Covid 19 was terrible for the world, but a new virus is spreading. Called the Crown Royale, this virus kills 1 in 25 people.
Mariel Mudroch has other things on her mind. Homeless and trying to look out for herself and her mother, they are keen to get their impounded car back. A deal with the friend of a friend to break out the Grinch (their name for the car) doesn’t go to plan and soon they don’t even have that to sleep in.
Tiburon Tigre Escobendo (Ron for short) isn’t worried about where to sleep. He has homes around the world to choose from as his father is the 3rd richest person in the world. He has other problems, like avoiding the feelings that have caused him to try and take his own life.
Morgan doesn’t worry about anything or anyone but herself. A job interview, although the weirdest she has ever been on (in her late teens), drastically changes her life.
Mariel is suddenly on her own, Ron walks away from his father’s wealth, and Morgan makes the most of a sudden inheritance.
As the virus enters their lives, they must make choices about their futures. If they catch it and survive, they know the consequences. Recoverees are content, happy and willing to do anything to help others.
Billionaires have been said to have given away everything, people are working together, and hate, greed and the desire for ‘things’ has gone.
But where does that leave all those still trying to make money by selling those things? If no one works any more, how will society as we know it survive?
The huge contrasts between the three main characters in their late teens made this a compelling read. Then the rich and poor, kind and devious, young and old contrasts added more.
Stir in the moral dilemma of wanting to catch the Crown Royale virus to be free of all capitalist trappings or wanting to keep your life as it is, and All Better Now is a very intriguing read.
Neal Shusterman has woven a tale of three main characters in third person, interspersed with others around the world, linking them all together seamlessly as a virus runs rampant.
The race to find a vaccine sparks less than humane practises as billions are on the line, probably even more. But as influentual people contract the virus and then just don’t care about money any more, the balance tips back and forth for the future of humanity.
The ending made it obvious there is more to come. Thank goodness!
Author – Neal Shusterman
Age – 13-18
(2025, Walker Books, Dystopian, Science, Pandemic, Vaccine, Illness, Sickness, Deaths, Fever, Contentment, Giving away fortunes, World’s richest man, Communes, Kindness, Alpha spreader, Immune, Road Trip, Immunise, Lab, Trials, Choice, Capitalism)