Title: The Host
Author: Stephanie Meyer
Genre: Young Adult Fiction. Romance. Science Fiction.
Review by: Chantelle, LCA Intern for Library HQ
Synopsis: Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that takes over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed to the inevitable ruling of this new and unforeseen species.
Most, but not all.
Review: The Host is set in a seemingly normal environment, Earth. On the surface everything seems okay. The ocean is still there, so are the rolling hills and roads that run for miles. Nothing seemingly suspicious about Earth. . . bar the new species that has invaded both the body and mind of every human being.
They take over but still act human. And for the most part nobody can fight against the invasion of this alien species.
But when this alien species enters the body of Melanie Stryder she absolutely refuses to be booted from her very own body.
So she fights against the soul called Wanderer- “Wanda”. Melanie does not give Wanderer the chance to completely wipe out her existence because there’s something more precious than her own life, her family. Melanie would do anything to protect them.
Her little brother, Jamie. And the guy she loves, Jared.
Soon Melanie and Wanderer have to work together in order to not only protect the two most important people in their lives, but a colony of resistance fighting against the invasive species.
But things are never so simple. And as Wanda shares the body and mind of Melanie she feels what Melanie feels. So it should come as no surprise that she catches a few feelings for Jared-not entirely of her own accord. But the craziest of it all is when Wanderer begins to feel things for Ian.
Caught in the oddest position imaginable-not to mention awkward, Wanderer must not only work hard to protect the people she is beginning to realise feel more like “home” than any home she’s ever had before, but she must also dissect her feelings for Jared and Ian.
Of course time is not on their side and soon everything will come crumbling around them. Can Melanie and Wanderer work together to save the people they have come to care for? Or will the alien civilization win?
The Host, while set on Earth still makes you feel like you are on another plane of existence entirely. One where being “Alien” and “different” aren’t such a bad thing. The emotions displayed are relatable to both reader and character and leaves you feeling closer to the characters. I believe everyone feels “alien” at one or another time, as though we don’t quite belong. This book makes that sense of not fitting in or conforming, a bit more acceptable. It is okay to not always be the same and it is okay to feel different or be different.I highly recommend reading this book and then rereading it to pick up on the subtexts within the story.
If you’d like to read this book you can place a hold on a copy for pickup in any of our libraries by requesting it here.
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