Explain how the author creates suspense in this book.
Creating suspense in a zombie book is not all that hard because zombies are already scary. Think about it a mass of gnashing, bloodthirsty, screaming people you once knew all trying to eat you. Its not hard to make a situation suspenseful. I think all you really need is a dark place and a zombie and you have suspense. But one of the most suspenseful part of this book is when you have someone who has been bitten and you are waiting for them to turn (turning means to turn into a zombie) because you know what will happen the question is when.
But Z.A Recht has above and beyond when making suspense he makes it so that you don't know what happed. Or he will change plot lines mid-action. This may sound annoying but its not. It forces you to read on.


What do you think is the theme (author’s message) in this book?
I think that The Moriningstar Strain is a metaphor for AIDS, here is why. The Moriningstar Strain started in Africa. Where has AIDS been deadliest, Africa. I think that Z.A. Recht is to good to have this be a mistake. Also The Moriningstar Strain and AIDS are both transmitted by fluids. The Moriningstar Strain is transmitted by blood to blood or saliva to blood. AIDS is transmitted blood to blood and also by semen. I think that this a on purpose.
I think this book is also about fear and facing them. I think this book is also how well we bond when in the face of danger. There are people who hated each other are now working together. Think about how humans have bonded when confronted with something larger than themselves. As some famous dead man said "the enemy of my enemy is my friend"