City of Savages

Post-apocalyptic fiction fans will appreciate this distinct addition to the genre, a plausible imagining of life in New York City that has regressed to stark survival. Sisters Phee and Sky, alternating narrators with often opposing personalities, provide two sides to every situation. For instance, while Phee is thrilled by her birthday gift from their mother-a gun to use for protection-Sky views it as "totally inappropriate" for her younger, less restrained sibling. Plot twists bring characters into a variety of challenging circumstances. After fleeing the prisoner of war camp, for example, Phee, Sky, and their fellow escapees must abandon the relative safety of the streets for the seldom-used subway tunnels, allegedly inhabited by cannibalistic "tunnel feeders." The memorable setting vividly depicts isolated, war-torn Manhattan, including iconic landmarks such as Central Park and The Standard Hotel on the High Line repurposed by the island's remaining inhabitants.