All That’s Left in the World

A near-future world has survived Covid-19 only to be hit by “the bug,” a flu strain with a 99.99% mortality rate. Amid societal collapse (“everyone was full-on Live Free or Die in America”), and trying to put his past behind him, Andrew nearly loses his leg when he stumbles into a bear trap. Subsequently casing a cabin hoping to find medical supplies, the pop culture–savvy 17-year-old meets more serious 16-year-old Jamie. But instead of killing Andrew with the rifle he’s brandishing, Jamie offers medical help and shelter. Having grown to trust each other in a world where ties are hard to come by, they set out to see if rumors of a rescue at Reagan National Airport are true. The alternating narration means that readers know more than either character does—including about their growing feelings for each other. Debut author Brown hits familiar dystopian tropes of authoritarianism, violence, and occasional pockets of kindness, showing that apocalypse isn’t just about the physical demands of staying alive. In allowing the protagonists moments of laughter and warmth amid so much loss, he gets to the terrifying heart of societal collapse: the loneliness and guilt of outliving friends and family—and the resulting hope in connection. Ages 13–up. Agent: Michael Bourret, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Mar.)