Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The Eleventh Plague

by Jeff Hirsch (Goodreads Author)

3.39 of 5 stars 3.39 · rating details · 4,918 ratings · 928 reviews

In an America devastated by war and plague, the only way to survive is to keep moving.

In the aftermath of a war, America’s landscape has been ravaged and two-thirds of the population left dead from a vicious strain of influenza. Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his family were among the few that survived and became salvagers, roaming the country in search of material to...more

Hardcover, 278 pages

Published September 1st 2011 by Scholastic Press (first published August 1st 2011)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Best YA Dystopian/Utopian/Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic

29th out of 246 books — 503 voters

2011 Debut Authors (Young Adult and Middle Grade Lit.)

157th out of 306 books — 2,028 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Apr 11, 2012 karen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: why-yes-i-ya

*EDIT shit - i forgot to say one little thing*

i initially gave this book three stars, but when i sat down to write my little book report, i found that i was so bored by the prospect, that it really should lose a star for leaving me so underwhelmed.

because writing book reports is fun!!!

you can put in pictures:

oooh, urban wasteland!

you can arbitrarily highlight your most emphatic words so people will notice you!

you can make links to things that have nothing whatsoever to do with your review (you...more

like 80 likes · see review

May 11, 2011 Jen (The Starry-Eyed Revue) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian-post-apocalyptic, arcs, signed, won, 2011

I was excited to read this debut novel from Jeff Hirsch, especially after word got out that Suzanne Collins had blurbed it, saying, "The Eleventh Plague hits disturbingly close to home...An excellent, taut debut novel." Dystopians are all the rage right now, but I wanted to read something different, and this book provides just that.

First off, I enjoy a good male protagonist. After reading so many dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels, one begins to wonder, are young women the only ones who will sta...more I was excited to read this debut novel from Jeff Hirsch, especially after word got out that Suzanne Collins had blurbed it, saying, "The Eleventh Plague hits disturbingly close to home...An excellent, taut debut novel." Dystopians are all the rage right now, but I wanted to read something different, and this book provides just that.

First off, I enjoy a good male protagonist. After reading so many dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels, one begins to wonder, are young women the only ones who will stay strong in the face of adversity? That's obviously not going to be the case when things do take a turn for the worse, so it was nice to have a strong male lead in young Stephen Quinn.

The world the author has created is surreal but entirely plausible. The aftermath of a war between North America and China was a flu-like pandemic that eradicated a good percentage of North America's population and left the survivors with nothing. The country is a wasteland, there are those who would push the survivors into slavery, and no one is safe. But when Stephen is left on his own, he discovers a community that has some semblance of what the world was like before the war.

I think the thing that made this novel so realistic to me was that the kids were still kids, at least in Settler's Landing. The children in the village still attend school, still play baseball, still pull pranks on each other. I think when faced with such hardships, human beings will always fall back on what they're accustomed to. And since the adults in this novel were all young adults themselves when the plague hit, they want their children to have that same sense of normalcy, no matter how short-lived it may be.

Kudos to Mr. Hirsch. I don't like to envision that our great nation could end up torn asunder in the manner of his book, but I'm glad to think that if it does, we'll still all be red-blooded Americans at heart if it comes to that.

*I won a signed ARC of this novel from the author on http://www.jeff-hirsch.com/.*

**Review also posted on http://starryeyedrevue.blogspot.com/.**(less)

like 16 likes · see review

Nov 26, 2012 Kaethe rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, age-ya, dystopian, feminism, fiction, friendship, romance, slavery, war

You might have noticed that many of the post-apocalyptic novels take place in a world that has reverted to the US west circa 1850-80. Not really, of course, just the stereotype portrayed in popular movies, books, and TV shows. Few women, no more advanced technology than the plow, no communications like the telegraph, no people of color (remember, even indigenous people were portrayed by white actors). It's weird, and I couldn't figure it out. Authors are writing Westerns, agents are selling post...more

like 10 likes · see review

Aug 28, 2011 Jennifer Rinehart rated it 4 of 5 stars

It was the front cover blurb from Suzanne Collins that caught my eye. I've read the Hunger Games three times and if Suzanne says this book is 'excellent' then it at least deserved a second look.

I grabbed it along with a copy of Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep (which is super duper, btw) and found a place to sit down (which is a rare thing at Barnes and Noble nowadays) and started to read the first chapter.

From the first page I was drawn in. I don't like to make comparisons to other books, it's...more It was the front cover blurb from Suzanne Collins that caught my eye. I've read the Hunger Games three times and if Suzanne says this book is 'excellent' then it at least deserved a second look.

I grabbed it along with a copy of Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep (which is super duper, btw) and found a place to sit down (which is a rare thing at Barnes and Noble nowadays) and started to read the first chapter.

From the first page I was drawn in. I don't like to make comparisons to other books, it's hard to do it well and people always squawk about it if the book compared is one they either love or hate, but Stephen, the main character reminds me a lot of Katniss from the Hunger Games. There's also a bit of Rose (from Vampire Academy), Marcus (from Little Brother and Nailer (from Shipbreaker). Like the characters from these other books, Stephen is a young person forced to deal with terrifyingly mature situations that could lead to dire situations for himself and others. How he rises to the challenge is what kept me reading through lunch then dinner without stopping.

Stephen's world is far different than the one we know now. His family are scavengers, think of the dead and rotting world in movies like Mad Max or Logan's Run and you wouldn't be far off. There was a war with China, then a plague and what's left of America lives in small settlements scattered throughout the country.

His small family are scavengers. His father, his brutish grandfather and Stephen roam what's left of the cities for tradeable items, something like a can of pears could allow them to have food and shelter for a week. But scavengers are not the only ones wandering the cities.

There are ex-military bandits, chinese troops and slavers and a whole part of the country is off limits, though his father sometimes talks about finding a place to settle down, raise crops, etc. But that would mean striking out into undiscovered country and leaving the trail with it's semblance of safety.

It is within this hopeless situation that everything turns from bad to worse, pretty much from the first page with a funeral. I wont tell you who dies, but the funeral seems to be the beginning of a chain of decisions, some good and some so completely bad, you'll wish you could step into the book to advise Stephen.

There's a lot of room for heroics, but Stephen is a reluctant hero, which is pretty much my favorite kind, kicking butt and taking names is for movies, Stephen seemed real to me, he didn't want to get involved in bad situations but sometimes you can't help it. Best of all, Stephen is an aware character, what I mean is, he knows he's making decisions that could be dreadful and he does it anyways. I guess I like that too, his decisiveness is refreshing.

My only complaint with the book is that it was kinda fast, before I knew it and was ready the book was done. I'm a fan of quick reads, but I can't help thinking there could have been a little more, more description, more worldbuilding, more story.

Oh well, guess I could read it again. (less)

like 4 likes · see review

Jun 22, 2011 Christine rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: galley, ya

A fast read that's best suited for younger teens looking for a post-apocalyptic world setting.

The characters are young and act like it. There were several times when I rolled my eyes at their antics because they either didn't or couldn't grasp the situation outside their little community. That things were dire and life was hard, and playing pranks or acting out weren't going to get you anywhere.

For the most part Stephen was a good leading character. He's just trying to figure out where he belong...more

like 6 likes · see review

Aug 27, 2011 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originality

Michelle:
Have you ever seen the television show Jericho? This book was almost exactly the same thing. Country goes to war, country pretty much loses, people learn to survive in their new circumstances and then eventually begin to rebel. Not a whole lot in this story felt particularly unique to me. Having said that, Hirsch wrote and characterized it so well I hardly cared that the situations weren’t entirely new. For me, the main focus was on the characters (particularly Steve) and the...more

like 3 likes · see review

Jul 27, 2012 Jerry rated it 3 of 5 stars

Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn, his dad, and grandfather are scavengers in a post-apocalyptic America in the not-too-distant future. They have survived a deadly flu outbreak launched by China, and they continue to stay alive by being constantly on the move, looking out for rogue military types, slavers, and anyone else they think means to do them harm. When a series of events finds Stephen running for his life, his dad in a coma, and his grandfather in a grave, salvation comes in the form of set...more

like 1 like · see review

Mar 09, 2012 Shellie Cruz rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: borrowed

The Eleventh Plague is a post-apocalyptic world told from a male’s perspective which is a great change up from being told from a female’s (don’t get me wrong I love my female characters but nice to see a change every now and then). Stephen, our main character, has never known what the real world was like because he was born 5 years after the virus the Chinese dropped on the US during war, P11, that took out majority of the population. He has always been a scavenger trying to find anything worth...more The Eleventh Plague is a post-apocalyptic world told from a male’s perspective which is a great change up from being told from a female’s (don’t get me wrong I love my female characters but nice to see a change every now and then). Stephen, our main character, has never known what the real world was like because he was born 5 years after the virus the Chinese dropped on the US during war, P11, that took out majority of the population. He has always been a scavenger trying to find anything worth enough to trade on the trail for the survival of not only himself but his father and grandfather as well.

It starts off immediately facing death and how to deal with that during this new world that they are in. His father is badly injured and regardless of what he has been taught his whole life he takes the help that is offered to him and ends up in Settler’s Landing. Everybody has dealt with the Collapse different than others, some have been trading and always on the go while some have tried to put things back together again, and other taking people captive and destroying more things. Settler’s Landing is what his father has always hoped the world could go back to and a place that his grandfather told him never to wish for.

The characters were decently written. Stephen, while he tried the best with what was given to him, would be on one track and then bam…he’s on another and going against what he was determined to do. It seems that he was always internally fighting with himself, which we all do, but seemed that everything he did was not his choice. There are a lot of side characters within this town but the ones that stood out the most to me was Violet, the mother of Jackson and Jenny, and Jenny. I wish that there was more about Jackson but there was enough of a friendship there to get me along. Jenny was just a spitfire. She had her own mind made up and wouldn’t change it for the world. Violet was the town nurse and would take in anyone and tried to make things the best that she could given what she was dealt with.

I would love to say that I liked this book more than I did. It was a little too slow paced for me in the beginning to really get into but I’m glad that I stuck with it and finished it because it did pick up quickly about page 190ish and there were some adrenaline pumping scenes that had you grasping for more. The ending for me was a meh moment because there was so much building up and then boom another change in the plot. I did enjoy it but it wasn’t the best that I’ve read so far.
(less)

like 2 likes · see review

Nov 11, 2011 Lee Ann rated it 4 of 5 stars

In October I attended a This is Teen event because author Maggie Stiefvater was going to be there. Two other authors also participated, and one of them was Jeff Hirsch, author of The Eleventh Plague. Honestly, I decided to read it because The Hunger Games author, Suzanne Collins is quoted on the book jacket as saying, "The Eleventh Plague hits disturbingly close to home...An excellent, taut debut novel."

If you've read The Hungers Games then you know that Collins is no-joke when it comes to the...more In October I attended a This is Teen event because author Maggie Stiefvater was going to be there. Two other authors also participated, and one of them was Jeff Hirsch, author of The Eleventh Plague. Honestly, I decided to read it because The Hunger Games author, Suzanne Collins is quoted on the book jacket as saying, "The Eleventh Plague hits disturbingly close to home...An excellent, taut debut novel."

If you've read The Hungers Games then you know that Collins is no-joke when it comes to the harsh realities of what our world would be like if it was destroyed by disasters of nature and mankind. Based upon my experience with her books, I felt like Hirsch's book would be worth a try. It turns out, Collins was right. While Hirsch's world isn't as disturbing (no televised fights to the death between children), you will find yourself in an America you recognize.

This time, the US has been decimated by a deadly sickness known as "the Eleventh Plague," and the country is a barren wasteland. Following the plague, was "the Collapse" when the government, businesses, hospitals, and the military fell. Our protagonist is a 15-year-old boy, Stephen, who was born after the Collapse. He and his father have just buried Stephen's grandfather, and they are faced with a choice. Stephen's grandfather ran their trio strictly, and the family kept on the move. Others were not to be trusted, and everything was done with one purpose in mindsurvival. Eventually, Stephen finds himself in charge of their destiny; and now is when you should go to a library or bookstore and pick this one up.

For those concerned about exposing young readers to graphic elements, I say don't worry. This is far less violent than The Hunger Games series. What amazed me the most was the way this made me think about human nature and the things we regress to and cling to in dire times. I also loved the imagery Hirsch conjured for me with two of my favorite lines from The Eleventh Plague:

"There was nothing at his back but thirty feet of open air and, beyond that, the bared fangs of a raging river."

"I dug my thumbnail into the soft wood at the edges of the table and wondered if it was true, if she really would come back or if there would be a time when that rubber band stretched as far as it could and would snap, releasing her into the world, never to return."

(less)

like 1 like · see review

Jul 30, 2012 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, tag-2012-13, ya-2011

The Eleventh Plague starts out with a strong premise in a post-apocalyptic United States that has been compromised by a deadly plague. Imagine Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome or WaterWorld and you have the basic image in mind of this devastated world where survival is the name of the game all day, every day. There is no time for niceties or small pleasures. The first chapter opens with great inferencing opportunities for students. While we are never really given a lot of background information on...more The Eleventh Plague starts out with a strong premise in a post-apocalyptic United States that has been compromised by a deadly plague. Imagine Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome or WaterWorld and you have the basic image in mind of this devastated world where survival is the name of the game all day, every day. There is no time for niceties or small pleasures. The first chapter opens with great inferencing opportunities for students. While we are never really given a lot of background information on how the world came to be in this terrible state, there is enough information to allow the reader to buy into the premise. Stephen Quinn is fifteen and has never lived in the nostalgic world of his parents. His mother, infant sister, and grandfather are dead. It's just Stephen and his father left to face the world on their own new terms. Unfortunately, when Stephen's father tries to take a stand against injustice, the consequences are deadly serious. Stephen is left to figure out how to manage on his own when his father is mortally wounded. Taken in by a settlement, Stephen feels both amazed and distrustful of "civilization," something he knows nothing of. Warm homes, regular meals, community. Eventually, Stephen, torn between wanting to stay, trust, and fit in or run before it all goes bad, must make a stand that will determine his future, something he has never before dreamed to have.

The action is tepid and the roving slavers seemed unoriginal and unstoppable. The narrative seems forced, contrived, and predictable. There are no new horrors awaiting the reader once you get past the first couple of chapters. I would have preferred a little more backstory on the inception of the plague and its aftermath, rather than being forced to accept the world in its current state. I had too many questions about the origins of the plague and the historical context. What happened to completely dissolve the government? How much time would it take for a society to dissolve so completely?Tto become so animalistic? Where does our humanity end and self-preservation begin? How does literature, art, music, and poetry make us more humane, more civilized? How can love save us from our baser selves? These are some of the themes addressed. There is also a rather predictable love story that is fairly chaste but is an all-consuming first love that drives the protagonist's actions for a good part of the plot even before he fully acknowledges it.
I will be interested in seeing the students' reactions. I have a waiting list of kids anxious to read it based on my early book talk and inferencing activity. Maybe they will like it better than me.
(less)

like 1 like · see review

Oct 31, 2011 Hylary Locsin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!

In the not too distant future, fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his father are scavengers living in the desolate wasteland that is now the United States. After a plague known as P-11 wipes out most of the population of North America, the survivors now live on the brink of starvation, constantly trying to evade capture by the Slavers: mercenaries who seek to sell their captives to the highest bid...more Originally posted on my blog: http://libraryladyhylary.blogspot.com ! Check it out for more reviews!

In the not too distant future, fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his father are scavengers living in the desolate wasteland that is now the United States. After a plague known as P-11 wipes out most of the population of North America, the survivors now live on the brink of starvation, constantly trying to evade capture by the Slavers: mercenaries who seek to sell their captives to the highest bidder. After the elder is gravely injured, Stephen and his father find themselves being taken to Settler’s Landing: a small town that managed to survive the plague and is now home to other survivors as well. After his father slips into a coma, Stephen lives with a local family to help care for him. Stephen is reluctant to partake in the seemingly normal life of Settler’s Landing, but eventually gets used to attending school and playing games, even though he is far from welcome by Will, the son of the town’s leader. When he meets Jenny, a fellow outcast, Stephen feels like spending his life in Settler’s Landing might be a possibility. But when Stephen discovers that a practical joke has lead the town to the brink of war with a neighboring village, will he be forced to leave his father in Settler’s Landing and return to his life in the harsh wilderness?

Despite its slow-pacing, The Eleventh Plague offers an interesting perspective on a very real possibility for the future of the United States. Stephen struggles with normal teenage issues while tackling the realities of his situation: coping with the loss of his mother, his grandfather’s recent death, and his father’s injury. By including Stephen’s grappling with things like crushes, bullies, and feeling like he doesn’t belong, Hirsch creates a believable character living in a very harsh future. The novel focuses almost exclusively on Stephen’s thoughts and feelings, leaving the supporting characters slightly underdeveloped. Jenny, Stephen’s love interest, has a small back-story to explain why she is also an outcast in Settler’s Landing, but story could have been improved by working to expand upon the people Stephen encounters. Overall, however, The Eleventh Plague is an enjoyable read for fans of dystopian novels, especially into a post-apocalyptic setting.

I wanted to like this novel more than I ended up enjoying it. I thought the teenage perspective on a post-apocalyptic future was interesting, but the pacing issues in the plot really hampered the story at times for me. I wish the author would have expanded more on what caused the plague and describing the post-apocalyptic environment. I think the author did a good idea of inspiring the reader to contemplate the “what-if’s” of Stephen’s future: what if the America of today experienced P-11. Although it is unclear if this novel is part of a series, I look forward to seeing more of what this author has to offer.(less)

like 1 like · see review

Oct 17, 2011 Morrigan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-read

Stephen Quinn has grown up in a post-apocalyptic United States. The U.S. has been ravaged by war with China, a plague and the systemic fall of society as we know it. The military has turned to human trafficking and slavery, human decency is at an all time low and there is no one to trust but yourself. Stephen has just lost his grandfather, and his father has fallen down and is gravely injured. It is up to Stephen to keep his father and himself safe and try to find shelter. Then he meets people t...more

like 2 likes · see review

Oct 03, 2011 Ilsa Bick rated it 4 of 5 stars

If Suzanne Collins recommends a book, you can bet people will sit up and take notice–and with good reason. Having had the opportunity to both meet and hang out a tad with Jeff at a recent lit conference, I can tell you two things: he’s a very nice guy and a good writer to boot. His background as a playwright means he has a good ear for dialogue and that shows here in this post-apocalyptic story that revolves mostly around finding one’s place in a new world that evokes a bit of MAD MAX. Not in a...more

like 1 like · see review

Dec 27, 2011 ExLibris_Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars

I admit that this book first caught my attention because it was blurbed by Suzanne Collins. So, being the loyal Hunger Games fangirl that I am, I thought that I should give this book a try and I am so glad that I did. I am a fan of the dystopian sub-genre and I have noticed that the type of dystopia that is the scariest is the world that is most plausible. The Eleventh Plague takes place in the not too distant future where an unsteady global economy and diplomatic breakdowns with China caused a...more I admit that this book first caught my attention because it was blurbed by Suzanne Collins. So, being the loyal Hunger Games fangirl that I am, I thought that I should give this book a try and I am so glad that I did. I am a fan of the dystopian sub-genre and I have noticed that the type of dystopia that is the scariest is the world that is most plausible. The Eleventh Plague takes place in the not too distant future where an unsteady global economy and diplomatic breakdowns with China caused a world war that unleashed nuclear weapons and genetically engineered plagues that basically destroyed the entire social and political structure of the United States. Stephen and what's left of his family, travel back and forth across the country, avoiding rogue army units and "slavers", scavenging what they can to trade for what they need to survive. I was immediately chilled by the set up because the human race had so easily fallen apart and a new and terrifying normal just accepted. Society has been sent back to the Dark Ages, as the saying goes, and the giants of the modern era (Wal Marts and big SUVs) are only as good as what can be reaped from them for trade.

The world that Jeff Hirsch creates is so terrifying that when Stephen meets people from Settler's Landing, a gated community like so many others we've seen, the simple act of helping a stranger seems completely foreign to him. The descriptions of the community with its restored neighborhoods and attempts to rebuild a structured life are both eerie and comforting. I loved the contrast between the brutal world of the first half of the book and the insulated suburban society of Settler's Landing. It would have been easy for Stephen to simply accept his new life and settle down, but the only thing he has ever known is uncertainly and he really struggles with an existence that doesn't involve constant fear and movement. When he meets Jenny, the adopted Chinese daughter of his rescuers, he sees in her a part of himself because she is an outsider, as well. I found their relationship so interesting because it seemed that knowing each other allowed them to admit that perhaps there were parts of their lives that they really did care about and wanted to preserve. The story deals with a lot of hefty ideas, such as war, racism, free will and justice. Most of all, this book is about the small glimmer of hope that is always there, even if it takes a monumental effort to find it.
(less)

like 2 likes · see review

Aug 30, 2011 Joy (joyous reads) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

There wasn’t much left of America; there wasn’t much left of the world, for that matter. Civilization finally did what it had been trying to do for years – it exterminated itself by waging war against each other. Hunger, famine and a strain of a deadly flu virus took out what was left of the population until the only ones that survived were the strong, determined that humanity will flourish again.

This is the story of Stephen Quinn, a fifteen year old boy, who suddenly found himself alone after...more There wasn’t much left of America; there wasn’t much left of the world, for that matter. Civilization finally did what it had been trying to do for years – it exterminated itself by waging war against each other. Hunger, famine and a strain of a deadly flu virus took out what was left of the population until the only ones that survived were the strong, determined that humanity will flourish again.

This is the story of Stephen Quinn, a fifteen year old boy, who suddenly found himself alone after burying his heavy-handed grandfather and his father falling into a coma soon after.

The title alone should tell you that this book isn’t about rainbows and unicorns. Surprisingly, I didn’t have a difficulty reading the depressing situations that Stephen kept finding himself in. I think the saddest part was when he realized he was alone and he had to fight to live with what he had left, which was next to nothing, really. There were some violence but not as gruesome as some of the dystopian books I’ve read as of late.

Stephen has a great voice as a character. It was easy to feel what he was going through, even much more easier to root for this boy. He was strong, smart and wasn’t a trusting person but that was understandable. Though his father was in coma throughout most of the book, I loved the relationship he had with him. The flashbacks certainly helped.

Jenny was Stephen’s romantic counterpart. This girl was very angry. She’s one of those characters that are probably an acquired taste. You’ll either love her or hate her. For me, she was definitely admirable but I can’t say that I loved her or hated her – on the fence, I guess is the right way to describe how I felt about Jenny.

The world that Jeff Hirsh created was garishly vivid. I saw the earth’s destruction with every page, the mounds of freshly dug graves, each gaunt appearance of the starved and the sick. Settler’s Landing reminded me of The Village movie, guarded and aloof from the rest of the world. For Stephen, Settler’s Landing represented hope and home and never having to fight for each scrap for him to trade.

Over all, this story was about finding family, friends, strength, love and optimism where hopelessness thrived. I absolutely loved this book. Though, I might be a little biased because The Eleventh Plague is my kind of story :) No matter. With Jeff Hirsh’s clear, to the point, and concise writing, I say there was no way this book was going to get an unfavorable review from me anyway.
(less)

like 1 like · see review

Sep 18, 2011 Mrs. Severson rated it 5 of 5 stars

I don't know what it says about me that I truly enjoy end-of-the-world novel. What would happen if all the modern technology that we so enjoy today became a thing of the past? Stephen Quinn is traveling with his father and grandfather, finding goods and trading for food, medicine, and other goods. But when his father is injured, Stephen finds some kind strangers in a place called Settler's Landing.

I loved this book! It was packed with action and I found the characters compelling. I wanted to kn...more

like 1 like · see review

Sep 30, 2012 Barb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: j-ya

Recommended to me by my 10-year old son, I must say that I enjoyed this story! He thought there was too much kissing in it, by the way. I think the thing I liked most was how the main character, Stephen, thought that his own story was so extreme and unique but then when he allows others to get close to him, he discovers that many shared a similar experience. I thought he was reckless and brave, young and mature; sounds like a pretty good complex character to me! The one thing I think I'd change...more

like 1 like · see review

May 19, 2011 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars

After I heard about the Suzanne Collins blurb I was more than ready to grab Jeff Hirsch's debut novel. I loved the Hunger Games and was ready to dive into another book of the same genre. I was glad to see there was something different about this novel. While the genre is the same, there is a relatable aspect to this novel that takes it to another level above the rest. A prime example is the love story. Jeff does a great job of showing the stages of love and leaves out the nauseating factor that...more

like 1 like · see review

Nov 04, 2012 Michelle Siena rated it 5 of 5 stars

Probably one of the best post-apocalyptic books I've read in a while(: Reminds me of the show "Revolution," you should check them both out!

like 2 likes · see review

May 14, 2013 Isabella rated it 2 of 5 stars

Two thirds of the population is dead.
After the brutal World War III, America was attacked by a vicious strain of influenza, leaving it a desolate, vast wasteland where few scavengers remain. They called the sickness the Eleventh plague.

Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn was born into this world, and is, with his family, one of the few scavengers remaining.
Stephen’s grandfather dies, the strict backbone of their family and survival, and Stephen keeps moving on with his father, until a storm hits and...more Two thirds of the population is dead.
After the brutal World War III, America was attacked by a vicious strain of influenza, leaving it a desolate, vast wasteland where few scavengers remain. They called the sickness the Eleventh plague.

Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn was born into this world, and is, with his family, one of the few scavengers remaining.
Stephen’s grandfather dies, the strict backbone of their family and survival, and Stephen keeps moving on with his father, until a storm hits and they find themselves running from a group of slavers. His father falls down a steep ridge into a raging river, and slips into a coma.
Stephen finds his way to Settler’s Landing, a safe protected city with a school, houses and an infirmary. A place too good to be true.
Stephen intends to leave as soon as his father recovers, until he meets a defiant, mischievous Chinese girl named Jenny, an outcast among the rest.
When a play prank goes wrong, chaos strikes, and they find themselves in the midst of a battle that will change everything.

This was a fairly quick read that I remembered enjoying, although there are many set-backs from having it be a great book.
The concept was exciting, and a perfect base to have a great plot, but I was left unsatisfied with the story. No big plot unfolded, no big solution, no big turning moment. It almost felt like a story within a story, which is a good enough concept, but with this story base and introductory, it had the chance to be so much more.

Although I like Stephen’s character development, he seemed a bit hollow, and the interactions between characters seemed to lack chemistry and feeling.
The minor characters seemed to me to just all blend in as one, without having any defining personalities. Besides those points in the character development, I thought most of the main characters were built well, and I especially liked Jenny’s character.

The book was engaging throughout, and action packed mainly towards the start and end.

The story to me felt like it lacked something, which reduced its potential down to an OK.

This is a zombie, vampire, and fantasy free book. It doesn’t need a supernatural twist to make it interesting, and I would recommend this to sci-fi readers above the age of twelve.(less)

like · see review

Apr 12, 2013 Brianna Bizzaro rated it 3 of 5 stars

Name: Brianna Bizzaro
APA Citation: Hirsch, J. H. (2011). The eleventh plague. Broadway, NY: Scholastic Press.
Genre: Dystopia/Science Fiction
Award:
Format: Print
Selection process: YALSA dystopian novel list.

In the aftermath of a war that wiped out over two thirds of the population in America, fifteen year old Stephen Quinn finds himself trying to live among a landscape that has been destroyed and depleted of anything that human’s value. With the death of his military minded Grandfather, Stephen is...more

like 1 like · see review

Apr 05, 2013 Josh rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: enriched-reading-semester-2-2013

When Stephan and his father are traveling stephan's father gets hurt they have to rely on a newfound group of travelers who have a city where everything looks like the plague never happened. However there is something about this town that isn't quite right. When Stephan is about to be banned from the city he leaves and ends up with Jenny Tan. They go about their lives together until the barn that they lived in was caught on fire by some of the town people. Little did they know that the town woul...more

like · see review

Mar 22, 2013 Zack rated it 2 of 5 stars

Fifteen year old Stephen Quinn was born after the war his life was invold with the salvager his whole life.His family servived the war they are trying to go to a different country they have some goods to trade and make extra. Stephens grnadpa dies in the war. when stephen took off by him self he made it to settle's land that he was looking around and thinking to him self saying this community that seems to good to be true at this moment of time after the war. meets this girl and she hates the wa...more

like · see review

Mar 03, 2013 Megan Dickinson rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was an outstanding book about survival in the latest. Stephan was a well made character that I am sure anybody and everybody can relate to! The reason this book caught my eye was due to the fact that above the title/picture on the cover was a review from a popular, well-known, amazing author: Suzanne Collins. She wrote a review saying this book was amazing and hit a little too close to home. And she was right! At times, it is devastating to read books about how the United States collapses w...more

like · see review

Feb 27, 2013 Sheila rated it 1 of 5 stars

The biggest fantasy in this book is that China would wipe out all the people in the US, Canada and Mexico... Um, who would buy all the STUFF China produces? China has replaced Russia as the stock bad guy, but in reality has never in its history pursued an expansionist foreign policy - a role the US has assumed as its Manifest Destiny. Aside from that, the story moves along at a nice clip, but like a lot of dystopian novels, it seems simplistic. None of the characters know much about history, or...more

like · see review

Feb 14, 2013 Daylen "The Man" Sears rated it 4 of 5 stars

SPOILER ALERT******

Stephen and his dad were on a trail in the wild to find items to trade.They find a bomber and go inside, but then are trapped when slavers come.Stephen's dad makes a stupid plan, but in the end he pays the price after running from the slavers and falling down into a river.Stephen rescues him,but is worried because he won't wake up.I think it was really brave of him to go rescue his dad.Some time later, Stephen was captured by a group of men,who thought he was a bad guy,but t...more

like · see review

Feb 12, 2013 Avery added it

The Eleventh Plague takes place in a post-apocalyptic world with rusting Starbucks’ and rotting theme parks. The world has long been in the process of collapse. The United States has nuked China, and the Chinese government has unleashed P-11 on North America , This plague is another symptom of the sick, dying world where everything is deteriorating and there is a constant atmosphere of fear and distrust. Stephen, the main character of The Eleventh Plague, never knew the world pre-collapse. He al...more The Eleventh Plague takes place in a post-apocalyptic world with rusting Starbucks’ and rotting theme parks. The world has long been in the process of collapse. The United States has nuked China, and the Chinese government has unleashed P-11 on North America , This plague is another symptom of the sick, dying world where everything is deteriorating and there is a constant atmosphere of fear and distrust. Stephen, the main character of The Eleventh Plague, never knew the world pre-collapse. He always obeyed and stuck to the strict rules of his ex-marine grandfather and his father. Though when Stephen’s grandfather dies of P-11 , his life takes a big twist. For the first time ever his dad decides to break his grandfather’s rules and tries to save a woman and child from a group of “slavers”. However, the rescue goes terribly wrong. In the scramble for aid, a group of “survivors” offer to help Stephen and his dad.

The group leads Stephen to an unimaginable world. These survivors have built themselves a town with actual houses, beds, food and water. They play baseball and go to school. Yet, they still sing the national anthem and have Thanksgiving. While Stephen is initially jealous of this new world he has found, he knows that underneath the smiling faces, the people here are the same as everyone else, ruled by fear.

The Eleventh Plague mainly follows the life of Stephen as he tries to navigates his life and tries to keep not only himself alive, but his father. Jeff Hirsch mainly focuses on the the emotional struggles of Stephen. He also does a great job of incorporating other people’s emotional struggles, including the struggles of Julie. Julie is a Chinese baby who has to face the stereotypical descriptions and feelings of her without throwing a tantrum.
I would give The Eleventh Plague a 5 out of 5 stars because I really enjoyed the detail and creativity of the book. I also loved the thoughts that this book put in your head. Where will our world be in the future? Will the Chinese rule? The Americans? Will we all live in peace? If you like a dramatic, suspenseful, science fiction book, then you will love The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch.(less)

like · see review

Jan 25, 2013 Kevin Y. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-2013

Kevin Lin 1/25/13
Advisory Ms. Hanna
Final Draft
The Eleventh Plague Scholastic Press, 2011, 278 pages, $8.99
Jeff Hirsch ISBN 978-0-545-29014-2

Many may contemplate what would happen in a post-apocalyptic situation if one had ever arose. The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch is a book that deals with that very thought of a world gone insane after it seems to have ended. The main character Stephen Quinn was born after the war between China and America that ended with a terrible resolution; nuclear weapo...more Kevin Lin 1/25/13
Advisory Ms. Hanna
Final Draft
The Eleventh Plague Scholastic Press, 2011, 278 pages, $8.99
Jeff Hirsch ISBN 978-0-545-29014-2

Many may contemplate what would happen in a post-apocalyptic situation if one had ever arose. The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch is a book that deals with that very thought of a world gone insane after it seems to have ended. The main character Stephen Quinn was born after the war between China and America that ended with a terrible resolution; nuclear weapons going off both ways. Thus, life in America has become a total life, but Stephen finds a new life after his father is gravely injured in a town that is too good to even exist or is there something sinister approaching deftly and silently in the night?
After his grandfather dies, Stephen and his father find a helicopter soon after burying his grandfather and scavenge it. As they gather materials, ex-military personnel sow up and the twisted thing is that they have slaves and try to live their lives for their interest only. Gravely wounded, Stephen stumbles onto a town that is completely normal and almost as though, the plague never ravaged its beauty. However, slave-owners and a mercenary group soon play a sinister role in destroying this serene town due to pranks made by Stephen and his new-found love, Jenny. The two meet in an unexpected way and slowly fall in love with each other, but a prank gets way too serious and ends up killing a person from a hostile camp. This results in a war and devious, dastardly people getting involved and endangering the lives of all innocents. The theme of how when one door closes, another one opens is vociferated in this book as when Stephen's dad dies from his injuries, he does not know what to do anymore, but in the end, he decides to stay with this new town and the warm family who so kindheartedly invited him to be part of their family. Although his father died and he stopped migrating from place to place, he gained a new option; to live a sedentary life in a town filled with convivial townsfolk and help rebuild civilization from scratch.
I recommend this book to a more mature audience because the images and phrases is this book may contain racist, dangerous ideas, etc which I doubt reflect the author's views, but are more suitable for an older audience. However, if you enjoy a darker book that is taking place in a strange, barren world or has interesting aspects to consider for the future, look no further than this book. Perhaps such a outcome will never occur and it is just plain paranoia, but this book really "hits close to home" as Suzanne Collins would say.(less)

like · see review

Nov 28, 2012 Sinn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Honestly, the description of this book reminded me of so many that have come before it. However, the endorsement by Suzanne Collins caught my attention. I loved the Hunger Games! In addition, something about biological weapons will usually catch my attention. For me, aside from war, it seems to be a likely occurrence. That being said, I had a hard time getting into this book.

The book opens with Stephen's father digging a grave. After surviving for over a decade in a broken, nonexistent America,...more Honestly, the description of this book reminded me of so many that have come before it. However, the endorsement by Suzanne Collins caught my attention. I loved the Hunger Games! In addition, something about biological weapons will usually catch my attention. For me, aside from war, it seems to be a likely occurrence. That being said, I had a hard time getting into this book.

The book opens with Stephen's father digging a grave. After surviving for over a decade in a broken, nonexistent America, his grandfather finally succumbed to the plague. Now Stephen and his father are faced with the reality of survival without the "iron-fisted" guidance of their patriarch. While Stephen's dad seems to be optimistic, the boy is very doubtful. Unfortunately, he is right to have his doubts. When his father makes a rather stupid move, Stephen is left to deal with his father in a coma and in a town where he is not welcome.

I found Stephen to be rather stiff and one dimensional. At some level, there is a reason for his reservation; however, I felt that the author carried it too far. He became rather boring and bland. It got to a point that Stephen was not a very sympathetic character. Unfortunately, I felt that Stephen's reservation also bled onto the other characters. Some of them—such as Violent and Marcus, Sam, and the teacher—could have had very interesting back stories; however, I felt as though they were lost. Further, for someone how has lived through so much, Stephen's father seemed to be rather stupid.

The author spent more time fleshing out the landscape and not enough with the characters. Further, I felt that the whole concept of the slavers wasn't developed. I wanted to know why the soldiers had a tendency to turn into bands of wandering mercs and/or slavers. Also, if places like Settler's Landing exist, why don't the slavers find them sooner and raid them for supplies/people?

One of the things that upset me was Stephen taking over the weekend classes. Here is a kid that never went to school, only read whenever his parents would read with him—and when he was able to find a book or two—and basically had no real book or school knowledge. After the teacher is injured, he suddenly takes over teaching the little children. I couldn't quite understand the reasoning behind this move. It was rather unbelievable.

To me, this book was okay. It took a bit for me to get into it; however, it did pick up. The character development was seriously lacking, and the author didn't really think too much about the stuff he threw into the book. He could have done a lot of things with characters, the storyline, etc.; however, I felt he just let it drop.(less)

like · see review

Nov 27, 2012 Joe Mccannon added it

When I first picked up The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch, I was expecting it to be another one of those unrealistic, apocalyptic books. I was proven wrong right way. I was immediately amazed by how realistic the book was and how much detail was put into the book. This book was especially interesting for me because of all I have been hearing about “the world ending” on December 21, 2012. The Eleventh Plague seems to present one of the options if their is any form of apocalypse on 12/21/2012. Th...more

When I first picked up The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch, I was expecting it to be another one of those unrealistic, apocalyptic books. I was proven wrong right way. I was immediately amazed by how realistic the book was and how much detail was put into the book. This book was especially interesting for me because of all I have been hearing about “the world ending” on December 21, 2012. The Eleventh Plague seems to present one of the options if their is any form of apocalypse on 12/21/2012. The main character in The Eleventh Plague, Stephen Quinn, has to survive that apocalypse that we are all fearing.

The story is seen through the eyes of a fifteen year old boy by the name of Stephen Quinn, set sometime in the (most likely near) future. Stephen was born right after the war that thrashed all of America to bits. He has to live the life of a salvager, scouring the country for things to trade for clothes and supplies. His grandfather dies leaving just Stephen and his father to take over the trading business and fend for themselves. When Stephen’s father falls down into an abyss when the ground caved in from underneath him. His father falls into a coma from the fall, and Stephen has to carry him to cave. While in the cave a group of young men walk by and find Stephen’s dad while Stephen is out finding food. When he returns he sees the boys surrounding his father, so he shoots one of them. The boys are able to capture him and talk to him. When they find out that Stephen’s father is in a coma and needs help, the boys transport Stephen and his father, by horse to their town called “Settler’s Landing” where there are perfectly intact homes. Four of the boys befriend Stephen. The fifth boy hates his guts because he suspects Stephen is a spy, and because he shot him. One of the boys and his mother adopt Stephen and his father. The boy’s mother is the town nurse and looks after Stephen’s father because he is still in a coma. That is when Stephen meets the town mischief maker, a beautiful girl named Jenny, who soon becomes his girlfriend. One night, when Jenny and Stephen play a prank on the boy Stephen shot, the trouble begins...

Stephen, the main character, is a quiet, fifteen year old boy, who was adopted by complete strangers, but slowly was able to become more comfortable with the people he lives with. Stephen is used to reacting on impulse and making decisions for his survival.
The characters in The Eleventh Plague can teach everyone something. They can teach everyone that the world does not always have to depend on the decisions you make. You don’t always have to feel the weight of the world on your shoulders every time you make a decision to have fun or things like that. The theme of this book is that you need to make your own decisions, without looking to others for the answer. Throughout the story Stephen would think about what his grandfather would say about his actions, for example, when he wanted to go to school with the other kids. He thought that his grandfather would say that learning is a waste of time and he should be trading to provide for his family. Personally, I learned from this book that I need to stop looking to others for the answer and make my own decisions.

(less)

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Did you enjoy it?	13	64	Apr 12, 2013 07:13pm
Second Book	3	16	Mar 25, 2013 07:10pm
good read	2	6	Mar 21, 2013 01:46pm
SPSV Mrs. Rodgers...: Michael Alcantara	1	3	Dec 10, 2012 10:03pm
Crazy for Young A...: Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch → Start Date: October 08, 2012	43	20	Oct 22, 2012 05:32pm
SPSV Mrs. Rodgers...: Andrew Mitchell	1	3	Oct 04, 2012 05:49pm

combine
Other Editions (11)

More editions...

Genres

Young Adult

191 users

Science Fiction > Dystopia

148 users

Apocalyptic > Post Apocalyptic

81 users

Science Fiction

61 users

Young Adult > Teen

29 users

Fantasy

21 users

Adventure > Survival

16 users

Science Fiction > Apocalyptic

15 users

Adventure

12 users

Romance

11 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Jeff Hirsch

Here are some things about me.

I live in an extremely Brazilian section of an extremely Greek neighborhood—Astoria, Queens, which is just to the right of Manhattan. (That's as you face Manhattan. If you were, say, lying on your back in the middle of Central Park with your head in a northerly position, we would be to your left) I live there with my wife who has a blog and our two cats who do not. O...more

More about Jeff Hirsch...

Books by Jeff Hirsch

Run Now (The 39 Clues: Unstoppable Book #2)

Manhattan: Between the Rivers, 1880-1920 (Images of America) (Images of America)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About The Eleventh Plague

1 trivia question
2 quizzes

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from The Eleventh Plague

“If it was true that all paths in our World led to only one place, then why not fill whatever path you chose with the best things you could find?” — 9 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: The Eleventh Plague
avg rating	preview: The Eleventh Plague Goodreads rating: 3.39 (4918 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10369932-the-eleventh-plague?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1300474622l/10369932.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10369932-the-eleventh-plague?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch[/url]

The Eleventh Plague

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website