The Eleventh Plague
A generation after China released a weaponized plague on the U.S., the nation is in ruins, and 15-year-old Stephen wanders the country as a scavenger. Summary from BPL
The Eleventh Plague imagines for us the aftermath of a successfully deployed biological weapon. Lack of communication, isolation, deprivation--all those "ation" words--make for a grim dystopia. Typically overpowered by first his grandfather,then his father, Stephen presents as an obedient, cowed teenager trying to survive by following orders. The reader watches as tragic events force Stephen to grow up.
Short on detail, The Eleventh Plague can be simplistic at times, good versus evil portrayed by stock characters. I think if the editor had drawn the author out more the novel would have benefited lots. The story itself is interesting but incomplete.
7 out of 10 Definitely on the young side of Young Adult.