All Better Now

Gr 7 Up–In a post COVID-19 world, an unprecedented, highly contagious virus is sweeping the globe. Anyone who catches and recovers from Crown Royale enters a state of utter contentment, free from the sorrows that used to add pain and stress to their lives. Although potentially fatal, the effects it has on survivors intrigues some of the uninfected to intentionally catch the virus. As a result, the world is divided on whether Crown Royale is the answer to all of humanity’s woes, or the beginning of the world’s downfall. At the heart of it are four very different people, whose choices will shape the future of the human race. There’s Mariel, a homeless teen who discovers she is immune to Crown Royale; Rón, son of a billionaire, a recoveree who plans to spread the virus; Morgan, a young woman who, after inheriting a fortune, vows to eradicate Crown Royale; and Dame Glynis Havilland, who after losing her wealth, plans to stop Morgan at all costs. Shusterman has made a name for himself in postapocalyptic fiction, and this might be one of his most clever works yet. Pandemic fiction that still manages to be unique with compelling characters and a propulsive plot that intertwines their stories seamlessly, it is a truly thought-provoking exploration of moral dilemmas and the real meaning of life and death.