“The world was ending. Not with a bang, but with a cough.”
— Early in the outbreak, as the scale of the pandemic becomes clear.
Archivist's Choice
Sick
Tom Leveen (2013)
Genre
Fantasy / Science Fiction / Young Adult
Reading Time
360 min
Key Themes
See below
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When a deadly virus turns their high school into a zombie battleground, a group of misfits and theater geeks must unite to save their friends and survive the lockdown.
Synopsis
Brian, a high school truant, and his best friend, Chad, are trapped in their school's theater department when a deadly virus breaks out. Classmates and teachers become relentless, bloodthirsty attackers. Brian's immediate concern is for his sister, Kenzie, and his ex-girlfriend, Laura, who are elsewhere in the school. With a group of previously ignored theater students, Brian and Chad journey through the infested school, navigating zombie hordes to rescue the girls and bring them back to the theater. As their sanctuary becomes a fortress, tensions rise among the survivors. Hope emerges alongside a new, more organized threat. The group must make a final stand in the theater before a desperate escape through the school's tunnels, leading them to an uncertain future in a changed world.
Reading time
360 min
Difficulty
Easy
Pacing
Fast
Mood
Suspenseful, Gritty, Tense, Action-packed
✓ Read this if...
You enjoy fast-paced zombie apocalypse stories with a high school setting and character-driven survival.
✗ Skip this if...
You dislike gore, intense violence, or stories centered on typical high school archetypes.
Plot Summary
The Truant Morning and the First Signs
Brian, his best friend Chad, and their usual skipping crew—Miguel, Sam, and Jesse—are behind the fence of North Mesa High. Suddenly, a violent incident unfolds on campus: a student, Matt, attacks another, biting them. What seems like drug-fueled rage quickly escalates as more students show similar aggressive behavior. The school goes into lockdown, but reports are vague, leaving the truant group outside the immediate danger and disconnected from loved ones inside. Brian worries about his younger sister, Kenzie, and his ex-girlfriend, Laura, who suffers from severe anxiety.
Seeking Sanctuary in the Theater
Deciding they cannot stay outside, Brian, Chad, Miguel, Sam, and Jesse breach the school's perimeter. They navigate the dangerous hallways, seeing classmates and teachers turn into 'sick' attackers. Their goal is the theater department, a large, relatively isolated area Brian knows well. Inside, they find a small group of theater students led by the pragmatic Sage, along with the observant Noah and others like Penny. The theater group has already barricaded themselves, having seen the outbreak firsthand. An alliance forms between the two groups, united by the common threat.
The Search for Kenzie and Laura
Brian worries about Kenzie and Laura. Despite Chad's reluctance and Sage's objections about the dangers, Brian convinces a small team to venture into the school to find them. The group, including Brian, Chad, Sage, and Miguel, plans a route through less-trafficked areas, using their knowledge of the school's layout. They encounter more 'sick' individuals, learning to evade or incapacitate them. The stakes rise with every step, and the group's relationships are tested, revealing strengths and weaknesses in their makeshift leadership and trust.
A Perilous Journey to the Library
The search party's journey is dangerous. They navigate through the library, a known location for Laura, and encounter many 'sick' students. Brian's leadership is challenged as they make difficult decisions about who to help and how to proceed without sacrificing the mission. They find Laura in severe panic, barely able to function, and manage to get her out. Their next goal is to find Kenzie, last known to be in the science wing. The group's numbers shrink as they face aggressive encounters, and the reality of their situation sinks in for everyone.
The Science Wing and a Desperate Reunion
Reaching the science wing, Brian finds Kenzie barricaded in a classroom with a few other survivors, including her friend Sarah. The reunion is brief, overshadowed by the immediate threat. The 'sick' swarm the area, forcing the group into a desperate fight. During the escape, Miguel sacrifices himself to protect the others, creating a diversion that allows Brian, Kenzie, Laura, Chad, and Sage to escape. Miguel's death reminds them of the danger and deeply affects the remaining survivors, especially Chad, who was close to him. They retreat, battered and grieving, back towards the theater.
Reinforcing the Theater and Growing Tensions
Back in the theater, the survivors deal with their losses and the grim reality of their containment. The theater is reinforced, but resources like food and water are limited. Tensions rise among the diverse group, especially between the 'skip-class' kids and the 'theater' kids, as well as with the new arrivals. Laura's panic attacks become a challenge, needing constant attention and affecting morale. Brian tries to maintain order and hope, while Sage emerges as a pragmatic leader, focused on survival and resource management. The group must decide on their next step: stay or try to escape the school entirely.
A Glimmer of Hope and a New Threat
Noah, the quiet theater tech, discovers a possible escape route through the school's ventilation system or maintenance tunnels, offering a path outside. This discovery brings hope but also highlights the challenges of moving a group, including an incapacitated Laura and younger Kenzie, through confined spaces. Before they can fully plan their escape, the 'sick' begin to show disturbing coordination. They launch a more organized and relentless assault on the theater's barricades, suggesting a primitive intelligence or a dominant 'sick' individual leading them, forcing the survivors to fight for their lives within their sanctuary.
The Final Stand in the Theater
The 'sick' breach the theater's outer defenses, forcing the survivors into a desperate last stand. Brian, Chad, and Sage lead the defense, using props, stage equipment, and their wits to fend off the attackers. Several minor characters are lost in the chaos, emphasizing the brutality of their situation. Laura, surprisingly, shows clarity and strength, contributing to the defense despite her usual fragility. Kenzie also shows resilience. The battle is fierce, pushing everyone to their limits, as they realize staying in the theater is no longer an option.
Escape Through the Tunnels
With the theater overrun, Noah guides the remaining survivors—Brian, Chad, Kenzie, Laura, and Sage—into the maintenance tunnels. The journey through the dark, cramped, and treacherous passages is claustrophobic and terrifying. They encounter isolated 'sick' individuals within the tunnels, leading to tense, close-quarters encounters. The group must work together, trusting Noah's knowledge of the school's underbelly. Laura's anxiety threatens to resurface, but the urgency of their escape keeps her focused. Brian and Chad's friendship is tested but strengthened, and Sage proves invaluable in her practical decision-making, while Kenzie's innocence is a powerful motivator.
The Outside World and Uncertain Future
The group emerges from the tunnels, finding themselves outside the school. The world they step into is not the one they left. Evidence of widespread chaos and destruction is apparent, indicating the virus has spread beyond the school's walls. Military presence is hinted at, but also a sense of abandonment. They are free from the immediate danger of North Mesa High but now face a larger, unknown threat. The ending leaves their long-term survival uncertain, emphasizing the devastating impact of the outbreak and the beginning of a new, dangerous reality for Brian and his companions. Their journey has just begun.
Principal Figures
Brian
The Protagonist
Brian transforms from a carefree truant into a reluctant but effective leader, learning to prioritize others' safety and make difficult sacrifices for the group.
Chad
The Supporting
Chad matures from a wisecracking sidekick into a dependable and courageous survivor, grappling with loss and fear but ultimately strengthening his resolve.
Kenzie
The Supporting
Kenzie, initially a frightened child, demonstrates surprising resilience and adaptability, becoming a silent source of strength for her brother.
Laura
The Supporting
Laura struggles intensely with her anxiety, but through the crisis, she finds moments of surprising resilience and contributes to the group's survival.
Sage
The Supporting
Sage develops from a cautious leader of her own group to a collaborative and essential member of the broader survival team, demonstrating adaptability and resourcefulness.
Miguel
The Supporting
Miguel's arc is one of selfless sacrifice, solidifying his role as a loyal and brave friend.
Noah
The Supporting
Noah, initially a background character, becomes indispensable by using his specialized knowledge to guide the survivors to safety.
The Sick
The Antagonist
The 'sick' evolve from disorganized attackers into a more coordinated, relentless threat, mirroring the escalating danger of the outbreak.
Themes & Insights
Survival and Adaptation
A main theme is the struggle for survival during an unprecedented crisis. Characters like Brian, Chad, and Sage must adapt quickly to a world where their familiar school is a death trap. They learn to fight, scavenge, and make difficult decisions for the group. This is clear when Brian leads against the 'sick,' or when Sage rations supplies. It is about shedding normalcy and embracing the primal instinct to live, often at great personal cost.
“This isn't a game, Brian. This is real. And if we don't start acting like it, we're all dead.”
Friendship and Loyalty
Friendship and loyalty are tested and strengthened throughout the story. Brian and Chad's loyalty to each other, and Brian's protectiveness of Kenzie, drive much of the plot. Even new alliances, like between the 'skip-class' kids and 'theater' kids, show the power of solidarity in a crisis. Miguel's sacrifice for his friends highlights this theme. The story emphasizes that survival is a collective effort, dependent on trust and mutual support.
“We're not leaving anyone behind. Not if I can help it.”
Loss of Innocence and Normalcy
The outbreak shatters the innocent world of high school, forcing the teenage characters to face horrors and violence. Familiar hallways become sites of terror, and classmates become monstrous attackers. This is especially clear through Kenzie's perspective as she sees her world break down. The characters lose their innocence, forced to mature quickly and make adult decisions about life and death. The shift from skipping class to fighting for survival highlights the abrupt end of their carefree youth.
“This used to be our school. Now it's a tomb.”
Leadership and Responsibility
The crisis pushes ordinary teenagers into leadership roles, making them responsible for others' lives. Brian, initially reluctant, grows into the role, making tough calls and inspiring hope. Sage also becomes a pragmatic and effective leader, balancing Brian's impulsiveness with strategic thinking. The burden of leadership is heavy, involving ethical dilemmas and personal sacrifices. This theme explores how individuals rise to the occasion under extreme pressure, revealing strengths they never knew they had.
“Someone has to make the decisions, even the bad ones.”
The Nature of Humanity Under Pressure
The novel explores how different individuals react to extreme stress and fear. Some, like Miguel, show bravery and self-sacrifice, while others, like Laura, struggle with debilitating fear. The 'sick' represent the primal, animalistic side of humanity unleashed. The story examines the thin line between civilization and savagery, both within the infected and within the survivors, who sometimes resort to brutal acts to stay alive. It questions what remains of humanity when society collapses, and what values are worth preserving.
“Are we really any different from them, sometimes?”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
The Confined Setting (North Mesa High)
The high school as a microcosm of the collapsing world.
The entire story takes place within the confines of North Mesa High School, which serves as a powerful symbol. The familiar environment, typically a place of learning and social interaction, transforms into a deadly, inescapable labyrinth. This confined setting intensifies the claustrophobia and horror, as the characters are trapped with their attackers. It also acts as a microcosm, reflecting the larger breakdown of society outside, making their small struggle feel universally significant. The school's various departments (theater, library, science wing) provide distinct challenges and opportunities for the survivors, utilizing the familiar layout to create tension.
The Unseen Threat (The Virus)
The mysterious and rapidly spreading virus as the catalyst for chaos.
The virus itself is a crucial plot device. Its mysterious origin and rapid, gruesome transformation of people into 'sick' attackers drive the entire narrative. The lack of information about the virus's cause or cure amplifies the characters' helplessness and fear. It's an unseen, insidious enemy that strips away humanity, forcing the survivors to fight against their former friends and teachers. The virus's effect on the 'sick' – their speed, aggression, and later, hints of coordination – continuously escalates the threat, preventing the survivors from ever feeling truly safe and pushing them to their limits.
The Reluctant Leader
Brian's transformation into a leader despite his initial nature.
Brian embodies the 'reluctant leader' trope. Initially a slacker more interested in skipping class, the crisis forces him to step up and take charge. His concern for Kenzie and Laura acts as a powerful motivator, but his leadership is not without hesitation or self-doubt. This device allows for character growth and adds realism, as an unprepared teenager grapples with immense responsibility. It highlights that leadership isn't just about strength, but also about care, adaptability, and the willingness to make difficult choices, even when terrified. His journey from truant to protector defines much of the story's emotional core.
The Divided Group (Cliques)
The initial segregation of high school cliques forced into unity.
The story begins with clear high school cliques: Brian's 'skip-class' friends and the 'theater kids.' This initial division acts as a plot device to explore themes of prejudice, cooperation, and breaking down social barriers under duress. The crisis forces these disparate groups to unite for survival, challenging their preconceived notions about each other. The friction and eventual collaboration between them highlight how adversity can forge unexpected bonds and reveal hidden strengths in individuals previously dismissed or overlooked. The blending of these groups, particularly through characters like Brian and Sage, demonstrates the power of collective action.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“Hope is a dangerous thing. It makes you do stupid stuff.”
— One of the survivors reflecting on past decisions made out of desperation.
“You don't know what you've got till it's gone. And then, sometimes, you don't even remember what it was.”
— A character mourning lost loved ones and the fading memories of a pre-plague world.
“Fear is a virus too. It spreads faster than anything physical.”
— Observing the breakdown of society and the paranoia among survivors.
“There are no good choices anymore, only less terrible ones.”
— A character facing a difficult moral dilemma in a post-apocalyptic world.
“Sometimes, the only way to save someone is to let them go.”
— A heartbreaking decision made about a loved one who has been infected.
“Silence. It used to be peaceful. Now it's just... empty.”
— Experiencing the eerie quiet of a depopulated city.
“Survival isn't about strength, it's about stubbornness.”
— A character reflecting on what has kept them going despite overwhelming odds.
“We build walls to keep things out, but sometimes they just trap us in.”
— Discussing the formation of survivor camps and the limitations they impose.
“The past is a ghost that walks beside you, even when there's no one else left.”
— Dealing with trauma and the weight of past events.
“Even in the darkest places, a little light can make a difference. Even if it's just a flicker.”
— Finding a small moment of beauty or connection amidst the chaos.
“You learn quickly what you can live without. And what you absolutely can't.”
— Adapting to the harsh realities of a world with limited resources.
“The monsters aren't just outside. Sometimes, they're the ones you thought you knew.”
— Encountering betrayal or cruelty from other survivors.
“Every sunrise is a victory. Every breath, a rebellion.”
— A character finding a renewed sense of purpose and defiance in simply existing.
“There's a difference between living and just existing. We're trying to live.”
— A group of survivors deciding to fight for more than just basic survival.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
'Sick' follows a group of high school outcasts, led by Brian, who find themselves trapped in their school when a rapidly spreading, zombie-like virus turns their classmates and teachers into violent, nearly unstoppable attackers. Their primary goal becomes surviving the lockdown and reuniting with loved ones amidst the chaos.
About the author
Biography coming soon.
