The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch (Dystopian)

America is now a barren landscape left after a brutal war. Most of the population was killed by a vicious strain of influenza. People called the influenza the "Eleventh Plague".  Stephen Quinn is a 15 year old and was born after the war. Ever since he has lived the life as a salvager. He would salvage anything worth food or clothing with his father and grandfather. His mother died delivering his brother, who died right after birth. Eventually Stephen's grandfather caught the sickness and died too. Now, with just his father Stephen, they continue salvaging. But when they run into slavers, Stephen's father falls into a ravine and hits his head, falling into a coma. Stephen is found by people from Settler’s Landing,  a community that had everything from medicine to food that was hard to get. There Stephen meets Jenny, a mischievous girl that doesn't like things as they are. When the two play a prank on the Henry's house, things get out of control and chaos erupts. Now Stephen and Jenny find themselves in the middle of a battle between Settlers Landing and Fort Leonard. Fort Leonard was like a poorer version of Settler’s landing. They were searching for Settler’s landing. When Settler’s Landing gets help Stephen meets an old face. The battle will change Settler’s Landing, and everyone's life.

I think this was a great book. I liked how the setting was a very possible future after a war, where there are salvagers and other types of people in the world left. And the concept of a man made plague, wiping out two thirds of the population leading to a world with no order and law. I also really liked how the author put suspense in a lot of the chapters. Like on the way to Settler's Landing Stephen had to put a blindfold on and all he could hear was "There were shuffling of footsteps and low voices up ahead".  I thought they were a few places Jeff Hirsch could have done better. For example when Stephen and his father are running away from slavers; Jeff Hirsch could have put a joyous sensation from successfully running away before the despair of Stephen's father falling into the ravine. And when Stephen went to school for the first time I think that Jeff Hirsch could have added a little bit of comedy, but overall I think this was a great book and I would recommend it for 6^th to 8th graders and to someone who likes settings that are after war and a bit apocalyptical.

Reviewed by Kenji T. , 7th Grade