THE OOZE

A suspenseful remix of SF and horror.

McAdam’s reluctant reader horror novel revs into action early in Chapter 1, after trans protagonist Bran takes out the recycling. At 15, Bran finds himself trapped alone in an elevator during a power outage and soon after in the center of a dramatically altered world. Suddenly, familiar people are acting strangely and violently, and the only visible clue to the problem is a fast-spreading, weird, black ooze leaking from their mouths and noses. Scared but determined to find out what’s going on, Bran teams up with Mohammed, Zey, and Aisha—a trio of siblings he meets outside—and together they follow the creatures to where they have gathered. The foursome take risks as they put together the pieces of the events that led to this catastrophic change in humanity. When Bran spots Hayden, his best friend–turned-boyfriend, in danger, he becomes more motivated than ever to try to save everyone. Working together, Bran and his new friends struggle to overcome looming dangers as they try to put the world back to rights. This is a book about collaboration and trust set in a messy world where no one is safe. The chaos and violence are offset by Bran’s strong development as he focuses on problem-solving rather than despair. The quick, plot-driven action keeps things moving. Bran and Hayden read as White; names indicate diversity in the supporting cast.

A tightly plotted, highly appealing story with bite.