Three kids protect the town of Sitting Duck from a zombie invasion.

Gain the basic skills you'd need to live through a cataclysmic event—one humbling and angst-filled lesson at a time We're inundated daily with images of chaos and catastrophe from movies, books, and the nightly news. When Sam Sheridan became a father, these tales of disaster became impossible to ignore, and he was beset with nightmares about being unable to protect his son. He soon realized, however, that each possible doomsday scenario required a different skillset, and in order to really survive the apocalypse, he'd have to learn everything, from starting a fire to stealing a car, learning to fight with a knife, and even building an igloo. With just the right mix of seriousness, paranoia, and self-deprecation, The Disaster Diaries is irresistible armchair adventure reading that informs as much as it entertains.

During a zombie apocalypse, the important thing is to not panic. Actually, that’s not true. Definitely panic. These things are going to try to eat your face off! Sam and Arty are looking forward to summer vacation so much that they barely notice when their bumbling science teacher causes an explosion of purple goo that drenches their classmate, Simon. They’re sure Simon will be fine—he looks a little gray, but things like this happen all the time in the town of Sitting Duck. But Simon is not fine—and totally loses his head when he becomes a zombie! Soon the town is crawling with rabid zombies looking for braaaaaains! The adults are busy panicking and screaming, so it’s up to Sam (the leader) Arty (the brains), and their friend Emmie (the rebel) to take charge. If they can’t find a cure, it will be a disaster! Disaster Diaries: Zombies! is perfect for young readers, reluctant or otherwise, with a wacky sense of humor. The first in this hilarious middle grade series from author R. McGeddon will prepare you for your own zombie infestation, with handy tips like how to spot zombies. (Hint: their faces are falling off). An Imprint Book

First published: Great Britain: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2014.

A curse is not a big deal. Sitting Duck has already survived five disasters, so what’s the worst that can happen, really? Well... you’re about to find out. During Sitting Duck Founder’s holiday, the town gathers to view the legendary pirate ship that brought the town’s founder to their shores. ButSam, Arty, and Emmie soon learn it carries more than just treasure and swords—an ancient pirate curse is sweeping across the town, turning people to stone! Who has unleashed this deadly curse and why? Sam, Artie, and Emmie must take to the high seas before their town is wiped off the map for good! Filled with funny illustrations and tips to survive a pirate curse, R. McGeddon’s Disaster Diaries: Cursed! will have middle-grade readers laughing out loud! Survive all the disasters: Disaster Diaries: Zombies! Disaster Diaries: Aliens! Disaster Diaries: Brainwashed! Disaster Diaries: Robots! Disaster Diaries: Spiders! An Imprint Book

I guess I always felt even if the world came to an end, McDonald's still would be open. High school sophomore Miranda's disbelief turns to fear in a split second when an asteroid knocks the moon closer to Earth, like "one marble hits another." The result is catastrophic. How can her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis are wiping out the coasts, earthquakes are rocking the continents, and volcanic ash is blocking out the sun? As August turns dark and wintery in northeastern Pennsylvania, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove. Told in a year's worth of journal entries, this heart-pounding story chronicles Miranda's struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all--hope--in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world. An extraordinary series debut Susan Beth Pfeffer has written several companion novels to Life As We Knew It, including The Dead and the Gone, This World We Live In, and The Shade of the Moon.

In Hellraisers, he made a demonic deal. Now, in this sequel, The Devil's Engine: Hellfighters, it’s time to pay the price. Thrown into a relentless war against the forces of darkness, fifteen-year-old Marlow Green and his squad of secret soldiers must fight for control of the Devil’s Engines—ancient, infernal machines that can make any wish come true, as long as you are willing to put your life on the line. But after a monstrous betrayal, Marlow, Pan and the other Hellraisers find themselves on the run from an enemy with horrific powers and limitless resources—an enemy that wants them dead at all costs. Failure doesn’t just mean a fate worse than death for Marlow, it means the total annihilation of the world. And when all looks lost and the stakes couldn’t be higher, just how far is he willing to go? In the second book of The Devil's Engine trilogy, Alexander Gordon Smith has written another of his signature thrilling, fast-paced Faustian horror story that turns the tables on the battle between good and evil.