What was the title and/or author of this young adult novel?

December 7, 2016 11:08 PM

Ok, it could also be a children's novel. All I know is I keep thinking about it off-and-on but the actual title eludes me. I believe I read in the late 1990s or early 2000s, although the book may have been published before that time. It was dystopian, coming of age theme. The basic plot that I can remember is that a virus killed off all adults leaving the children behind.

Details I do remember:
1. The protagonist was a girl on the verge of puberty.
2. She was taking care of her younger brother and the book focused on her journey to survive.
3. She learned how to drive a car (I think her parent's car).
4. With her newfound ability to slowly drive, she found a warehouse where she would replenish supplies,
5. She and her brother did befriend/band up with other children.
6, The ending focused on the question of her incoming puberty and if the virus was still around/would kill her too once she became an adult.

Hopefully these are enough details to produce an answer! Thank you in advance.

posted by Thirty7Degrees to Media & Arts (8 answers total)

Best answer: Is it The Girl Who Owned a City?
posted by phoenixy at 11:34 PM on December 7, 2016 [4 favorites]

Not a close match, but you might also enjoy Emergence by David R. Palmer.
posted by Bruce H. at 11:41 PM on December 7, 2016

Response by poster: That's it! Thank you phoenix.

Also, thanks Bruce for the recommendation. I've always been a fan of dystopian novels.
posted by Thirty7Degrees at 11:47 PM on December 7, 2016

Well, if you're a fan of YA dystopian "all the adults die" novels, let me recommend "Empty World" by John Christopher.

Young teen's family dies. His grandparents die. The middle-aged die. The 20- & 20-somethings die. Teenagers die. His friends die. The little kids he tries to look after die.

Then things really go downhill…
posted by Pinback at 1:27 AM on December 8, 2016 [2 favorites]

I just pulled out my copy of The Girl Who Owned a City, hoping to help, but phoenixy beat me to it. I'm reading it now, thanks to you.
posted by bendy at 3:35 AM on December 8, 2016

I see you have found your answer (and I will be getting it to read myself--my favorite genre!) but I wanted to add the title this question reminded me of as well. Quite similar to your description is Meg Rosoff's "How I Live Now," which was made into a middling movie.
posted by thebrokedown at 4:46 AM on December 8, 2016

I'm glad you found you answer. I'm just here to chime in that Starters by Lissa Price is another dystopian "all the adults die" novel. It's a virus that kills everyone between 20 and 60.
posted by TrarNoir at 8:08 AM on December 8, 2016

I really loved this book as a teenager thanks for reminding me of it.
posted by Melsky at 12:12 PM on December 8, 2016