SOLVED. Sci-fi or Fantasy novel with little girl as main, and a boy named Adam, sort of apocalyptic setting, with several chapters written in simplified speech. [s]

[Morgan]

I remember so little, unfortunately. A friend let me borrow the book from him in either 1993 or 1994 (the former is more likely). It was a paperback edition, in English. I lost contact with him, so I can't ask. Main character was a little girl whose name I can't remember. She was very, very young, as I remember being amazed that such a young kid could express herself so well. Another key character was a boy named Adam, who was older, maybe around 10 years old? A good portion of the book was narrated in first person by the little girl in a very abbreviated speech, as it was supposed to be the way she recorded her adventures on a journal. At some point, someone else (Adam?) takes over the storytelling/journaling, and there's a remark at some point that he didn't know how to use the girl's "shorthand" style (the word they used might not have been "shorthand", though) so those parts have a more "normal" narration style. There was a lot I didn't understand at the time (my English was not as good at the time) and not a lot remains in my memory. The setting was some sort of apocalyptic future, I think, because I remember some disturbing references about having the girl and Adam reproduce and start repopulating the Earth. And the boy being called Adam was also a hint to that. The kids kept traveling and meeting people and evading dangers... I'm sorry, it's sad how little I remember. I would really like to re-read it now, though, and see if I make better sense of it.

[Genesistrine]

Probably Emergence by David Palmer. She writes her journal in Pitman shorthand she taught herself while she was in her family's nuclear shelter.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

[Morgan]

Genesistrine wrote: "Probably Emergence by David Palmer. She writes her journal in Pitman shorthand she taught herself while she was in her family's nuclear shelter.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2..."

That might be it. I'm gonna check it out to be sure. Thank you.

[Kris]

Morgan, is this book for kids or teens?

Here is Amazon's "Look Inside" preview of Emergence by David R. Palmer - Genesistrine's suggestion:

https://www.amazon.com/Emergence-Davi... There are different cover images.

Click "Paperback" to get the Search box inside the preview.

[Morgan]

Kris wrote: "Morgan, is this book for kids or teens?

Here is Amazon's "Look Inside" preview of Emergence by David R. Palmer - Genesistrine's suggestion:

https://www.amazon.com/Emerge..."

I don't think that's the cover of the book I read. Then again, it's not that I remember the cover, but the friend from whom I borrowed the book probably wouldn't have admitted to owning a "kiddie book" in the first place, LOL. The other one is more likely.

[Andy]

Adam is the name of a character from Emergence anyway, and he does write part of story while Candy is unconscious (sick with a serious infection).

[John]

Morgan wrote: "Genesistrine wrote: "Probably Emergence by David Palmer. She writes her journal in Pitman shorthand she taught herself while she was in her family's nuclear shelter.

https://www.goodreads.com/book..."

There's a sequel out now too (after grumblety-many years in between!).

[Morgan]

I have acquired the book "Emergence" by David R. Palmer, and at first I wasn't sure. A lot seemed to fit the description I had offered, but very little felt familiar. But now, halfway through the book, I've finally come across a passage that made it clear that this is indeed the book I was looking for. I guess I remembered even less than I thought! Thank you all for the help.

[Andy]

Thank you for coming back to tell us. Glad you found your book.