The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Pages: 309
Series or Stand Alone: Book One in the Fallen World trilogy
Summary: (from goodreads.com) It starts with an itch you just can’t shake. Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat. A few days later, you’ll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they’re old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in.
And then you’re dead.
When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back.
Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.
Because how will she go on if there isn’t?

Review:
I’m pretty sure I picked this one out purely based on color. In case you were wondering--neon colors are almost an automatic in with me. The 80s and I would have gotten along splendidly. I also think that the darker picture within the words was really cool.
When a strange new disease starts spreading like wildfire through Kaelyn’s island home, people try not to panic. The community goes on as normal, attempting to carry on and ignore the fact that they are being quarantined. However, the quickly depleting supplies and mounting death toll cannot be ignored, ushering in panic and desperation. When her family ends up scattered, Kaelyn has to work with some unexpected allies for supplies and safety in order to survive--or risk becoming a casualty of the epidemic.
The concept behind this book is awesome and well executed. I originally thought it was supposed to be about some sort of zombie disease, I’m going to assume through some sort of summary reading error on my part. The disease that causes the epidemic on the island was so unique: a flu-like disease that first causes their victim to lose their inhibitions and become ultra-friendly, causing it to spread like crazy. So great!
I love the fact that the story is written in the form of letters to Kaelyn’s old friend Leo. The story read like she was writing in a diary, but I thought it was different to have the diary be addressed to a specific person. I’m curious about whether or not Leo will ever see it!
My only issue with this book was when Kaelyn went off on rants about nature and nature documentaries. I found them to be a bit dull. These rants made me think that she was a bit boring. But good news! Kaelyn was brave and fierce in her protection of her family members. She did what she had to do in spite of being terrified of the disease and violence plaguing her community.
The Way We Fall was an intense, creepy look at what could happen to an enclosed community during a quarantine for a deadly disease. Megan Crewe did an awesome job showing how hopeless the situation was and how various types of people could react to it. I’m definitely going to continue on with this series! I only wish the rest of the books were out already...

Rating: 4 - good!