The Rule of Three

November 15, 2014
The struggle for survival in a world suddenly bereft of technology continues immediately from where The Rule of Three (2014) left off.Adam's community having successfully defeated a large force of murderous raiders, the neighbors celebrate safety. Ex-CIA Herb, however, warns that peace isn't just fleeting; it's deceptively dangerous. Along with worrying about the battle's survivors-that those left behind guarding the raiders' compound could regroup-he advises that without a unifying common threat, the community itself will be less easily managed. As Herb predicts, tensions rise inside their walled community over things like rations. Meanwhile, those rations are envied by outsiders who live in nearby neighborhoods, the woods or even in a small cluster of tents right outside their community's wall. As the community's sole pilot and therefore crucial for surveillance and reconnaissance, Adam's all too aware that in this post-apocalyptic world, his community is an island of haves in a sea of have-nots. He struggles to help outsiders as much as possible and frequently argues against Herb's ruthless pragmatism. Less about physical survival, in this sequel, the conflict concerns the community's morals and soul. The middle sags as a slow burn of incidents illustrate the outside world's destabilization, but the pace picks up in the conclusion's twists and cliffhanger. Although less action-packed than its predecessor, the philosophical questions and killer ending will prime readers for the next book. (Adventure. 12-17)

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April 1, 2015

Gr 7 Up-It has been 66 days since the global blackout that rendered all technology useless. Adam and the denizens of his suburb community continue to follow Herb, the retired former government official. But as catastrophes escalate and Herb's decisions become increasingly questionable, the teen begins to wonder if they've put their trust in the wrong person. Plot twists and double alliances will keep readers guessing and coming for more in this riveting installment of the survival adventure series.

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
With the aid of a retired spy and his police-captain mother, Adam protects his post-apocalyptic neighborhood following a global blackout. Despite a victory against an invading force, tensions rise as rations dwindle and a new enemy threatens to destroy them from within. While the betrayer's identity isn't surprising, slow-burn tension and a game-changing cliffhanger will keep readers riveted for the third installment.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

October 28, 2013
In this understated post-apocalyptic novel, an unknown event renders all computers inoperable, leading to the shutdown of most technology and the collapse of civilization. Fortunately for 16-year-old Adam, he drives a ’79 Omega, one of the few cars still operable in his suburban neighborhood. As days pass and panic sets in, Adam’s police captain mother takes control, aided by their neighbor Herb, a retired government agent (“Black ops? In my business there was very little that was black or white. Most everything involved shades of gray and shades of right”). They form a neighborhood watch and eventually build a walled community to keep out the sometimes-violent people who pass through. Then heavily armed ex-military types wipe out a nearby community, and Adam’s neighborhood is next on their list. Walters (the Seven series) realistically depicts how a typical neighborhood might react to the collapse of society. Adam is a relatable protagonist, but the other characters, including the ultra-competent Herb, are somewhat thin. Nevertheless, it’s a solid read that sidesteps most of the SF influence so prevalent in current dystopian fiction. Ages 12–up.