It's the End of the World as I Know It

By Matthew Landis

A boy's doomsday fears collide with unexpected disaster. Can he and his friend survive?

6.0/7 Bookroo expert·4.0/5 Goodreads · 611 ratings

320 pages· 45,843 words· Est. 5 hour read

$17.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

Derrick is convinced the apocalypse is near, driven by his mother's tragic death. He's ready with supplies and a fallout shelter. His neighbor Misty, recovering from a kidney transplant, wants to embrace life, not hide from it. When a bizarre disaster strikes, Derrick's fears are put to the test. Together, they must navigate a world that defies their expectations. Will Derrick's preparations be enough, or will Misty's zest for life lead them to a different kind of survival?

From the publisher

Derrick is sure that doomsday is coming, and he’s prepping to survive–whether his friends believe him or not–in this middle grade novel for readers of Gary Schmidt, Gordon Korman, and Jack Gantos Ever since his mother was killed in the line of duty in Iraq, Derrick has been absolutely certain that the apocalypse is coming. And he’s prepared: he’s got plenty of canned goods, he’s fully outfitted with HAZMAT suits, and he’s building himself a sturdy fallout shelter. When his neighbor Misty insists on helping with the shelter, Derrick doesn’t think it’s such a good idea. Misty’s just had a kidney transplant, and her reaction to her brush with death is the opposite of Derrick’s: where Derrick wants to hide, Misty wants to see and do everything. But as confident as Misty is, Derrick’s doomsday fears just keep getting worse. And Derrick’s promised apocalypse day begins with a very strange disaster, Derrick and Misty have to figure out a way to survive–especially when the end of the world as they know it looks nothing like they expected.

At a glance

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 320
Words: 45,843
Reading age: 10–14
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: HL540L

Themes & topics

Books about grief Books about friendship Books about death Books about family Books about parents

For the grown-ups

The parent guide

What families may want to know

Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.

Presence of Death

The storyline centers around the main character and his family's struggles to cope with [MILD SPOILER ALERT] a family member's death.

What readers & critics say