wisdom that make her special. In a broken world filled with broken dreams, Melanie tries to make sense of this special gift she possesses, as those around her try to figure out how to destroy it.
OK, that’s all I can say. It’s near impossible to say anything else about this book without giving anything away. Just know it will tug at your heartstrings in all the right ways.
I made the mistake of researching this book before jumping in and I really wish I hadn’t…as I think the best way to really enjoy The Girl With All the Gifts is with blissful ignorance. Just trust me here, it’s good.
Is it a horror story? Sort of. A thriller? YES! But The Girl With All the Gifts possess so much more than that. It’s dramatic, tragic, and even has a bit of romance. While it may not be relatable in the very literal sense, the lessons from this book will certainly stay with you for the long term.
A fabulous beach read and one that will have you flipping the pages late into the night, The Girl With All the Gifts truly is a unique and fascinating piece of literature that is a sweet dedication to the creative process. The characters are real and flawed, so very easy to love and hate. Rarely does a book come along that simultaneously pulls at your heartstrings while making your heart skip a beat. Curl up with a blanket and a big ol’ pot of coffee for this one, because once you start, it’ll be hard to put this one down.
Looking for a new book to read? Check in every Friday for a “Bee Happy” post, where I share reviews of books I’ve read or other book-themed lists.
The Hob-bee Hive 