"Our story opens where countless stories have ended in the last twenty-six years: with an idiot -- in this case, my brother Shaun-- deciding it would be a good idea to go out and poke a zombie with a stick to see what happens. As if we didn't already know what happens when you mess with a zombie: The zombie turns around and bites you, and you become the thing you poked. This isn't a surprise" 
 -- from FEED by Mira Grant (pg 1, netgalley e-book edition) 
 The year is 2039. Just 25 years ago, genetic engineering produced a strain of flu that cured the common cold. Combined with a specially formulated strain intended to cure cancer, "Marburg Amberlee" was released to the world as an airborne pathogen. Humans were at the pinnacle of existence, free from worries of disease and despair! Marburg Amberlee was the most powerful "cure" known to man -- so potent that it harbored a dangerous side effect: it raised the dead. 
 Twenty-five years ago, the world has been altered in ways that its citizens could never have imagined. Friends, families, neighborhoods, and entire states have been entirely consumed from the epidemic once deemed, in popular movies, as the "Zombie Apocalypse". Most of the world harbors in the confinement of locked buildings, terrified to congregate publicly lest they be devoured by those infected with the virus that makes them "undead". Those who do leave the home are required, by law, to submit to near-constant, public blood tests, with highly specialized medical technology, to prove that they are not carriers of this dreaded disease. 
 Gone are the days of newspaper and television; instead, the world relies entirely on internet blogs to convey the signs of the times. Bloggers are divided into five categories: Newsies (who report facts), Stewarts (who convey opinions), Aunties (who share "happy" pieces), Irwins (who relay danger and thrill), and Fictionals (who focus on poetry and stories). The majority of FEED is conveyed through the eyes of Georgia (called "George" after the Romeo flicks; a "Newsie") and her adoptive brother Shaun (after the movie "Shaun of the Dead"; an Irwin). 
 A large portion of "Feed" focuses on the world-building aspect of the story. As George and Shaun plow through the dangerous territories of the public domains around them, the reader sees the severity of the times through the passages conveying the intricacies of the blood tests and the mandatory sterilizations that have become a part of every day modern life. Before entering a building, a person must first prove their blood to be completely void of disease. We watch as George has her blood drawn, twenty or thirty times or more during a day, waiting as the lights flash from red... to yellow... to red... to yellow... and eventually to green, if she's lucky. If the lights ever settle on red, the protocol typically involves instant death through brain trauma (usually a bullet to the head) to prevent further contamination of the surrounding population. 
 Beyond blood testing, citizens are subject to intense sterilization routines after entering any zone of land deemed high enough on the publicized rating scale to warrant suspicion of possible, or proven, zombie infestation. The readers are given in-depth depictions of a decontamination chamber, as Georgia reports that she can only "legally" be bathed in bleach for 30 seconds unless she's been in a particularly dangerous zone -- in which case, it is permitted for her to be continually dunked until medical professionals can be fully justified in believing her to be clean. 
 As far as the plot itself goes, George and Sean, along with "Fictional" Buffy, are hired to follow Presidential candidate Ryman through his campaign. As Georgia describes, politics have evolved greatly in this post-apocalyptic zombie existence. Whereas, in the past, politicians "were anti-Semitic, antiblack, antiwomen's liberation, antigay, or all of the above {... they are now...} anti zombie in the most extreme ways possible". She goes on to humorously conclude, though, that "the only undead agenda involves eating you, not worming their way into public acceptance and support". (pg 145, e-book). As in the past, though, political events are always subject to protest and disarray... 
 ... even to the point of bioterrorism. It appears, after several separate instances of zombie-outbreaks during publicized political gatherings, that someone may be manipulating strains of the zombie virus to create chaos, mass murder, and a new outcome for the election. It's up to Georgia, Sean, and Buffy to uncover the truth... if they can survive. 
 Overall, one of the things that I appreciated most about FEED was the degree to which the author truly developed the fragile details of the world in such a way that made it feel genuine and also outlined the intricacies of the back-story in such a way that truly made it seem plausible to the readers. While I do adore YA dystopians for their intriguing setups and their loveable characters, I find myself disappointed in a frequent lack of detail to the back-story. How can I believe in a world so unlike my own without some inkling as to the events that initiated the drastic change? While the events leading up to the zombie apocalypse may be entirely implausible in reality, they were interesting enough for me to feel fulfilled and invested in the setting. 
 Another thing I really enjoyed as the way the author incorporated a witty humor into an otherwise bleak story. For example, when describing the repercussions following a zombie outbreak at a rally, Georgia states: "This does not send a good message to the people. This sort of thing doesn't say Vote Ryman, he'll protect you.' If anything it says 'Vote Ryman if you want to get eaten''. (pg 171). The prose is so matter-of-fact in places that it's almost laugh-out-loud funny. (As in the place where it's described that zombie-ism is such a matter-of-fact aspect of life that "you live, you die, and then you come back to life, get up, and shamble around trying to eat your former friends and loved ones. That's the way it is for everyone." [p.390]). Another part that made me giggle was when Georgia stated that people tended to avoid public events, leading to the cancellation of the annual state fair in order to host the "everybody hide in their houses and pray-they-don't-die-a-thon in it's place" (p. 467). 
 While zombies are a central part of the narration, I think I'd hesitate to call this a true "zombie novel" as the undead are merely a backdrop to the story of political intrigue that develops around it. While the zombies do add an interesting dimension to the story, I think the author could substitute any highly contagious, lethally dangerous epidemic and essentially achieve the same outcome. 
 Portions of FEED are told through the respective blogs of George, Shaun, and Buffy, and while this might otherwise feel choppy or awkward, I really think the author did an excellent job of using these blog pieces to add a fascinating perspective to the story. And, be warned and ready for the "Red Flag Distribution" blogpost (on pg 516 of the e-book.. may vary in the mass-market paperback). This was probably, literally, one of the most emotional scenes I've ever experienced in fiction. 
 My only real criticism of this novel, I think, was the ending. While I understand that it was done this way, intentionally, to transition into the second book of series, I felt it to be disappointing after the dramatic climax. Even so, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend FEED... nor would I miss book 2 when it's released this summer. 
 **I read FEED as a part of Netgalley.com. All opinions are my own, and none were influenced by the fact that I read this book for free. I actually purchased my own copy after finishing the galley** 
 ( As posted on ChrissyMcBookNerd )