Description
From New York Times bestselling author Neal Shusterman comes a young adult thriller about a world where happiness is contagious but the risks of catching it may be just as dangerous as the cure.
A deadly and unprecedented virus is spreading. But those who survive it experience long-term effects no one has ever seen before: utter contentment. Soon after infection, people find the stress, depression, greed, and other negative feelings that used to weigh them down are gone.
More and more people begin to revel in the mass unburdening. But not everyone. People in power – who depend on malcontents and prey on the insecure to sell their products – know this new state of being is bad for business. Surely, without anger or jealousy as motivators, productivity will grind to a halt and the world will be thrown into chaos. Campaigns start up to convince people that being eternally happy is dangerous. The race to find a vaccine begins. Meanwhile, a growing movement of Recoverees plan ways to spread the virus as fast as they can, in the name of saving the world.
It’s nearly impossible to determine the truth when everyone with a platform is pushing their agenda. Three teens from very different backgrounds who’ve had their lives upended in very different ways find themselves at the center of a power play that could change humanity forever.
Review
Crown Royale is a new virus infecting the world. But this is a different virus. While 4% of those infected die, the survivor’s lives are changed for the better. Happiness, wonder and the need to do good in and for the world are now their motivation. It sounds like bliss. What could go wrong?
Well, to start with, they no longer need things and those in power know that it will not be long before the world’s businesses will be savagely affected.
And so emerges two sides. On one side are those that will do anything to stop the disease, like the world’s richest man, Blas Escobedo. He is afraid that his immune compromised son, Ron, will die from the disease.
Conversely, Jarrick Javins, who was the world’s richest man before he caught the virus and gave away most of his money, wants everyone to catch the virus and find happiness in this new utopian world. Who will win?
The main characters are teenagers Ron Escobedo and his friend Mariel. Ron gets the virus and becomes asuper-spreader - he will always have the virus and pass it to anyone that he breathes on. Whereas Mariel can’t catch the virus and is the first person seemingly immune to it. Ron can give the world goodness by intentionally spreading the virus, and Mariel is ultra-important to those who want to stop the disease because of her immunity...
This book poses an intriguing and complex dilemma about the world that we live in and the one that we might chose if it was possible. It is an ideal read for teenage students and as an opener for class discussions. The content places it at an age range of 14 and older, and I highly recommend it.
