The Eleventh Plague

Author: Jeff Hirsch 

Pages: 278
Publication date: September 2011
Genre: YA Dystopia
Book Description (from Good Reads): In the aftermath of a war, America’s landscape has been ravaged and two-thirds of the population left dead from a vicious strain of influenza. Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his family were among the few that survived and became salvagers, roaming the country in search of material to trade. But when Stephen’s grandfather dies and his father falls into a coma after an accident, Stephen finds his way to Settler’s Landing, a community that seems too good to be true. Then Stephen meets strong, defiant, mischievous Jenny, who refuses to accept things as they are. 

Thoughts:
This is a very realistic take on a dystopian life. In this story we see people dealing with the end of the world as they knew it in their own way. Some people miss what they lost (lifestyle, commodities, loved ones) while some cling to the past there are some people who look down on those who still try to live their life according to the old ways. Stephen's family is among the people who spend their lives simply trying to survive not caring about pretending that the civilization as they knew it was going to return. 
Stephen's grandfather is not someone you like very much even if he is only around for a very small while. And his father seems very immature the decisions he takes are not very logical, he acts in a way that shows he has no survival skills. Stephen is forced to face the world on his own in a hurry after his father's accident (it can't be considered an accident if what happens is a consequence of your own actions). 

The story shows Stephen struggling to get used to people living in a very different mindset, also it is eye-opening to the people he meets. There is growth for everyone, especially Stephen and Jenny. IT does have a very convenient ending and it shows that people can be overly kind and forgiving, a tad bit much. Specifically, that part almost in the end where everyone is forgiven and then everyone ends up happily ever after. As much as you can be in a wild place with almost no society, but they have hope, the little community gets proof that civilization and kindness exist in humankind.

I gave this a 3.5-star rating.

I will try to find other books by this author. The writing style is very good.