Welcome to the future, written in the past.
A mutant plague has rendered part of the population as zombie-like humanoids. They have a conscious mind though, but their craving for brains is a bit of an antisocial issue. Being mostly made up of impoverished individuals, it is not surprised that they got cured cheaply and lastly, despite being the main test subjects. Lochlyn is their representative. She just wanted an education beyond elementary school.
A little luckier stricken part of the infected population evolved into reverents. Reverants have a feudal system over the zombies to "keep them in order". The luck may have had to do with them being upper-class when being treated. Basilica is their representative. At eighteen, she wanted body modifications, a job, and etc... as a rite of passage entering adulthood. At least that's what she was thinking. The more she was told no, the more she wondered what she could do.
There are still uninfected humans left in the U.S.A. Most of them are middle-class. Katrina is their representative. She gained a family member, but lost two. She aches to find out why she can never return home again. The three eighteen-year-old females, along with their beaus, journey for truth, equality, justice, restoration, love, and freedom lead them to the same end: the capital.
The Pinterest book mood board link: https://pin.it/1DRphaB