The Weepers: The Other Life [Hardcover]

Susanne Winnacker (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 15, 2012 | Series: Weepers

Sherry has lived with her family in a bunker for more than three years. Her grandfather's body has been in the freezer for the last six months, her parents are at each other's throats and two minutes ago, they ran out of food. Sherry and her father must leave the safety of the bunker. What they find is an empty Los Angeles, destroyed by bombs and haunted by Weepers - savage humans infected with a rabies virus. While searching for food, Sherry's father disappears and Sherry is saved by Joshua, a hunter. He takes her to Safe-haven, a vineyard where a handful of survivors are picking up the pieces of their other lives, before the virus changed everything. Sherry must find a way to help her family, stay alive, and decide whether Joshua is their savior or greatest danger as his desire for vengeance threatens them all. This debut novel is a page-turner that is not easy to forget.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 8-10–It’s been 1141 days since Sherry has seen daylight in a postapocalyptic Los Angeles. She and her family are bunkered by the military after a rabies outbreak and have been receiving sporadic radio warnings to stay put. Armed and at their breaking point (no rations and a deceased grandfather in the freezer), the 15-year-old and her father venture out to find food and help. In the light of day, they see the skyline of a bombed city and bodies strewn near deserted neighborhood bunkers. The gloomy setting launches a fast-moving tale of survival as Sherry’s father is snatched out of a deserted Walmart by grotesque-looking and terrifying creatures. Saved from the same fate by a teen vigilante named Joshua, Sherry learns about the Weepers, who evolved into human predators after the mysterious rabies outbreak three years earlier. Joshua drives Sherry to Safe-haven, an abandoned winery outside the city, where other survivors have gathered. Her quest to have Joshua help find her father and rescue her family from the bunker is fraught with violent and bloody clashes with Weepers and raises more questions than are answered about their humanness and the government’s role in their development. Flashbacks from Sherry’s former everyday life as a teen, in italics, contrast with her new stark reality, and her fascination with numbers adds layers to a character who is likely to become tougher and more heroic in future episodes. This title is sure to please reluctant readers craving action-driven dystopian adventures.–School Library Journal Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY

From Booklist

Ages 12+—Sherry, 15, is obsessed with time, but you can’t blame her—it’s been more than three months (or, if you prefer, 1,139 days, or 1,640,160 minutes) since she was locked with her family inside a bunker to wait out a “rabies” epidemic that was taking Los Angeles by storm. Food’s gone, though, so Sherry and her dad leave to find more, only to discover a ravaged city that has clearly been bombed by the government. Unfortunately, the Weepers, humans turned into bloodthirsty zombies by the virus, are plentiful, and Dad is captured. Sherry, meanwhile, is taken in by a cobbled-together family of survivors, including hunky Joshua, who promises to find Sherry’s father. Zombie books thrive on tweaking the formula just enough to gain fresh perspective and Winnacker’s offering is lacking in that regard: there is nothing here we haven’t seen in dozens of other similar works. Still, the action is brisk, and the low gore quotient and straightforward prose makes it a nice fit for younger or reluctant readers who want in the zombie craze. — Booklist, June 2012

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Skyscape (May 15, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761462759
• ISBN-13: 978-0761462750
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 5.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,119,123 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Susanne studied law before she became a full-time writer.

She lives with her husband, a dog and three bunnies in the Ruhrgebiet, Germany. She loves coffee (in every shape and form), traveling and animals.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting premise, but delivers nothing remarkable May 16, 2012

By Megan @ Book Brats

Format:Kindle Edition

When I first heard about Suzanne Winnacker's debut THE WEEPERS thanks to its gorgeous UK edition cover (and title of THE OTHER LIFE), I knew I had to have this book. So I got my hands on a Netgalley copy, forgot about it for a few weeks, and then came back to it when I started the Bout of Books marathon. Once again, this was a book I went in with very high expectations for, only to find myself extravagantly disappointed when I turned the last page.

THE WEEPERS follows 15 year old Sherry, a girl who has spent the past three years in a bunker beneath her house after a rabies epidemic that killed people - and turned others into zombie-like creatures. Her family has run out of food, and the only answer is for Sherry and her dad to go out and find some, but when he's captured by the monsters and she's saved by a hunter named Joshua who takes her to a safe haven along the outskirts of town, Sherry has to stand up and fight back if she is to save her family from the remnants of society.

I think my name and the phrase "WHERE IS THE WORLD BUILDING?!" have almost become synonymous. If the world building is lacking, I am going to point it out. For me, there was world building here, but what it brought to the story was nothing new or remarkable - a government experiment gone wrong. The specifics of the story here are a spoiler, so I won't go into detail, but it really isn't anything new for the zombie genre. Also, there are some rather unbelievable escapades, events, and decisions that make little or no sense. It kind of distracts you. Kinda.

But I think where this story fell flat for me was in the characterization. We have Sherry, a shell-shocked girl who loves to count the exact days since she last saw rain, last had chocolate, last heard from her best friend, and so on. I actually kind of enjoyed this - up until the point where it became a several-times-a-page thing. The story is told in her first-person narration, which helps the reader connect with Sherry and her plight, but outside of Sherry, we find a cast of very flat, cardboard characters, from Sherry's family (parents, grandmother, brother Bobby, and little sister Mia) to the designated love interest Joshua to the people we find at the safe haven. There is little development or background about these people, and the dialogue doesn't help us get to know them. By the end, I was still confused about who anyone was - Geoffrey and Tyler, for instance, are still one character in my mind.

Oh, and Sherry dear? You've known the boy for what, a week tops? That's not love. Feel free to make out with him all you like, I don't care, but don't risk your life for him when you know he's an idiot. Signed, Megan.

I don't know with this one. The story zipped along at a great pace, but it was really short. Goodreads claims it is 352 pages long and it's lying. In fact, I am going to change that when I post my review. Right when you get into the story and you are thrown into their world, guess what? The story is over! You have to wait until book two to find out anything else because the ending hits you out of nowhere almost. The pacing is excellent, I will give Winnacker that - she knows how to pull you along, and you can finish this story in two hours or so if you read at an average pace and take ice cream breaks.

My final issue with this book that leaves the story at two stars only? For a story about rabid Weepers, there aren't nearly enough. I wanted more horror, more action, and instead I got make out sessions in the vineyard and grandma knitting. I might check out book two, but I will be waiting for reviews before I make up my mind. THE WEEPERS just didn't do anything for me.

VERDICT: THE WEEPERS doesn't bring anything new to the zombie/post-apocalyptic table besides a crash-course in shoddy characters. Skip this one.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling, eerie, and full of action! A must read for dystopian fans! May 15, 2012

By Literary Meanderings

Format:Hardcover

"3 years, 1 month, 1 week and 6 days since I'd seen daylight. One-fifth of my life."

The Other Life is set in a Los Angeles of the near future. An outbreak of an advanced strain of rabies has caused most of the human race to hide in underground bunkers while waiting for the government to advise that it is safe to come out. 15-year-old Sherry is one of these people; she and her family have been in hiding for just over 3 years and their stockpiled food has finally run out.

The family decides it's worth the risk of finally opening the steel door and venturing outside to find sustenance. Fully equipped with guns, Sherry and her father leave the rest of them behind in search of food.

"98,409,602 seconds since the heavy, steel door had fallen shut and sealed us off from the world."

The world they see upon leaving the bunker is not what they expected. There are no people. The roads are deserted, and Los Angeles looks as if it's been bombed.

Before even a day has gone by, Sherry and her father run into trouble. While pilfering around for food in a Wal-Mart, they are attacked. The darkness inside the store causes them to be separated. Sherry's father tells her to run, but the sound of a gunshot turns her right back around. As she stumbles around in the dark looking for her father, she's attacked by something that doesn't even look human. Just when she thinks her life is over, she is rescued by a fierce stranger. The two of them make a hasty escape, but Sherry never did find her dad, and she refuses to believe he is dead. She and her rescuer make plans to search for him the next day, but in the meantime, they need to get to safety. The Weepers, zombies both man and beast, own the night... and humans are their prey.

- - -

This is one of the best post-apocalyptic novels I've ever read. It has such unique elements woven throughout the plot and the author is an amazing and descriptive writer! I loved her writing style. She created each event and revelation in the perfect words. Her desolate, post-apocalyptic world came through loud and clear, as did the feelings and emotions of her characters. The action scenes had me on the edge of my seat, and there was an eerie feel to this book that gave me chills!

Each chapter began with a snapshot of Sherry's "Other Life" - life before the bunker. I enjoyed this part very much. Just small pieces of her life leading up to the rabies outbreak. Flashbacks of a better time... playing with her little sister; a birthday; baking a cake with her grandmother; a spat with a girl at school; a crush on a boy... it was a beautiful touch to the novel and also a nice way for us to get to know the protagonist a bit better.

The characters were all enjoyable. Josh and Sherry were a great hero and heroine. Sherry's family could have been anyone's family. They way they reacted in the face of their new world and the obstacles to overcome - it was how I'd picture any old family reacting. Susanne Winnacker really knows how to write people well.

The plot twists are insanely fantastic! My one complaint is that they came at a bad time. I feel like the ending wasn't that great because it was too much of a cliffhanger. We get this amazing reveal that truly makes the book and then it drops off. I could have cried and/or thrown the book across the room. Totally frustrating, but still worth it.

The Weepers!!! I just have to say that I appreciate the twist Susanne threw out there. They aren't just zombies. They are mutated humans, some of them more animal than anything. They don't mindlessly shamble around looking for flesh to munch on; they are full of intelligence. They were just really terrifying and different from any other zombie I've read about.

The Other Life is fast-paced and full of suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting more. The romance is subtle and sweet. Very believable. This book will keep you guessing, wondering, thinking... it's spooky and it may even make you cry - I know it made me! There's never a dull moment and I promise you that the ending will leave your jaw hanging wide open. It's a fantastic post-apocalyptic novel, one that every fan of the genre needs to read!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent all the way around! May 15, 2012

By Amanda Welling

Format:Hardcover

Characters: The Weepers has your typical cast of characters. Just like any other action-like novel you have a couple of heroes, the antagonists, and the cast of supporting characters that supply a major reason for the conflict. In this case the main characters are Joshua and Sherry, the antagonists are the Weepers, and the cast of characters include Sherry's family and the members of Safe-Haven.

Sherry is the primary character. In the beginning she is kind of a damsel in distress. Well, really, she is more of a bored-out-of-her-mind teenager. Sherry has been very sheltered, literally, both emotionally and physically. She is outgoing, but very timid at the same time.

Joshua is Sherry's little white knight. He sort of falls for Sherry a bit and displays a bit of a weakness for her. But otherwise, he is rather a protector of everyone with very selfish motives. Josh will worry about everyone's safety. He hunts Weepers though for his own personal emotional gain.

I don't want to get into describing each member of Safe-Haven or Sherry's family. They both play huge roles in the book though. Sherry's family kicks off the whole shabang. They run out of food and are required by basic survival to try and leave their current residence and find food. Only things get screwed up.

Later, after the whole Sherry-family ordeal is settled and dealt with, a new surprise unfolds. The members of Safe-Haven as a whole are important, but Geoffrey and Tyler really take the cake. Geoffrey is the reason for this entire mess that every character in the book faces. Tyler has experienced the worst. Tyler has experienced the "other life." And it is Tyler's words that set the next book in motion.

Plot and review: The weepers sucked me in worse than a tequila binge in Vegas. We recently moved and my wife and I had to stop by the old place to pick up some mail. The Weepers was among the mail. We than proceeded to go to a local food joint and order some pick-up. While waiting for our grub, she handed me the book, as usual, to see what I thought. This is a daily routine for us. She receives new books and I take a peak when we get home. I started reading the first few pages of The Weepers though, and kind of forgot about our food...

Zombies anyone? Well, not really. But The Weepers does have the whole post-apocalypse dooms day destruction theme going on. A virus outbreak causes people to kind of go nuts and turn into wild, feral beasts. The uninfected hide out in bunkers until food runs out. Slowly they exit their hiding places to discover the new wastelands. Enter the Weepers.

The Weepers is an addicting ride that plays out like a fantastic movie. Let's go over what I love.

The author makes fantastic use of dialogue. Each character has their own sound and mannerisms. Each character has their own life and their own personality. I hate when each character speaks exactly the same way in books. It drives me nuts. So to the author, Kudos to you!

Throughout the book, more so at the beginning, the author will make heavy use to time references since the main character, Sherry, has had some sort of last experience, such as feeling rain or seeing the sun light or eating an apple. I found this to be a very powerful tool. The specific usage of passage of time really helped to emphasize the emotion, despair, and joy throughout the book. It really added a special element to the book.

The storyline is excellent. There is never a boring moment. There are up and down times, but each is set at an appropriate pace to the events going through the book. Each down time is used to help reveal some new tid-bits of juicy info, which keep the story interesting. The other times are fun and fast paced action. Overall, I couldn't put this book down.