The Enemy is a unique twist on the zombie survival story. In this version, only people over the age of 14 are infected, leaving children as the survivors of the new world. Set in present-day London, the story focuses on a group of children known as the Waitroses, surviving in a supermarket. When the children learn of other survivors living in Buckingham Palace, they trek across the city to join up. Along the way they battle “grown-ups” as well as each other. Upon their arrival at the palace, they find things aren’t the utopia they had expected. The Waitroses’ idea of survival differs starkly from the ideas of those there already, who are looking to become rulers of London. There is also a sideline story about Small Sam, who was taken by “grown-ups”, and his battle to make his way back to the Waitroses.
Unlike many books in the zombie genre, the writing style is very straightforward and it is easy to follow along. A plus to the book is that paragraphs are kept short, making it easy for readers to keep up, and hard to put down. Higson is not shy about losing core characters, which adds an air of suspense to the story. The moral to the story is quite clear. Children are survivors, tougher and smarter that we adults give them credit for. I recommend this book for adults and young adults. It is sure to be a classic in the dystopian genre.
Contains: Violence, gore, cannibalism
Reviewed by: Denize Toms.