Alone by Megan Freeman

A novel in verse about a girl who wakes up to find that her entire town has been evacuated and abandoned. There's no power, no phones, no internet. She has only a Rottweiler named George, and her wits to survive dangers from nature, and from other humans.  Can she survive? Can she bear being alone?  

Look for the sequel coming soon: Away.

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

Have you seen the movie?  Read the book that inspired it! This is the story of Roz the robot, stranded on a deserted island, facing storms, and bears! The only way to survive is to adapt, like the other creatures who live on the wild island.  Who will win, when nature meets technology?

Look for the sequels! The Wild Robot Escapes and The Wild Robot Protects.

Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier

Popular illustrated book series now on Netflix! A mix of humor, horror, and action about the Monster Apocalypse. Can Jack and his motley crew of survivors kill the Blarg and survive the end of the world? Will they have enough Oreos and Mountain Dew?

I Survived the Battle of D-Day by Lauren Tarshis

Tarshis' popular series of adventure stories are all fictionalized stories of historical disasters. Watch for the newest one, I Survived the Great Molasses Flood, coming out in September.

15 Secrets to Survival by Natalie Richards

From the publisher: "When classmates Baxter, Abigail, Turner and Emerson break a school rule, they’re forced to travel to the middle of nowhere for an extra credit project. They think things can’t get much worse. After all, how will learning to survive in the wilderness help them stay out of trouble in school? 

What starts off as a weekend of team building takes a scary turn when their instructor goes missing and they are given nothing but pages of a survival guide to complete a series of challenges.

They soon learn the woods around them have unexpected surprises. Will they discover a way to work together to find their teacher and overcome the dangers of winter in the mountains? "

Shipwreck Island by S.A. Bodeen

If you don't like adventure and survival stories with a side of creepiness, don't read this book!  It starts out as Sarah is literally slamming clothes into a suitcase, furious that her father just married Yvonna, a woman with two sons (Marco and Ignacio, aka Nacho), and not only moved them into their house, but now they all have to go on the honeymoon vacay to get to know each other. Sarah is not happy, but neither are Marco and Nacho, who had to give up everything to move across the country.  The story alternates between Sarah's and Marco's points-of-view.  But VERY quickly, it becomes an action-packed adventure tale.  Everything goes wrong and they end up shipwrecked...  Creepy, weird, stuff starts to happen...  There's a huge cliff-hanger, so check out the sequels, too, because you'll want to see what happens! 

Storm Runners by Roland Smith

Chase Masters and his dad are storm chasers. They travel around the country in a beat-up old trailer to help communities prepare for and rebuild after hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. The storm of the century is headed for Florida, where Chase meets Nicole, who lives on a farm filled with circus animals. When the storm comes faster than expected, Chase knows the safest place to ride out the storm is in the school. But no one believes him, so Chase goes against his better judgment and gets on the bus with Nicole and the other students. When the "yellow death trap" crashes and slides into the water, it will take all of Chase's survival skills to save himself and the others. And that's only the beginning of this heart-pounding adventure... 

Blind Mountain by Jane Resh Thomas

Sam would rather stay home and play video games, but his dad makes him go along Montana mountain climbing.  Sam's annoyed, and not paying attention to his father's instructions.  It's his fault his father gets hurt, and now it's up to Sam to get his father safely down from the mountain, despite the dangers of the elements, lack of resources, and mountain lions.

Nim's Island by Wendy Orr

Nim lives with her scientist dad on a tropical island, with three friends (an iguana, a sea-lion, and a turtle). Sometimes her dad goes off for a day or two to a neighboring island to do research, but Nim is perfectly capable of taking care of herself. But when a hurricane keeps her dad from coming back and threatens her island home, Nim's survival skills are put to the test. A fun fantasy adventure and survival story that was made into a movie with Abigail Breslin.

Swindle by Gordon Korman

Griffin Bing is "The Man with a Plan".  He's always making adventures for his friends -- but when they spend the night in a haunted house, something unexpected happens. Griffin finds a Babe Ruth baseball card -- sweet! But then the guy he takes it to to find out how much it's worth tricks him out of the card.  Vowing revenge, Griffin hatches a plan worthy of Ocean's Eleven. He gets a group of kids together, with just the right skills, to get the card back.

This is the start to a fun series by a popular author.

The Castle in the Mist by Amy Ephron

From the publisher: "Tess and her brother, Max, are sent for the summer to their aunt’s sleepy village in the English countryside, where excitement is as rare as a good wifi signal. So when Tess stumbles upon an old brass key that unlocks an ornately carved gate, attached to a strangely invisible wall, she jumps at the chance for adventure. And the world beyond the gate doesn’t disappoint. She finds rose gardens, a maze made of hedges, and a boy named William who is just as lonely as she is. 

But at William’s castle, strange things begin to happen. Carnival games are paid for in wishes, dreams seem to come alive, and then there’s William’s eerie warning: Beware of the hawthorn trees. A warning that chills Tess to the bone..."

Sequel: Carnival Magic.

The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

From Scholastic: "When this peculiar ad appears in the newspaper, dozens of children enroll to take a series of mysterious, mind-bending tests. (And you, dear reader, can test your wits right alongside them.) But in the end just four very special children — two boys and two girls — will succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and resourceful children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules.

But what they'll find in the hidden underground tunnels of the school is more than your average school supplies. As our heroes face physical and mental trials beyond their wildest imaginations, they have no choice but to turn to each other for support. But with their newfound friendship at stake, will they be able to pass the most important test of all? Welcome to the Mysterious Benedict Society. If you're gifted, creative, or happen to know Morse Code, they could probably use your help."

A Week in the Woods by Andrew Clements

From Scholastic: "The fifth-grade Week in the Woods is a beloved tradition of Hardy Elementary, where Mark Chelmsley (the Fourth) is pretty much killing time before his parents send him off to an exclusive prep school. But then Mark realizes the Week might be a chance to prove to Mr. Maxwell that he's not just another of the slacker rich kids the teacher can't stand.

But it may be too late for Mark to change Mr. Maxwell's opinion of him. On the first day of the Week, the tension between teacher and student explodes, and in a reckless moment, Mark puts not only himself, but also Mr. Maxwell, in grave danger. Can two such strong adversaries work together to save their lives?"

Shadow Squadron series by Carl Bowen

from the publisher: "Lieutenant Ryan Cross has served his country with excellence for many years. When his time in the armed forces comes to an end, he is given a job offer he can't refuse: command an elite squad of soldiers tasked with tackling military ops that are blacker than black and far beyond the call of duty. "

Hunter's Choice by Trent Reedy

Hunter can't wait for his first hunt -- he's excited to join the family tradition, head out to the hunting lodge, and bag his first buck. He's passed the safety classes and is a crack shot.  He's ready!  Or is he?  When he gets out there with his dad, uncle, and Grandpa, along with his cousin Yumi and her cute friend Annette, he's not sure he can actually kill a living thing. Does that make him weak? Will all the guys at school, like annoying Kelton Fielding, make fun of him? Then, while out on the trail, they find wolf tracks...

Also, see the sequels: Racing Storm Mountain and Fishing in Fire

Racing Storm Mountain by Trent Reedy

All the kids in McCall, Idaho love snowmobiling, including Kelton Fielding. But most of the "Pops", the rich kids like Hunter Higgins and movie-star's daughter Swann Siddiq, have brand new, fancy snowmobiles. Not Kelton -- his mom works two jobs but they still can't afford rent. But her old boyfriend left behind a broken snowmobile, and Kelton has spent HOURS watching Youtube videos figuring out how to fix it up.  He's sure, once he gets it running again, he can join the annual snowmobile race, win the money, pay the rent, and show up all those snobby Pops who think he can't do anything. His sure way to win the race? A dangerous shortcut over Storm Mountain on the old mine road.  Unfortunately, Hunter and Swann find out about it, and follow him. To make matters worse, a storm is brewing, and that brings the possibility of an avalanche!

This is an action-packed story with a bit of The Outsiders' social-class-rivalry energy, and a side of Hatchet survival.

Fishing in Fire by Trent Reedy

The third in the series about the middle schoolers from McCall, Idaho. In this one, a wildfire threatens a fishing trip for Kelton, Hunter, Yumi, Swann, and Annette, but may bring them in contact with the rival group of "Pops" out on their own fishing adventure.  Can they all put aside their differences and escape together?

Iceberg by Jennifer Nielsen

Award-winning author of both historical and fantasy fiction, Nielsen turns her attention to the Titanic!  Hazel is a stowaway, wanna-be journalist who explores the ship (and a mystery) secretly, with help from Charlie, a porter, and Sylvia, a first-class passenger.  Until the you-know-what hits!  If you like breathless suspense, read this book!

Two Degrees by Alan Gratz

This is three action-packed survival stories in one!  Four middle schoolers fight for their lives in the face of natural disasters. 

Like all of Alan Gratz' books, it alternates from multiple points of view. Akira loves to ride her horse in the mountains, but she can't outrun a fast-moving forest fire that separates her from her family. For Natalie, it's not fire, but wind and water that she has to deal with, when her home is washed away in a hurricane.  Owen and George's threat is a living one -- a hungry polar bear!

If you enjoyed the I Survived series, or Alan Gratz' books, you will love this one!

Deep Water by Watt Key

Julie and her dad run a scuba diving boat together. First rule of diving: if you don't feel right, don't go down.  When an arrogant client and his sullen son claim they know what they're doing, showing off expensive equipment, Julie's hackles go up. But they need the money.  Because her dad isn't feeling well, Julie leads the dive. The jerks aren't happy, thinking they know more than she does because she's young, and a girl. The reckless clients don't listen to her, and they don't follow her instructions. Of course, they get in trouble. 

When she surfaces, the boat, and her dad, are gone. The client is in serious condition. They are miles from anywhere, and nobody knows where they are. What will get them first, hypothermia, or sharks? It's up to Julie to save herself, and the clients.

I, Q: Independence Hall by Roland Smith

Book one of an action-adventure series about Quest (Q) and his new step-sister, Angela, whose rock star parents married each other and take their teens with them on a concert tour around the world. A year off from school? Cool! But there are mysteries and secrets, and a roadie named Boone.  Q and Angela just might end up helping out spies and agents catch someone Angela thought was dead...

The Canyon's Edge by Dusti Bowling

A novel in verse about survival in more ways than one.  A year ago, Nora's mother died in a random shooting. She mostly hides from her feelings, though PTSD comes in the form of the "Beast" in her waking nightmares. On the anniversary of her death, Nora and her Dad go rock climbing in the canyon in the Arizona desert to honor her memory.  Rock climbing was something they all did together.  But this won't be an ordinary trip. A flash flood rips through the canyon, tearing away Nora's dad, and all their supplies, leaving her stranded on a ledge.  Nora has to fight scorpions, snakes, hunger, dehydration, 

City Spies by James Ponti (book 1)

Five kids from cities around the world are recruited into the British secret intelligence service, and trained in spycraft skills. Together, they can do what the adults can't... if they can all get along, and learn to trust each other.

Ryan Quinn and the Rebel's Escape by Ron McGee

Ryan has lived all over the world, so he's thrilled to be the 'new kid' for the last time -- in NYCity.  Just when he's settling in and making friends, his father disappears and his mother is kidnapped.  Little did he know, they don't work for the UN -- they are really part of a secret organization that performs dangerous rescue missions.  Everything they've taught him all his life has prepared him to follow in their footsteps. Can he save himself and his parents? Imagine a teenage Jason Bourne or James Bond and you've got an idea what this action-packed story has in store for you!

First of a series...

Urban Outlaws by Peter Jay Black

Five orphans live in a secret hideout under the city. Each has a particular set of skills, which they use like modern Robin Hoods to thwart criminals and commit Random Acts of Kindness.  But they may have met their match in a criminal mastermind who wants control of Proteus, a super-computer.  A high-tech, non-stop action thriller and the start of a series. 

Coin Heist by Elisa Ludwig

Breakfast Club meets National Treasure: four teenagers (hacker, slacker, jock & princess) unite to save their school by robbing the U.S. Mint. This is an action thriller! 

Peak by Roland Smith

Peak Marcello's parents are mountain-climbers. He lives in NYC and gets in trouble for tagging skyscrapers.  His Dad takes him to join his expedition to climb Mt. Everest.  If he succeeds, he’ll be the youngest ever to reach the summit.  Everyone, from his Dad, to the Sherpa guides, to the Chinese government, to the media, has a hidden agenda.  Nobody asks Peak what he wants.  

Be sure to check out his other great action books: Zach's Lie, the IQ agent series, and the Cryptids series.

24 Hours in Nowhere by Dusti Bowling

from the publisher: "Welcome to Nowhere, Arizona, the least livable town in the United States. For Gus, a bright 13-year-old with dreams of getting out and going to college, life there is made even worse by Bo Taylor, Nowhere’s biggest, baddest bully. When Bo tries to force Gus to eat a dangerously spiny cactus, Rossi Scott, one of the best racers in Nowhere, comes to his rescue—but in return she has to give Bo her prized dirt bike. Determined to buy it back, Gus agrees to go searching for gold in Dead Frenchman Mine, joined by his old friends Jessie Navarro and Matthew Dufort, and Rossi herself. As they hunt for treasure, narrowly surviving everything from cave-ins to mountain lions, they bond over shared stories of how hard life in Nowhere is—and they realize this adventure just may be their way out. "

The Bodyguard series by Chris Bradford

#1: The Recruit

from the publisher: "Teenage kickboxing champion Connor Reeves is determined to do his father, a former special forces soldier, proud. Recruited into the ranks of a top-secret young bodyguard squad known as Guardian, Connor trains in surveillance, anti-ambush exercises, hostage survival and unarmed combat. Whatever it takes to prepare him for the dangerous missions ahead.

But nothing can prepare Connor for his first assignment when the US president summons him to protect the First Daughter. For not even the Secret Service knows that a terrorist sleeper cell has been activated in America. Its mission: to take the president’s daughter hostage.

Combining pulse-pounding action, diabolical enemies, and an insider’s knowledge of the tricks of the trade, the BODYGUARD series is the perfect target for fans of Alex Rider, James Bond, 24, and Jason Bourne. "

The Raft by S.A. Bodeen

Robie is a teen girl who lives on Midway Island (site of the WWII battle) in the middle of the South Pacific. Returning from a visit to her aunt in Hawaii, her plane crashes into the ocean. She and the co-pilot, Max, somehow survive the crash and end up in a raft, with very little in the way of supplies or tools to help them survive except a bag of Skittles. Want a story to keep you on the edge of your seat, and a character you can cheer for? This is it.  This author also wrote the popular The Compound. For fans of the movie Castaway, or the book The Life of Pi. 

Surrounded by Sharks by Michael Northrup

Going thru Shark Week withdrawal? Check this out!  Davey and his family have come to a tiny, remote island in the Florida Keys for a relaxing vacation. Waking early one morning, Davey leaves the hotel room looking for a quiet place to be away from his family and re-read his favorite book. Ignoring the "No Sw mm ng" sign, he wades into the warm, clear waters on a tiny, deserted beach. And so starts the adventure NOBODY wants -- he is swept out to sea by a riptide. As Davey battles three kinds of sharks, his family finally wakes up to find him missing, and tries frantically to find out where he has gone. You may never swim in the ocean again! 

Stormbreaker (Alex Rider series) by Anthony Horowitz

You may have seen the movie they made out of this book, but you KNOW the book is always better! Plus there's a whole series.  Alex Rider grew up with his uncle, but when his uncle dies in a 'car accident' that was no accident, he finds out his uncle was a secret agent who has been training Alex secretly all his life. The agency pulls Alex in to fight terrorists, giving him all kinds of James Bond-type gadgets. This is an action-packed thriller start to a series. Read them all!

A World Below by Wesley King

It's like the Thai students trapped in the cave meets Journey to the Center of the Earth.  Silvia suffers from anxiety, but becomes the de facto leader when their whole class gets trapped in the Carlsbad Caverns after an earthquake, separating the class from Eric, a bit of a loner, and Mr. Baker, their teacher, who just disappeared down a crack that opened in the Earth.  Facing darkness and danger (giant rats and spiders, bugs, cold dark lakes, lack of food, injuries, aftershocks), they all need each other to survive.  But there's at least one more danger they weren't expecting... a human one! Think about the students in one of your classes... who would be an asset? Who would freak out?  Who wouldn't share food?  Who's got survival skills? Would you survive? 

Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis

Heist thriller about master thieves -- every generation is brought up learning the skills of high stakes/high rewards thefts, a rarefied world.  Ross Quest was raised by her mother and grandmother, homeschooled, never allowed to have friends and told never to trust ANYONE but family.  She's an expert thief, especially adept at escape plans. Ross wants to quit the family business and go to college, so she plans an escape for herself -- one last job with her mom, and then she'll disappear.  But the job goes horribly wrong, her mom is kidnapped, and will be killed unless Ross can come up with an exhorbitant sum.  So, she joins the Thieves' Gambit, an annual competition among the families of thieves that involves a series of 'challenges' -- dangerous grand thefts. Her rivals include the mean girl from her childhood, and a hottie she can't let distract her.  The grand prize, if she can win it, just might save her mother.  With a wicked twist at the end you will NOT see coming!!

This needs to be a book series, AND a movie or streaming series!

The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep: Voices from the Donner Party by Allan Wolf

Have you ever played Oregon Trail? Did you ever actually arrive, LOL? Frontier days were dangerous for wagon trains heading west to California. 

Have you ever heard of the Donner Party?  They were a real group of pioneers who arrogantly thought they could beat the weather and find a better 'shortcut' through the Sierra Nevada mountains. But winter came early, the shortcut was an epic fail, and they were stuck.  Massive amounts of snow, misguided leadership listening to bad advice, fast-dwindling food supplies, distrust and conflict, illness, accidents, a murder, and cannibalism!!  It's all here in the craziest true story from history.

Told in verse from multiple points of view. Using excerpts from actual diaries from one of the young survivors, this book is extremely well-researched and accurate.

Be Not Far From Me by Mindy McGinnis

Ashley is an experienced hiker and camper, who goes for an overnight with a group of friends. But when she catches her boyfriend kissing another girl, she stumbles away from their campsite after drinking too much, and falls into a ravine! She wakes in the morning lost, with an injured leg, no water, no supplies, not even her coat!  Will her knowledge of survival skills be enough to save her?

I Am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall

Jess hasn't seen her dad in, like, ten years. But the accident that killed her mother and injured her means she's now sent to live with him, WAY off-grid in his Canadian cabin in the woods, by a lake.  She gets dropped off by a pilot who only visits with supplies a couple times a year. Jess barely has time to reconnect with her dad, when he tells her to hide in the woods while he talks to two shady dudes who show up in a bi-plane.  Watching from the trees, she sees them shoot her dad, and bury him in the snow, then set fire to the cabin. She barely makes it in time to save a backpack with a few supplies, and her dad's dog. She hears them talking, looking for something, and planning to come back. Her time is limited, and winter is coming. Can she survive the Canadian winter, save herself, and get revenge on her father's murderers?

Don't Let In the Cold by Keely Parrack

Lottie and her new stepsister, Jade, have to spend one night together in a swanky cabin, trying to get along. Then the power goes out. And a stranger named Alex needs shelter. Then there's the storm.  Then, Lottie sees Alex talking to two sus dudes in a pickup truck in the driveway in the middle of the night. Then, there's the fire.  And suddenly, Lottie, Jade, and Alex are out in a blizzard.  They have to survive, and not just the cold...

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

From the publisher's website: "Sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient hidden map—the key to a legendary treasure trove—seventeen-year-old pirate captain Alosa deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship. More than a match for the ruthless pirate crew, Alosa has only one thing standing between her and the map: her captor, the unexpectedly clever and unfairly attractive first mate Riden. But not to worry, for Alosa has a few tricks up her sleeve, and no lone pirate can stop the Daughter of the Pirate King."

Sequel: Daughter of the Siren Queen

Skyjacked by Paul Griffin

From the publisher: "Five friends who attend Manhattan's elite Hartwell Academy are returning from an end-of-summer camping trip together on a private plane. Everything seems normal, except that one of the regular pilots is sick, so there's a replacement; Cassie is starting to get violently ill for no clear reason; and they realize the plane is flying west, not east. Soon it's clear: The plane has been hijacked. But by whom, and why? Where are they going? What made Cassie so sick? And even if they somehow make it into the cockpit and overpower the hijacker, could they land the plane? Emotions are running high, and choosing whom to trust is a matter of life or death."

Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

This rousing thriller takes place in an alternate history, in which the Germans won World War II.  The Germans and Japanese, uneasy allies, compete in an annual motorcycle race from Berlin to Tokyo. The race is fraught with danger, sabotage, and temporary alliances. Last year, the race was won by Adele, a girl who disguised herself as her brother. When she won, Hitler was so happy that he came out of hiding to dance with her at the victor's ball.

Meanwhile, Yael has been plotting her revenge. She's a Jewish girl who was in a concentration camp, where a Mengele-like doctor performed experiments on her... which gave her the ability to shift her appearance. She uses this new power to escape the camp, and joins the resistance movement. They train her as a spy. She will take Adele's place, win the race, and when Hitler dances with her --- she will ASSASSINATE HIM!

But the intel she was given isn't the whole truth about her rival racers... Will that blow her cover?

The Trap by John Smelcer

Alternates points-of-view between Johnny Least-Weasel and his grandfather, Albert, who live in the Alaskan wilderness. Albert has been checking his own traplines all his life, stubbornly refusing to 'retire' and leave it to his grandson. But one day, Albert doesn't come home.  And Johnny just KNOWS something is WRONG. With night falling and temperatures dropping, Johnny has to decide whether to  go out looking for him. Meanwhile, Albert is out there in the cold...  can he hold out until Johnny finds him?

Panic by Lauren Oliver

Read the thriller that's now a hit series on Prime!  In the tiny, poor town of Carp, NY, there's nothing to do when you're a teen, and few people have the means to make it better. Every summer, graduating seniors compete in a secret, deadly game called Panic. All players contribute to the prize pot -- this year's pot is $67,000. That's enough to get out of Carp, maybe pay for some college.  Each round involves a dangerous challenge. Survive that round, and you go on to the next. But the challenges get more and more dangerous. Some players in the past have died, or been permanently paralyzed (like Dodge's older sister). Is it worth the risk?  

Two of the players this year, Dodge and Heather, are desperate to win -- each has their secret motives driving them. Full of action and danger, this one will keep you up on all night to find out what happens!

We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez

From the publisher's website: "Pulga has his dreams.

Chico has his grief.

Pequeña has her pride.

And these three teens have one another. But none of them have illusions about the town they’ve grown up in and the dangers that surround them. Even with the love of family, threats lurk around every corner. And when those threats become all too real, the trio knows they have no choice but to run: from their country, from their families, from their beloved home.

Crossing from Guatemala through Mexico, they follow the route of La Bestia, the perilous train system that might deliver them to a better life–if they are lucky enough to survive the journey. With nothing but the bags on their backs and desperation drumming through their hearts, Pulga, Chico, and Pequeña know there is no turning back, despite the unknown that awaits them. And the darkness that seems to follow wherever they go.

In this striking portrait of lives torn apart, the plight of migrants at the U.S. southern border is brought to light through poignant, vivid storytelling. An epic journey of danger, resilience, heartache, and hope."

Not if I Save You First by Ally Carter

Action and adventure survival story about a Secret Service man's daughter, Maddie, and her best friend, Logan, son of the President. These besties are ripped apart after a tragedy is narrowly avoided. Maddie's dad takes her to the wilds of Alaska, where there are no people, no Internet, no phones, no Netflix, just a whole lotta nature.  She learns how to survive there, but it's lonely. Then one day Logan shows up, and she doesn't know whether to hug him, or punch him for ghosting her.  When kidnappers show up in a Black Hawk helicopter, take Logan, and shove Maddie off a cliff leaving her for dead, she has to decide real quick what to do.  Go for help? Or save him herself? 

Other great action book by Ally Carter: The Gallagher Girls spy series, the Embassy Row series, and more.

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne

14 teens and kids board the school buses one morning, unaware that their entire world is about to change. First comes the hail -- and the buses crash. One plucky bus driver gets all the kids into the Costco-like superstore to safety. If the world as we know it is ending -- Costco is the place to be! They have everything you need.

Then comes the chemical warfare... The kids lock themselves in while the driver goes for help. At first, it seems kind of fun, with the whole store and everything in it up for grabs. Then come the people trying to get in... and the effects of the chemicals in the air that affect people differently depending on their blood type (your choices? immediate death, quivering in terror, homicidal maniac, or can't have babies).

This is the first of a trilogy about surviving a very believable catastrophe.

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

A giant meteor hits the moon and knocks it into a new orbit, causing tsunamis, blizzards, volcanic eruptions, and power outages all over Earth.  No heat, phones, cable, computers. Miranda, her mom, and her little brother stock up on supplies, but they might not last long enough.  Society as we know it pretty much disappears. Neighbors and friends could be helpful, or not... Could your family survive such a catastrophe! Reading this book, you will want to start stockpiling water, pet food, batteries... this is the first of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone. It may have a bit less action than other survival stories, but it is so believable!

Adrift by Paul Griffin

From the publisher: "Matt and Mike are best friends, just two working-class guys trying to earn some money in Montauk for the summer. When they meet Driana, JoJo and Stef, three friends who live a much different life of privilege, Matt and Mike find themselves in a sticky situation where temptation rivals sensibility.

Worlds collide when the group ventures out to sea aboard a small boat that Stef sneaks out from her dad's dock. As the waves rise and the fragile vessel weakens, things go horribly wrong. Adrift at sea for days, who will have what it takes to survive?"

Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

From the publisher: "Some people are Nobodies... No one notices them. No one cares about them. They exist under the radar, forgotten as soon as you turn away. No one sees them coming. No one sees them leave.

That's why Nobodies make the perfect assassins.

Seventeen-year-old Nix is very good at his job. So when the organization he works for sends him after a teenage girl named Claire, he doesn't ask questions. He's a killer. She needs to die.

For sixteen years, Claire has led a normal life being overlooked. Her parents are absent. She doesn't have any friends. She has no idea what she is, or why anyone would want her dead. But she's about to find out, because from the moment Nix attempts to carry out his mission, the two are caught up in a conspiracy of murder, cover-ups, and betrayal.

Nix is a killer. Claire is his target. But from the moment he sets eyes on her, everything changes, because only the two of them can truly see each other -- and two Nobodies are more than twice as dangerous as one."

The Winter Soldier: Cold Front by Mackenzi Lee

Alternates between The Winter Soldier, Soviet Union's greatest weapon, and a teenager called Bucky Barnes who joins the British Special Operations, as they try to discover the secrets possessed by a beautiful chess champion. Their missions are decades apart in time, but connected in ways that will change both their lives, and their wars...

Devil's Pass, Seven (the series) by various authors

From the publisher: "Seventeen-year-old Jim Webb's abusive stepfather has made it impossible for him to live at home, so Webb survives on the streets of Toronto by busking with his guitar and working as a dishwasher. When Webb's grandfather dies, his will stipulates that his grandsons fulfill specific requests. Webb's task takes him to the Canol Trail in Canada's Far North, where he finds out that there are much scarier things than the cold and the occasional grizzly bear. With a Native guide, two German tourists and his guitar for company, Webb is forced to confront terrible events in his grandfather's past and somehow deal with the pain and confusion of his own life."