Fast moving and thorough

Scavenger by Bradley Caffee is a fun read if you are into Christian post-apocalyptic (and dystopian) novels. In other words, “The Omega Man meets Left Behind.” It’s also a good Teen & Young Adult dystopian read.
In a world decimated by a lethal virus, Jimmy Hunter is a scavenger. Using his skills as a drone pilot, each day he searches his nearly vacant city for tradable goods to help him and his two friends, Elena and Wyatt, survive. With criminals and violent militia roaming the streets, each trip away from the hideout is fraught with peril.

When his drone veers off-course, Jimmy discovers information about underground bunkers where civilization and resources are being preserved--kept secret by a group known as the Keepers. But knowledge is dangerous in his world, especially with the leader of the Brotherhood, Mr. Quinn, out to claim any resources as his own and lock down his iron grip on the city.
I like the structure and movement of the story. Throughout the novel, the protagonist, Jimmy Hunter, gathers hope from an inscription his father gave him citing Jesus’ words from Gospel of John 15:13. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” We really don’t understand the full impact of this Scripture on Jimmy until later, during the story’s climax.
Jimmy describes his tragic existence in this line: “Ninety percent of the world’s population died, and I was left behind to survive. That’s what happened. Choosing to live among people who can keep me safe with the girl I want to be with doesn’t sound so crazy when you consider everything we’ve been through.”
The deceiving antagonist has a frame of mind that justifies his actions. It is summed up with this one sentence, “What I seek here is justice. A fair distribution of resources. To take back what was taken from us and share it with the rest of the population.”
However, his actions state otherwise. As the Bible states, we learn what’s in someone’s heart by their “fruits.” (Matthew 7)
The author does a great job of changing the tempo without sacrificing entertainment, inserting action-adventure with the tender hearts of young adults. I don’t recall a lull in the plot where I either felt lost or bored.
I highly recommend this reading. I received a review copy courtesy of the Mountain Brook Ink Publishers through Interviews & Reviews for an unbiased and objective review.