Book Review: The Hunted

The Living is a GREAT book and first in the series by Matt de la Pena...it's also a Young Hoosier book.  So, if you've read the first one, here is the second--equally as good, if not better!

The Hunted

by Matt de la Pena

When the tsunami hit, Shy was working on a cruise ship, making friends, and earning money.  He and his friends survived the destruction of the cruise ship, and wound up on an island in the Pacific where they found out the disease affecting the area of California in which Shy lives, was created in a lab by Mr. Miller in order to sell the pre-made cure for lots of money.

Now, Shy and his friends have made it from the island to the main island--with the cure for the mysterious disease and the proof that Mr. Miller created the disease.  But when they arrive, they find out the disease has spread along the entire west coast and a wall has been constructed to keep the infected in the West.

In order to save his family, friends, and himself, Shy must get the cure and the paperwork to Arizona to the research facility there to bring the truth to light and save everyone he can--but there is a target on his back...Someone is trying very hard to locate Shy and kill him.

I think The Hunted just might be even better than the first book! There is so much happening, but de la Pena slows everything down to explain everything in detail.  I absolutely love Shoeshine's character--the reader will get SO frustrated with him, but his wisdom and cunning is what helps Shy get to Arizona.

The romantic tension between Shy and Carmen is palpable, but de la Pena keeps it relatively subtle, keeping Carmen true to her fiancee, which I can appreciate.  De la Pena has a wide range of characters, and he does an incredible job keeping them unique and true to who they are, which makes for a great and entertaining sequel!

The Living is a Young Hoosier book nominee this year, so make sure you pick it, and The Hunted, up for some great reading!