The Rule of Three by Eric Walters (review)

When computer-based technologies worldwide inexplicably stop working, the world descends into chaos. Sixteen-year-old Adam Daley, his police chief mother, his best friend Todd, and his neighbor Herb (a retired foreign operative) manage to calm the population of their small rural neighborhood and keep the impending violence at bay. Everyone agrees to pool their resources and work together, but it’s not long before Adam’s community of survivors is threatened by well-armed outside forces with no interest in cooperation. Desperate for any sense of joy, Adam takes to the sky in his ultralight airplane, and what starts as a lark may just become his neighborhood’s best chance at fighting back and surviving. A post-apocalyptic narrative that is solidly grounded in the present day, this novel offers a compelling what-if scenario that will leave readers hugging their cell phones and worrying about their water supply. With its carefully crafted mix of bleakness and optimism, it manages to avoid the utter nihilism of much similar catastrophe-focused fare without feeling naïve. Much of this balance is the result of Adam’s narration, as he wants to believe in the best of people and in hope for his community’s survival, but he still manages to remain realistic in the face of death and ruin. A solid fit for fans of Pfeffer’s Life As We Knew It (BCCB 12/06), this disaster-survival story will also please readers who just enjoy watching teens take the lead.