The first several chapters of The 5th Wave have been released online as part of a new viral campaign that has begun for the highly anticipated young adult sci-fi thriller.

The buzz is beginning to build for The 5th Wave, a forthcoming young adult thriller by Printz Award winning author Rick Yancey. The novel follows Cassie, a survivor of the Arrival – a brutal alien invasion that has wiped out most of humanity – as she struggles to find her missing brother in a landscape swarming with subtle enemies.

In keeping with the survivalist (…or not) theme of the story, a Tumblr has been set up for the novel, featuring articles like “6 Tools You Need to Survive the Alien Invasion,” blog entries from Cassie inventorying her supplies, and a mysterious section titled “Wonderland.” (A corresponding Twitter account has also been established.) In addition, the first 54 pages of The 5th Wave have been “unlocked” on the site – and if the Tumblr hasn’t given you a taste of the novel’s eerie tone, the epigraph certainly will.

Excitement for The 5th Wave has been percolating since the trilogy sold to Putnam in a rumored seven-figure deal – and the book seems to be living up to the heady hype. The 5th Wave has earned starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly, as well as acclaim from best-selling authors Melissa Marr and Melissa De La Cruz.

The 5th Wave will hit bookstores on May 7 and is available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other booksellers. Meanwhile, readers can pick up Rick Yancey’s gripping series The Monstrumologist, which we at Hypable heartily recommended in our Holiday Gift Guide.