This is the first of a 3-part series (likely with more to come) about the post-apocalyptic survival of Luke, a 16-year-old who was at a science competition in Chicago when the power went out and society fell apart. It seems to be an EMP pulse event, but it isn't certain. It isn't immediately apparent that he is that young, as he appears to be quite savvy about how to survive, and is not afraid to kill if needed to assure his or others' survival.

Shortly after we meet Luke, he meets Amy, a 14-year-old who has been captured and mistreated by a group of guys,and Luke shoots them all and takes her with him.

As the story unfolds, we understand that Luke's family are preppers who live Texas, and he is heading home to them. They meet up and help others along the way, and battle a number of nasty characters while always coming out ahead. Luke is more together than nearly all of the adults they encounter, and it was a bit of a stretch for me that he was as together as he appears, but I liked that Luke is a good guy at heart and that they encountered others who were as well.

This story ends part-way into their journey, so of course I bought the second and third books immediately after finishing this one. ( )