People are changing. Not changing their minds or changing their clothes. Changing.

Charlie’s scientist dad noticed it early, and tried to alert the scientific community, but he was shamed and ridiculed, and labelled an alarmist. Now that he has gone (died in suspicious circumstances), Charlie is trying to learn more about what his father was investigating.

Epigenetic reprogramming is what he finds – studies on our genes changing. Some say it is due to the amount of plastics we ingest, some blame it on climate change. Some deny it all together. Charlie can see it happening all around him.

He learns in his internet searches that humans have about 3 percent Neanderthal genes. These genes seem to have taken over his classmates, teachers, and people on the street. They become bigger, hairier, their voices are deeper and they relish bullying and violence. It spreads like a virus through his school and community, and then suddenly his mum disappears.

Hoping his mum will return, Charlie stays in his home alone, until a stranger knocks on his door. She knew both his parents well before he was born. He’s wary at her invitation to stay with her, but after meeting two other teens (Pru and Ivy) she has ‘saved’, he relaxes a little.

As the Neand population grows, the remaining humans find each other and group together as communities. Charlie, Pru and Ivy become inseparable as they look for answers as their world crumbles around them.

NEANDS is set now, with all the problems our world is facing. Switch Covid 19 out with a virus that changes our genes in an backwards evolutionary process, and this is the world Charlie, Ivy and Pru are living in. The NEANDS as they label them, still function as humans would do but are a much more ‘meathead’ variety, swapping out normal subjects at school with blood sports, weapons training and fighting.

There are pockets of humans that seem to be immune, avoiding the NEANDS as much as possible. This novel reminded me of The Walking Dead Series, where the characters become bonded, strong, resourceful and on a restless journey to find answers and safety. Charlie’s personal notes, newspaper clippings, text message conversations and missing person posters are peppered through the book, drawing the reader further into the story. Thought provoking.

Author – Dan Salmon

Age – 12+

See Teacher’s Notes here

(Virus, Genes, Science, Grief, Violence, Bullies, School, Escape, Change, Friendship, First Love, Action, Fear, Mystery, Fight)