First published 1987
Eleven-year-old Candida Maria Smith-Foster awakens in her family's fallout shelter to silence. The nuclear war her survivalist father prepared for has finally come, and she emerges to find a world emptied of human life. Candy possesses an extraordinary intellect that sets her apart from ordinary children, but now she faces the ultimate test of her abilities. She must navigate a devastated landscape where the rules of civilization no longer apply. Her companion becomes Terry, a wild macaw she trains to speak and scout. Together they search for other survivors while Candy grapples with the weight of possibly being among the last humans alive. As she journeys across the transformed continent, she discovers that survival requires more than just intelligence and preparation. The young girl who once felt isolated by her exceptional mind now confronts a loneliness beyond anything she could have imagined, forcing her to redefine what it means to be human in a world that may no longer have room for humanity.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, coming-of-age, post-apocalyptic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Fallout Shelter, Devastated Landscape
Period: Nuclear War
304 pages · Paperback · New English Library