Masque of the Red Death

As an eighth grade teacher, I am well aware of the power of Poe. So the title of this book alone intrigued me. In this novel by Bethany Griffin, the world has been infected with a contagion that has wiped out a great portion of the population. Everyone who can afford one wears a mask to protect themselves. Araby is trying to find creative ways to kill herself as punishment for her twin brother, Finn's death. She loses herself in underground clubs to drinking and drugs. Her father is the scientist who created the life saving masks. But since the death of her brother, she feels her parents blame her. When she meets the manager of one of the underground clubs, she is drawn to him. Will saves her life on a few occasions and introduce her to his younger brother and sister who she comes to love. The other angle of this love triangle is Elliot. The brother of her best friend April. He is trying to overthrow his corrupt uncle to take over the city. His Uncle Prospero had killed his father and Elliot is trying to find a way to save humanity. When a new plague, the Red Death, starts to spread to the city, they have to find a way to escape. When Will betrays her, Araby must decide if she should save him or let him die. This book is left in a major cliffhanger with nothing resolved except for the fact that I have to read the sequel. This is a pretty dark book, not for  a younger reader, but perfect for the reader looking to find a modern version of a Poe tale. Happy reading my friends.