Contaminated (Em Garner)

This was a recommendation from Amazon. I found it at the library and read it over about 4 hours. Amazon describes the plot as, "After the Contamination - an epidemic caused by the super-trendy diet drink SlimPro that turned ordinary citizens into shambling creatures unable to control their violent impulses - the government rounded up the "Connies" to protect the remaining population. But now, two years later, the government's started sending the rehabilitated back home, complete with shock collars that will either stop the Connies from committing violent acts or kill them before they do any further harm. Velvet Ellis goes to the "Kennels" every day searching when she finds her mother, she's eager to bring her home. Anti-Connie sentiment is high, and rumor has it that an even worse wave of the Contamination is imminent. And then the government declares that the Connies will be rounded up and neutralized, once and for all. Sacrificing everything - her boyfriend, her home, and her job - Velvet will do anything to protect her mother. Velvet has to get the collar off her mother before the military comes to take her away. Even if it means risking all of their lives. Gritty and grabbing, Velvet is a harrowing, emotionally charged dystopic venture into YA from a well-known and respected writer of women's fiction." The plot is not too original, but the way it's written I couldn't put it down. I am excited to get the sequel. All in all, I say: READ IT - it's more about Velvet and less about the "zombie" like creatures.