Post-Apocalyptic/Pandemic

Here is the list for books that take place in the midst of or after an apocalyptic event or a plague of some kind.  You'll find books here about super volcanoes exploding, a new ice age being underway, worldwide drought, and other natural disasters.  You'll also find books here about viruses killing all of the males, making all of the women barren, turning people into zombies, and doing other horrible stuff.  Some of these books are Dystopian (you'll find those on the Dystopian list too), and some are just about people running wild and trying to survive (not an oppressive government in site - heck, not any government at all in some of them!)  Some of these books can be found on other genre lists, but some pretty much only fit here.

Be sure to read my note about reading and age appropriate levels at the bottom of the page.

After the Snow by S. D. Crockett

(3.8) (UG) (post-apocalyptic, family, mystery, survival)

Ashfall by Mike Mullin (series)

(5.0) (UG) (volcanic winter, survival, friendship, family relationships, coming of age)

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

(2.9) (UG) (post-apocalyptic, survival, siblings)

Bones of Faerie by Jani Lynn Simner

(4.4) (MG+) (magic, family, post-apocalyptic, fantasy)

Contaminated by Em Garner (series)

(4.4/4.7) (MG+) (‘zombies’, family, relationships)

Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts (series)

(4.5/4.6) (UG) (post-apocalyptic, “zombies”)

Drowned by Nichola Reilly

(MG+) (survival, friendship, floods, secrets)

Enclave by Ann Aguirre (series)

(4.8/5.5/5.9) (MG+) (post-pandemic, friendship, survival, romance)

Epitaph Road by David Patneaude

(4.9) (UG) (post-pandemic, dystopian)

In the After by Demitria Lunetta (series)

(4.5/4.5) (MG+) (post-apocalyptic, “alien invasion,” mystery)

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne (series)

(4.0/4.0/4.0) (UG) (post-apocalyptic, survival)

Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis (series)

(5.5/5.6) (UG) (post-apocalyptic, drought, family, friendship)

Orleans by Sherri Smith

(4.8) (UG) (post-apocalyptic, survival, conspiracies)

Partials by Dan Wells (series)

(6.1/6.6/6.3) (UG) (post-apocalyptic, dystopian, super soldiers, mystery, relationships)

Reboot by Amy Tintera (series)

(4.7/4.9) (MG+) (post-apocalyptic, “zombies”, relationships, identity)

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

(4.3) (UG) (dystopian, paranormal abilities, rebellions, romance)

Shipbreaker by Paolo Bacigalupi (series)

(4.4/4.6/5.2) (UG) (adventure, loyalty, abuse, poverty, post-apocalyptic)

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken (series)

(5.7/5.9/5.9) (UG) (post-pandemic, friendship, adventure, survival, special abilities)

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

(5.0) (MG+) (post-pandemic, dystopian)

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan (series)

(5.8/5.2/5.7) (UG) (post-pandemic, undead, family secrets, romance)

The Islands at the End of the World by Austin Aslan

(4.1) (MG+) (family, Hawaii, epilepsy, adventure/survival)

The Rule of Thre3 by Eric Walters

(5.0) (MG+) (post-apocalyptic, family, friendship, survival)

The Waking Dark by Robin Wasserman

(5.8) (UG) (epidemic, violence, survival)

The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis *

(/) (UG) (orphans, serial killers, post-apocalyptic, coming of age)

The Young World by Chris Weitz

(4.8) (UG) (post-pandemic, survival )

Note:  Lists are arranged with Title, Author, Reading Level, Age Appropriate Level, and Descriptive Tags.
(Age appropriate level denotes the youngest readers that the book is appropriate for.  That doesn't mean that older readers will not enjoy the book!)

* =  books that I thought were GREAT

UG = upper grades  (contain sex, drugs, and/or very graphic violence; deal with mature subject matter such as rape, prostitution, child abuse, etc. )
MG+ = junior high  (may contain some profanity or sexual references; may deal with subject matter too mature for younger audiences)
MG = 4th through 6th grades (nothing inappropriate for children, but may not keep the interest of younger readers)
MG- = all ages (perfect for bedtime stories or read-alouds, or for precocious readers in the lower grades)

* = LGBTQ themes - characters, situations, or references to same-sex couples

Books included in this list are all ones that I have read myself and given a rating of at least 3 out of 5 Stars (why would I recommend anything less?)  When a book is part of a series, only the first title is listed, but the reading level for all books in the series is shown.  Lists will be updated periodically as I read new books.