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A review by mrsfligs
Z for Zachariah by Robert C. O'Brien
3.0
2 Words that describe the book: Post-apocalyptic survival
3 Settings where it took place or characters you met:
* Setting: After a nuclear war in the United States, somewhere on the Eastern Seaboard
* Ann Burden—a 16-year-old girl who appears to be the sole survivor after a nuclear war; she manages to survive on her family's farm, which has been spared nuclear fallout due to its geographic location
* Mr. Loomis—a scientist in a special protection suit who shows up in Ann's valley unexpectedly
4 Things you liked and/or disliked about it:
* I liked Ann's smarts, gutsiness and practicality—a great role model for young girls or boys.
* I liked the "cat and mouse" game between Ann and Loomis.
* I liked how the author kept you guessing how things would turn out until the end.
* I liked how the book felt fairly timeless, even though it was written in the 1970s. It holds up today and doesn't feel that dated.
5 Stars or less for your rating?
I'm giving the book 4 stars. I guess this would qualify as a young adult book, but I think anyone who enjoys a good post-apocalyptic tale—and really, who doesn't?—would find this to be an absorbing story. It was very readable and built tension and suspense very effectively.
Side Note: The book was an ALA Notable Book and was received the Edgar Allan Poe Award. The author won the Newbery Medal for Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH.
3 Settings where it took place or characters you met:
* Setting: After a nuclear war in the United States, somewhere on the Eastern Seaboard
* Ann Burden—a 16-year-old girl who appears to be the sole survivor after a nuclear war; she manages to survive on her family's farm, which has been spared nuclear fallout due to its geographic location
* Mr. Loomis—a scientist in a special protection suit who shows up in Ann's valley unexpectedly
4 Things you liked and/or disliked about it:
* I liked Ann's smarts, gutsiness and practicality—a great role model for young girls or boys.
* I liked the "cat and mouse" game between Ann and Loomis.
* I liked how the author kept you guessing how things would turn out until the end.
* I liked how the book felt fairly timeless, even though it was written in the 1970s. It holds up today and doesn't feel that dated.
5 Stars or less for your rating?
I'm giving the book 4 stars. I guess this would qualify as a young adult book, but I think anyone who enjoys a good post-apocalyptic tale—and really, who doesn't?—would find this to be an absorbing story. It was very readable and built tension and suspense very effectively.
Side Note: The book was an ALA Notable Book and was received the Edgar Allan Poe Award. The author won the Newbery Medal for Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH.