If you are still having trouble finding that perfect gift for a young teen, then look no further than Neptune's Children by Bonnie Dobkin. It is a thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. It also has some very poignant parts that will bring a tear to the eye.
Terrorists try to take over the world by spreading a deadly virus, but something goes terribly wrong. All the adults in the world have died except for children 13 and younger. Josh and his sister Maddie are on a dream vacation at the Isles of Wonder (a theme park similar to Disney World, only on steroids) during the attack. They, along with thousands of other kids, watch helplessly as all the adults literally pass out and die. After a couple of days of walking around like zombies, a few of the older kids gather together and begin create their own society. They form a "core" or council to lead them with Milo as the main leader. The "core" rations food and clothing and builds barricades to keep kids from the mainland off the island. When the "core" begins to feel threatened in unexpected ways, the society they have built begins to crumble. Josh has to decide who to trust and what action to take. The decision he makes will have dire consequences for all.
Neptune's Children feels like an updated version of Lord of the Rings. The characters are well-written and the violence and darkness are handled well. I know I say this every time I blog but this is definitely a new favorite. I can’t wait to share this with the teens I know.