Book Review

Fallout by Todd Strasser

“Sparky touched the spaghetti with his fork, then stared at the TV. I felt my insides tighten anxiously. Dad had a gun. Mom was letting us eat in the den. Could there be any clearer signs that the end of the world was approaching.”

The year is 1962 and the United States is on the brink of a nuclear war. Tensions are high, with citizens being advised to take the precautionary step of building bomb shelters. In Scott Porter’s neighborhood, however, his family is the only one to follow through on how gravely serious the situation is. When the unthinkable comes to fruition, a mad dash ensues for the Porter’s safe haven. A dwelling designed to sustain four people becomes a community’s last hope for survival. Fighting tooth and nail, the Porter clan, and six others must adapt to existing underground.

“There’s down here and up there. The ones who feel like they’re buried are alive, while the ones who aren’t buried probably aren’t alive. Everything’s upside down.”

Due to radiation fallout, these ten individuals must remain below the surface for two weeks. How will they do so, while facing questions of shortage. Living space, food, water, air become moment to moment elements of survival. How many will make it out, if at all?

‘Fallout’ is a high-tension, fast-paced, read. Examining the Cuban Missile Crisis from a different perspective, Americans are faced with the harrowing question, “What if the bomb had actually been dropped?”

You don’t have to be a fan of apocalyptic tales to enjoy Strasser’s thriller. Chapters are brief and alternate between life prior to, and after, Russia dropping the ill-fated bomb. Characters are well-developed with unique backstories. The author balances the book in remarkable fashion, finding ways to interject lighthearted touches while dealing with a very serious subject.

Overall Rating: 4.8 out of 5

This review is brought to you courtesy of YA Librarian, Chris.

Click here to see if this book is currently available for check-out.