cover image The Last Place on Earth

The Last Place on Earth

Carol Snow. Holt, $16.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-62779-039-0

Sixteen-year-old Daisy Cruz hasn’t heard from her best friend Henry Hawking for days. She’s worried that an awkward moment they shared has damaged their friendship, but as the days pass, she knows it has to be more. Also, why is everyone at school suddenly falling ill? A note on Henry’s desk leaves Daisy certain that he’s in danger, and additional clues lead her deep into California’s Los Padres National Forest, and finally to an underground bunker. Then things get really weird. Snow (Bubble World) presents a quirky entry into the “Is this it for humanity?” genre, as Daisy is thrust into a potential apocalypse she is ill-equipped to handle. Daisy’s engaging voice and dry wit are a real highlight, especially where her survivalist ineptitude is concerned (“Did you know that straight bleach can actually burn a hole in your clothes? Neither did I!”). Themes of loyalty, friendship, and family bonds are the foundations of a winning story filled with small, poignant moments that, against a background of uncertainty, don’t feel small at all. Ages 14–up. Agent: Stephanie Kip Rostan, Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency. (Feb.)