Ashfall / Mike Mullen / 466 pages

Michael Grant, author of Gone, Hunger, Lies, Plague, and Fear,says that "the scariest apocalypse is one that could really happen."  The events described in Ashfall, the eruption of Yellowstone's supervolcano, could really happen.  Scientists say that eruptions have already occurred three times.  They believe that another eruption is inevitable.  Unfortunately, Alex has chosen not to accompany his parents and younger sister to visit his uncle in Warren, Illinois.  He is looking forward to spending the week-end alone reading, playing computer games, and hanging out with his friends.  A rock thrown 300 miles crashes the roof/ceiling of Alex's bedroom.  His house catches on fire.  He is attacked by looters and watches his neighbors kill them.  The entire town has lost all utilities and emergency survival measures are instituted.  Setting out to find his parents, he encounters Darla and a world gone mad.  This is a riveting YA novel.