Review of Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse

My Review of Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse, a 2000s YA Contemporary Book.

Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse by Lucas Klauss

Published by Simon Pulse on January 3, 2012

Review of Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse

No, this is not a dystopian/post-apocalyptic book. But you should read it!  It’s a funny, heart-wrenching story that deals with issues of faith, love and loss.

Philip Flowers is at cross-country practice with his friends, trying to avoid the evil eye of Coach “Ferret” Farragut, when something amazing happens. He meets a girl.

Rebekah is “unconventionally hot,” as Philip puts it. She also seems to like him. This is great news. Philip’s mom died recently. His dad is busy clearing out the basement, which his mom stacked high with disaster-preparedness supplies. Even Philip has a secret stash of books about surviving catastrophe and crisis.

Rebekah wants Philip to join her for youth group at the Wesley Road Faith Church. This is a problem. Philip’s dad is an atheist. Not just a garden-variety atheist, but an “atheist enthusiast.” So Philip lies to his Dad and sneaks out to meet her. Rebekah gives him a Bible. Coach Ferret, also a church member, is (creepily) supportive.

But as Philip and Rebekah’s relationship progresses, the issue of religion threatens to come between them. Philip is definitely looking for a place to belong, an explanation for why bad things happen. Can the Wesley Road Faith Church give him the answers he’s seeking?

Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse is a thought-provoking, often funny, beautifully written YA contemporary. It deals with the issue of religion in a way that is respectful to all sides of the discussion. It asks difficult questions about loss and faith and doesn’t resort to easy answers.