SOLVED. YA fiction book about a devastating pandemic that leaves a blue star pattern on its victims. main girl is like seventeen travelling with her younger brother after their parents were killed by the plague. [s]

[Rj]

the world is in ruin because of a horrible plague that had something to do with a star pattern on an infected person before or after they died. it may have been a sign of infection. main girl's mom has died from the disease. can't remember what her dad's deal was, he may not have been in the picture.

main girl and her little brother are travelling together. I can't remember if they were trying to go somewhere specific. I remember them staying in a completely abandoned hotel that had food or electricity or something useful and them being excited about it. they do eventually run into this guy who helps them along. They find his base or some place he's scavenging and he turns out to be nice?

I think there's a period of time where they find a little girl in an abandoned mall and take her with them. they scoop her up and all escape together from a group of armed pursuers. main girl is injured in that scene, I think? eventually, they find a nice family to leave the little girl with.

I don't remember much else. I think the guy they met who turned out to be nice takes them somewhere safe? The only other thing I remember which may have been near the end was the guy insisting that main girl scream all her anger out since there's no one left to hear. so she climbs up on something and goes "THE SICKNESS (it has a name but i can't remember it) TOOK MY PARENTS!" and is like crying or whatever.

I know for a fact I read it in 2019 because it was in my school library.

[Brenna]

A Matter of Days by Amber Kizer

From reviews:
"The Blustar virus, a hemorrhagic virus that in the end leaves blue star like bruises, has hit the world like wildfire and there are not many known survivors."

"While checking out a mall for more supplies, they find a little girl hiding out in the vast area, near where her mother died in her office"

[Rj]

Brenna wrote: "A Matter of Days by Amber Kizer

From reviews:
"The Blustar virus, a hemorrhagic virus that in the end leaves blue star like bruises, has hit the world like wildfire..."

oh shit, I think that's it! thank you!