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When the sickness came, every parent, policeman, politician - every adult fell ill. The lucky ones died. The others are crazed, confused and hungry. Only children under sixteen remain, and they're fighting to survive. Now there are rumours of a safe place to hide. And so a gang of children... read more

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Summary edit see section history

The Enemy by Charlie Higson is set in London a year after a devastating disease wreaks havoc on every human over the age of sixteen. The disease killed some of the grown-ups right away, but others were not so lucky. Instead of dying, the strange illness left the grown-ups feverish, covered in... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

The Enemy by Charlie Higson is set in London a year after a devastating disease wreaks havoc on every human over the age of sixteen. The disease killed some of the grown-ups right away, but others were not so lucky. Instead of dying, the strange illness left the grown-ups feverish, covered in puss-filled boils, and falling apart. They function in the only way that putrid and decaying masses of children-craving monsters can: slowly and uncoordinated, but hungry and determined to get their next meal. Alone, they are easy to pick off and defend against, but in large groups, the grown-ups are dangerous. The small army of children living in an abandoned grocery store near London have learned that the hard way. Every day they stay in their makeshift home, their resources diminish, and the threat of the diseased grown-ups just outside their residence causes them to realize that they need to move to a safer place. That place is Buckingham Palace, where they have heard a bigger group of kids have set up their own home, equipped with weapons, food, beds, water, and even a garden where they have already started to grow their own food. The only problem, however, is that to get to their safe haven, they must endure a seven-hour trek—which is a dangerous seven hours of battling hordes grown-ups all the way.

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Arran: Arran is the boy leader of the Waitrose crew who carries a pickaxe handle as a club
  • Maxie: Add a description of this character.
  • Small Sam: The older brother of Ella who gets lost out by himself.
  • Achilleus: Achilleus is the fighter of the waitrose crew who uses a spear with a sharpened point on one end and a heavy blunt end on the other
  • Freak: The best friend of Deek.
  • Deke: The best friend of Freak.
  • Ollie: A smart, red-headed boy who uses a slingshot.
  • Blue: A boy leader from the Morrisons crew.
  • jayden: the boys move from there zombie infected school only to see all of the world to be infected they have to have skills to stay alive TO KILL MORE ZOMBIES and who will stay alive for this massurer
  • Whitney: The girl leader from the Morrisons crew who watches over the young kids.
  • David: A powerful coward who rules Buckingham Palace.
  • John: john is a very strong person who is in charge of a group of kids
  • Callum
  • Rhiannon: A chunky girl found by Small Sam.
  • Lewis
  • Nick: A grown up who lives down in the tracks with his wife.
  • Bernie
  • Rachel: The wife of Nick living in the tracks.
  • Josh
  • Ella: Small Sam's younger sister.
  • Godzilla: A dog the group takes care of.
  • Maeve: The main girl who takes care of the younger children.
  • Waitrose: The first home for the kids.
  • Carl
  • Joel
  • Holloway
  • Ben
  • Big Mick
  • Franny
  • Akkie
  • Paddy: Paddy the "Caddy" serves as Achilleus' servant.
  • Jason
  • Saint George
Show all 33 characters
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First Sentence edit see section history

Small Sam was playing in the car park behind Waitrose when the grown-ups took him.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 1 of 3 in The Enemy. (standard series)

Followed by The Dead.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Charlie Higson (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Puffin
Country: UK
Publication Date: 2009
ISBN: 0141384646
Page Count: 416

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Young Adults

Contains strong language and scenes of violence.

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history


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