Many of us have grown up reading post-apocalyptic books. It’s a genre that is best for young adults because the plot tends to be about teenagers or people in their early twenties who are trying to survive after some form of disaster has ruined society.
These books can show you what it might feel like if you were thrown into an unknown world where everything was different and unfamiliar. Here are the 20 best post apocalyptic books for young adults!
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Best Post Apocalyptic Books for Young Adults
Most of Us love sci-fi post-apocalyptic books like the world is ending and now we need to survive, but it’s best for young adults because the plot tends to be about teenagers or people in their early twenties who are trying to survive after some form of disaster has ruined society.
These books can show you what it might feel like if you were thrown into an unknown world where everything was different and unfamiliar.
Table of Contents
Edge of Collapse (7 book series) by Kyla Stone
The world is on the brink of a collapse, but no one knows it. The United States has become a shadow of its former self, and the rest of the world is in worse shape.
A deadly virus has spread across Asia, Africa, and Europe, killing millions.
The Middle East is in chaos as Israel fights back against Iran’s nuclear weapons program. Russia and China are fighting over Siberia’s oil reserves while North Korea threatens South Korea with nuclear war.
All this was predicted twenty years ago by Dr. Ben Fielding, a scientist who had a vision of the future.
He and his team of specialists have been working since then to save as many people as possible. But it’s only the beginning…
Into Twilight: An Apocalyptic LitRPG by Cale Plamann
Into Twilight: An Apocalyptic LitRPG by Cale Plamann is a post-apocalyptic science fiction novel. It’s the first book in the Into Twilight series.
When Aiden wakes up, he has no memory of who he is or how he got to where he is.
He quickly learns that there are others like him, and they all have amnesia too. They’re also trapped in some sort of virtual reality game world with zombies and other monsters trying to kill them.
If it wasn’t for his quick reflexes and wits, he would have died within the first few minutes.
He soon meets a beautiful girl named Lily, and they team up to try and figure out what is going on. Together, they must find a way to escape the game world before it destroys them both.
Dissolution: The Wyoming Chronicles: Book One by W. Michael Gear
The Wyoming Chronicles: Book One follows the lives of two men. One, a wanderer and former soldier, is named John Colter.
The other is a mountain man known as Preacher Jack. These two men are both looking for something in the vast wilderness of 19th century America.
They will find more than they bargained for when an ancient evil rises again to threaten all that they hold dear…and even their lives.
Dead Meat: The Complete Zombie Apocalypse Series by Nick Clausen
Dead Meat: The Complete Zombie Apocalypse Series by Nick Clausen is a zombie apocalypse series that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Dead Meat follows the story of John and his group as they try to survive in a world where zombies are running amok.
This book contains four books, each one with its own thrilling adventure. There is no way you can read this book and not want more!
Gateway to Chaos (4 book series) by T. L. Payne
The Gateway to Chaos (4 book series) by T. L. Payne is a suspenseful, action-packed science fiction adventure story that takes place in the future on an alien planet.
The main character, Jack, and his friends find themselves caught up in a war between two different factions of aliens who are fighting for control over the planet they live on.
As they struggle to survive and discover their true identities, they must work together to fulfill their destinies as well as save their world from destruction at the hands of an evil dictator bent on ruling the universe.
Nuclear Dawn: The Post-Apocalyptic Box Set by Kyla Stone
Doomsday is here. The world has been reduced to rubble and ash, the dead walk the earth, and humanity teeters on the brink of extinction.
But not all hope is lost. In a world gone mad, a group of survivors must band together in order to survive.
In this post-apocalyptic box set, you’ll meet seven different characters who will fight for their lives against zombies, cannibals, and worse as they struggle to make it through each day alive. This collection includes:
The Last Survivors: A Post Apocalyptic Tale (Book 1) – When the world ends, will you be ready?
In the ashes of a destroyed world, seven unlikely survivors must put aside their differences and work together to rebuild society.
But when they stumble upon a group of bloodthirsty raiders, they find themselves in over their heads.
With zombies on the loose and nightfall descending, can they make it through the night?
The Dead Don’t Die: A Post Apocalyptic Tale (Book Two) – The zombies are coming, and there’s nowhere to hide
With the world in shambles, the survivors must face an even greater threat – hordes of undead zombies.
As society crumbles and the dead walk the earth, the group must put their trust in each other if they hope to survive.
But can they make it out alive?
The End of the World: A Post Apocalyptic Tale (Book Three) – The end is coming, and there’s nothing we can do about it.
A deadly virus has wiped out most of humanity, leaving the few survivors to fend for themselves.
Stranded, isolated, and alone in a world gone mad, the group must fight against an army of broken men if they hope to survive.
With the end of the world looming, can they make it out alive?
The Road to Hell: A Post Apocalyptic Tale (Book Four) – The world is on fire, and there’s nowhere to run.
In the wake of a cataclysmic event, the survivors must band together to fight against an army of broken men.
As society crumbles around them and the dead walk the earth, they must find a way to make it to safety. But can they make it out alive?
The Aging: A Novel by Jack Hunt
When a man is found dead in his home, an autopsy reveals that he died of natural causes. However, the police investigation quickly turns into something much more sinister when they discover that the man has been murdered.
The killer’s next victim is a woman named Sarah who lives alone and works as a nurse at a hospital.
Sarah’s death is ruled as accidental by her doctor but Detective Sam Anderson suspects foul play.
Detective Anderson investigates the case further and discovers that there are other victims whose deaths have also been ruled as accidents or natural causes due to the fact that they are older and have medical conditions.
The only thing the victims all have in common is that they were treated by Sarah at one point.
The Complete Dark Days Series by Ryan Schow
THE COMPLETE DARK DAYS SERIES by Ryan Schow is a collection of four suspense thrillers that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
These books take place in the same universe and can be read in any order.
If you’re looking for a page-turning, fast-paced thriller with relatable characters and an unpredictable plot, look no further than this series by Amazon bestselling author Ryan Schow!
Rising Storm: An Apocalyptic Survival Thriller by Kyla Stone
Rising Storm: An Apocalyptic Survival Thriller by Kyla Stone, is a post-apocalyptic thriller.
The story begins with the eruption of an underwater volcano that sends a tsunami across the Pacific Ocean and destroys most of the west coast of North America.
A small group of survivors, who are on vacation in Hawaii, are forced to flee inland to escape the volcanic debris and tidal wave.
As they make their way through a barren landscape they discover that there is more than just ash falling from the sky; something else has been released into the atmosphere…something deadly!
Deadly Rescue: A Post-Apocalyptic Pandemic Survival Thriller by Misty Zaugg
A deadly virus has spread across the globe, turning humans into bloodthirsty creatures. The only way to stay alive is to hide.
But when a group of survivors is rescued from a horde of infected, they must find out who is behind it all and stop them before it’s too late.
Deadly Rescue: A Post-Apocalyptic Pandemic Survival Thriller by Misty Zaugg tells the story of how one woman’s life changed in an instant as she fights for her family and friends through a post-apocalyptic world filled with terror and death.
Fight Like a Man: A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller by L.L. Akers
Fighting for survival, a young woman and her two children escape from their home after an apocalyptic event. They must evade the dangers of the outside world if they are to survive.
The family is faced with many challenges along the way, including not only the threat of starvation but also the constant fear of being killed by marauders or wild animals.
The mother must make difficult choices in order to keep her children safe, even if it means risking their lives in order to do so.
Nuclear Winter Desolation by Bobby Akart
Nuclear Winter Desolation by Bobby Akart is a suspenseful thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat.
The book takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where the United States has been destroyed and most of the population has died from radiation poisoning.
It follows an unnamed protagonist as he tries to find his way through this new world, while also trying to survive it.
He finds himself in many situations where he must make difficult decisions, some of which may be morally questionable.
This book is filled with action and adventure as well as moments of comedy.
Shoot Like a Girl by L.L. Akers
Shoot Like a Girl is the true story of L.L. Akers, who found herself in a horrific situation that changed her life forever at the age of fourteen.
Losing everything she had ever known, she turned to guns for comfort and protection as she tried to find her way in a world that was now so foreign to her.
Her journey took her from living on the streets of Las Vegas to becoming one of the top female competitive shooters in history, with over 200 professional shooting titles under her belt today.
The Culling: Book 1 by Tricia Wentworth
The Culling: Book One by Tricia Wentworth is a riveting story of survival and perseverance.
A young woman’s life is turned upside down when she discovers that all the things she has been told, all of her beliefs and values are a lie.
She must make decisions that will impact not only her own future but also the lives of those around her.
This dystopian novel explores themes of government control, paranoia, and conspiracy theories while following one girl as she fights to survive in a world where everything she knows is wrong.
Can this girl survive long enough to find what actually going on?
Mayhem: A Post Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller by T. L. Payne
Mayhem: A Post Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller by T. L. Payne is a book about survival after an EMP strike has taken out all forms of technology and communication, leaving the United States in chaos.
The main character, Jake Bronson, finds himself on the run from his past when he encounters a group of people who are fighting for their lives against marauders who want to take what they have.
They may be able to help him survive in this new world if he can gain their trust and learn to work with them.
Gateway to Chaos (4 book series) by T. L. Payne
A gateway to the past and a gateway to the future. The Gateway of Chaos is an eternal time portal that opens every 60 years.
It has been opened for centuries, but no one knows who or what is behind it.
The Gateway of Chaos is a 4 book series about a group of teens who must travel back in time to stop an ancient evil from destroying mankind as we know it.
There are many twists and turns along the way, including romance, betrayal, loss, and redemption; all while trying to save their own lives!
Rising: After the Thaw (The Thaw Chronicles Book 1) by Heidi Catherine
“Rising: After the Thaw (The Thaw Chronicles Book 1) by Heidi Catherine is a suspenseful novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing until the end.
The story follows a woman named Alyssa who has been hiding out in her home after an apocalyptic event occurred, killing everyone else outside.
Alyssa’s life is turned upside down when a stranger comes knocking at her door and tells her there are other survivors out there like him.
She must decide whether to leave everything she knows behind or stay hidden away from what happened.”
Compliant: A Young Adult Dystopian Romance by M. J. Kaestli
Compliant: A Young Adult Dystopian Romance by M. J. Kaestli is a book about a girl named Anna who lives in the future and has to deal with her life being controlled by The System.
She meets a guy named Ryan and falls in love, but then she finds out that he’s part of the resistance movement against The System.
What will she choose? Love or freedom? And how will it change her life forever?
The Fracturing: Book 2 by Tricia Wentworth
The Fracturing: Book 2 by Tricia Wentworth is a suspenseful thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
A mysterious and terrifying experience pushes one individual to the brink, but will she be able to overcome her fears?
A young woman goes through a traumatic experience that leaves her shaken and afraid. She decides to confront her fear and take action against those who have wronged her.
Are they really as dangerous as she thinks? Or are they just misunderstood?
Blind Rage: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller by Nick Clausen
The world is blind. The air is toxic, the ground is crumbling and the dead are rising. In this dark future, there’s no place to hide.
Only one man can lead us back from the brink of extinction: Travis Walker, a brilliant scientist who has been genetically altered by a secret government agency and given superhuman powers.
His goal? To find answers before it’s too late for all of humanity…
The end of the world as we know it is a popular theme in literature. These 20 best post apocalyptic books for young adults are sure to entertain and keep you on your toes, no matter what genre you’re into!