A Matter of Days

by Amber Kizer

“Gripping and poignant, A Matter of Days takes readers on a heart-stopping journey of love and survival.“ — New York Times bestselling author Carrie Jones   Their new reality begins in just a matter of days.   On Day 56 of the Blustar Pandemic, sixteen-year-old Nadia’s mother dies, leaving Nadia to fend for herself and her younger brother, Rabbit. Both have been immunized against the virus, but they can’t be protected from what comes next. Their father taught them to “be the cockroach”—to adapt to and survive whatever comes their way. And that’s their mission.   Facing a lawless world of destruction and deprivation, Nadia and Rabbit drive from Seattle to their grandfather’s compound in West Virginia. The illness, fatigue, and hunger they endure along the way will all be worth it once they reach the compound.   Unless no one is waiting for them . . .   “Fans of Rick Yancey’s The 5th Wave, S. D. Crockett’s After the Snow, or Cormac McCarthy’s adult novel The Road will find this a satisfying read.” —SLJ   “An exciting apocalyptic road trip.” —Publishers Weekly

Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia, Post Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Survival, Fiction, Audiobook

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 11, 2013

Reviews

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although a bit predictable, still a strong YA book of survival. As noted by the author, this story is very reminiscent of The Stand. Great, strong characters and a fast-paced plot. A lot could be added to the story and I would definitely be interested in reading more!

I appreciated the closing where Kizer reassured younger readers that this was fiction and gave several resources for more information of viruses and pandemics. Well written!

[Murf the Surf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blue Star epidemic turned pandemic killer!

A rather simple plot whereby a couple of siblings go to find their Uncle up in the hills of West Virginia. The trip through the mall was a real treat and I'd surely enjoyed their stopovers in small towns. The horror and gore factor was toned way down, with a far better experience in creativity instead. Amber knows how to pull you into a well read book without all the schlock and glock that is so prevalent in today's apocalyptic novels. I think really any subject would be fascinating to me, if the author writes well. I'm an omnivore when reading you see, and enjoy a wide variety of good writings. I'd liked this book in so many ways, and wish Amber good vibes and karma in her future endeavors as a writer! Lots of love, Murf

[Nora · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I were to describe this book in one word it would be this one: anticlimactic. Review to come.

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly entertaining to read and deeply bone-chilling to experience, A Matter Of Days is a book that you'll read once but will never forget. It's a survival story like no other: meaningful, emotional, at times sentimental, but most of all crafted with skill and conviction that makes this tale terrifyingly real and uncomfortably plausible.

In her newest book, the bestselling author of Fenestra series, Amber Kizer, tackles the aftermath of a deadly pandemic that took down 98% of world's population in a record time. The story follows the adventures and struggles of a sibling duo, sixteen-year-old Nadia and her younger brother Robert (nicknamed Rabbit), as they travel across the country to their grandfather's survivalist compound in West Virginia. Alone, surrounded by death, rot and danger, they will face many adversities in order to reach their destination. They'll be hungry, cold and lost. They'll get attacked and robbed of all their belongings. And they'll learn the hard way that the disease was only the beginning of their world's descent into chaos.

I absolutely loved this book - each page of it was compelling, breath-taking and thought-provoking. Filled with ever present sense of danger and foreboding. The air was always thick with tension and even in those happy moments you were still watchful and alert, enjoying the happiness but at the same time preparing yourself for something bad that would surely happen on the next page, or in the next chapter. It was one intense read, my friends! Just the premise itself was enough to give me goosebumps - two kids, alone in a lawless, merciless world. So many things could go wrong. And they do go wrong.. Oh yes, they do.

I enjoyed Kizer's writing style a lot. She wasn't too descriptive, and yet she managed to convey the bleakness of the world in its full intensely disturbing glory. Her storytelling evoked many emotions, from fear, pain and desperation to hopefulness and joy. She created a world that was not only believable and convincing, but also completely unforgettable. You'll be reeling from her vision of the dark, post-pandemic world long after you turn the last page. No, she did not invent the wheel. There are many similar stories out there. Stories about deadly outbreaks and those trying to survive the aftermaths. Post-apocalyptic tales of fighting for your life and re-building the world that's been lost. So no, she did not invent the wheel. But she took the wheel and improved it to the point of perfection. And she made you care about the wheel. How many authors can do that?

Nadia's was an absorbing narrator to follow and a fantastic heroine to love and admire. Her love for her brother was evident, everything she did, she did to keep him safe and happy. It couldn't have been easy for her, but she stepped up and took the responsibility of caring for Rabbit. She was strong, brave, and mature beyond her age. Sensitive and caring, but at the same time fierce and unstoppable when the situation called for it. What can I say? I love this girl.

As odd as it might be, I didn't want this novel to end. I didn't want to say goodbye to the fabulously fleshed out characters. I grew to love them and care for them. I wanted the story to go beyond what happened at the end. I really needed to know what happened next. And I felt so sad when I turned the last page. It isn't often - even with the utmost enjoyable books - that I feel this way. Let that be a testimony to A Matter Of Days' greatness.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

This one has a decent chance of attracting the same sorts of readers, even some reluctant ones, who enjoyed or . Really any survival tale featuring young adults or kids. Instead of zombies or the explosion of a super-volcano, here we have a global pandemic, a hemorrhagic virus called BluStar that takes out about 98% of the population. Nadia and her eleven-year-old brother nicknamed Rabbit might have been among the dead, but some months before all hell breaks loose, their Uncle Bean, twin to the soldier father lost in Afghanistan, injects them with a secret experimental military vaccine meant to inoculate them against the horrors evidently put in motion. They aren't able to convince their mom to take the vaccine soon enough, and the novel opens with the siblings starting off on a near cross country journey after her death.

From the Seattle area, they take a Jeep packed with survival necessities towards an old mine in West Virginia where Bean instructed them to go after the end of looting and the huge wave of mortality. Along the way, they pick up an injured Saint Bernard and some other companions. They lose supplies and vehicles, but they find that the convenient training that especially Rabbit enjoyed from their father's visits home about how to make it, how to be the cockroach that can survive the effect, no matter what, helps them stand up to many challenges so that maybe, just maybe, they can reunite with family again.

Their privations are mild compared to many YA and adult post-apocalyptic narratives, so this one might even work for middle schoolers who want to take this virtual road trip across a challenging and broken American landscape.

[Rez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started A Matter of Days with little to no expectations thinking this would be yet another quick read post-apocalyptic novel….and I was right.

This book centers on how 16 year old Nadia and her 11-year-old brother nicknamed Rabbit (I know) survive in the aftermath of a global pandemic when a deadly virus called BluStar takes out about 98% of the population.

Their survival instincts are driven by the mantra: Be the Cockroach, which made the fiction seems all the more real as the siblings tackle all kind of obstacles to reach their final destination to their uncle who provided them with the immunization. I enjoyed some aspects of the novel, the ever growing sibling bond and their unseeming travel partner, Zack.

There are times where I felt that Rabbit seems younger than his age but he eventually evolved into a smart and an equal travel partner. Unlike the siblings, Zack is a pro when it comes to surviving on his own, having grown up in the street of LA. Yes, there is a hint of romance but not overwhelming enough to take the focus away from the main theme. I liked that the author did not shy away from some gritty and gory scenes without the presence of zombies.

The reasons why the story eventually fell flat for me was the author’s unengaging writing, the all too predictable plot and the abrupt ending. I also did not connect with the main protagonist, Nadia, who to put it bluntly, appears dull. The ending was a HEA and I wish there was a detail backstory on the grandfather and the uncle.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty average YA post-apocalyptic book, although I think it reads more like middle grade. The author's notes at the end really do address the reader as a very young person.

The plot is good but somewhat unbelievable - again, appropriate for a middle grade audience but not really anything older than that. There are parts that are quasi-suspenseful, but nothing very dramatic. The worst thing that happens is the potential kidnapping of a child. Even at that, it isn't very believable. It's a short book and I read it in one sitting.

I don't read middle grade books, so I can't really comment on how good this is in that regard. The writing in general annoyed me; there are many parts where Nadia's inner dialogue is interspersed too frequently and in too quipped a fashion. It broke up the continuity of the story for me.

I did begin with the audiobook narrated by Alex McKenna. While I do like her voice and narration in general, I had trouble here and switched to the print book fairly early on. Her voice is raspy - which is great for a young character like Nadia. But her voice for Nadia's younger brother Rabbit didn't sound authentic. It sounded much more like a raspy person trying to sound silly. So in the end, her voice is great for other books but probably not for this one.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love survival/ apocalypse books and this one was a good read.
I really wish I could talk to the author and ask her opinions on the present pandemic because reading this book was surreal at times...
In her author's note I laughed hard-
"You'll probably never experience a global pandemic like Nadia and Rabbit but..."
Wild 😂

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay! Finally, a dystopian novel that tells what happened to our world! A believable story of survival and I don't think there has to be a sequel!!

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know I am super weird for wanting to read a post-pandemic book during this trying time of COVID-19, but alas. I am a glutton for punishment.

I devoured this book! The story follows Dai and her eleven-year-old brother as they make the trek from the outskirts of Seattle to West Virginia to meet their uncle, for whom they owe their lives to after he gave them a shot to give them immunity from the virus, BLUSTAR. long the way, they find small comforts in abandoned lodges and homes and pick up a stray dog with wounds of his own. But the world after is not as peaceful as they hoped. Survivors will do anything to make it in the new world, even kidnapping children. But despite that, they persevere and find solace with another survivor, Zach as they continue their arduous journey across the country.

What I loved most about this book was how you are dropped into what has happened without a long drawn out explanation of why everyone in the world is basically dead. Because of how immediate the virus killed, it made this book all the more terrifying. I felt like I was with Dia and Rabbit as they road-tripped through the devastation of the country.

What set this book apart was that Dia and Rabbit were siblings and, even though they weren't close before the virus, they learned to lean on each other for support. They searched for food, longed for baths and met some sad souls who have lost their minds. The realistic portrayal of all the things we'd go without if something had happened like that to me had me searching Amazon for survival books. Just in case.

I really enjoyed this survival story and I wish so badly Kizer had written a sequel.

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I was given an advanced copy of this book to read and review and give my honest opinion about said book.

It’s been 56 days since the outbreak of the Bluestar plague when sixteen year old Nadia’s mother dies. Leaving her to take care of her eleven year old brother Rabbit in a town where they are the only survivors, due to special shots given to them by their Uncle Bean to protect them from the virus.
Alone in this new, lawless world their only hope of survival is to travel east across the country to where they hope to find their Uncle Bean and grandfather.
Packing up as much as their old lives as they can into their they set off into the unknown world where only a select few have survived, with new dangers around every corner Nadia and her brother learn that they can only trust each other, and that they must embrace survival taught by their military father “to become the cockroach” and adapt to their new world if they want to survive.

A Matter of Days introduces a terrifying situation of “what could be” in the near future. A deadly disease that wipes out 98% of the world’s population leaving only a few survivors at random chance.
One thing I really enjoyed about this book that unlike many other dystopia’s it focused on a worldwide problem instead of blaming a select group of people. While I love a government conspiracy as much as the next dystopia fan it was nice to take a break from Man vs. Man and instead turn to Man vs. Virus.

This book also took the more realistic take on a post apocalyptic world, focusing on survival more than romance or saving the world. Since Nadia and Rabbit are normal kids thrust into an abnormal world I appreciated that the author took a more realistic take on their journey.

Because of the realistic take things were almost more terrifying. The way that Nadia and Rabbit walked the streets of their town looking at the rotting corpses of their neighborhood in an almost surreal manor having seen that and worse on the television screen or having to bury their own mother’s body.

There were no zombies or radiation monsters it was just…dead people. And that was freaky, because it made me wonder at least how I would deal with that situation. Seeing the dead bodies of people I knew or even didn’t know brings a fear in a lot of people. Death is a scary thing. And for Nadia and Rabbit it’s something they see every time they turn a corner. Literally.

The survivors of the world were less terrifying in comparison but still just as real. Bluestar left only a few survivors still standing and the one sit left was almost random chance. Some of the groups banded together in militia type groups while other tried to survive as a lonesome. Many went insane not able to understand what was happening around them.

Again, a very realistic take on what would actually happen if almost all of the world’s population died. When it’s every man for himself Nadia and Rabbit have to learn pretty early on that it’s best not to trust anyone but each other. Except for Zach, this brings me to my next point.

The characters. Zach was by far my favorite, a street savvy kid who Nadia and Rabbit stumble upon in an nearby town burning the bodies of the dead. Before Bluestar he was a drug dealer someone that you wouldn’t normally trust but unlike many others his skills on the street actually assist him in the new world, unlike Nadia and Rabbit who are two kids from the suburbs, their only link to survival being a few scattered pieces of advice from their military father.
He and Nadia share a conversation that went along the lines of Nadia not talking to him if the met on the streets in which Nadia replies. “No. I wouldn’t. But you wouldn’t have talked to me either.” Because of their new situation their old lives have become nothing and now their back to being people trying to survive.

He and Nadia share a bit of a romance, small enough that it doesn’t overpower the book but sweet. It’s also very realistic there are no over melodramatic declarations of love or PG-13 kiss scenes but its there. Zach is able to break past the walls she’s put up and she’s able to see him as something more than a tattooed kid from the streets. They need each other, they care for each other. And the author is able to show that without going over the top and making their relationship annoying and distracting from the actual plot of the book.

Nadia herself isn’t a particularly memorable heroine but I didn’t dislike her and I admired her dedication at protecting her brother even when she was afraid, if anything she was an average girl put into a terrifying situation and coming up top despite that.

Rabbit was cute and while he was almost bipolar going between childish tendencies and guru moments wisdom he was a good kid and was there to keep his sister going.

The plot itself was compelling though it bits of it were a little hard to swallow, their uncle giving just them the vaccine but not the government. The fact that only he found a way to combat it while no one else did. It left a lot of loose ends but no book is perfect, and outside that I enjoyed the story.

The ending was a bit of a letdown if not just because I wanted closure on a few things. (I.E. Zach and Nadia, did the Uncle actually save the government, what happens next.) maybe I’m just used to large scale dystopia novels where it ends with the hero or heroine saving the world instead of surviving.

All in all it was a good book. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a realistic take on the end of the world, survival stories, and quick reads. 3 and half stars.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good!! Read it in one day. I wish there is a sequel

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I went into A Matter of Days without any expectations whatsoever. I received this book in a surprise package and when I found out it was a survival novel I immediately picked it up. If you know me, then you know I devour every survival book that reaches my doorstop. So far I have loved every single survival book I've read, including A Matter of Days.
The book starts on day 56 after the epidemic began. almost 98% of the world is dead but two survivors, who will headline this book, are still alive, and they are Nadia and Rabbit (Robert Jr.). The 16 year old girl with her 11 year old brother, in an almost deserted world. Now the main plot in here is for Nadia and Rabbit to travel from Seattle to West Virginia where their uncle is supposed to meet them. I can't give any more details in fear or giving up any spoilers.

As for the main characters, I love love loved Nadia and Rabbit, as a team these two were just amazing. Also, I've mentioned this before but I love sibling bonding in dystopian and post apocalyptic/survival novels. I kept on being surprised and amazed by how mature Rabbit is and his wide knowledge in everything, from siphoning gas from other cars, to leading them to bodies of water by seeing where a flock of birds are heading. As for Nadia, she was just as fantastic, if not better. She always listened to Rabbit and they operated as a team. Of course we've got Zach who shows up later, and also a dog that became their companion. I do have to point out that this book does not contain any romance. So all you readers who are tired of YA books marketed as dystopian and post apocalyptic/survival only to be sucked into a dramatic love story, this book is for you.

There were so many heart pounding scenes as well as some pretty freaked out ones where I was praying that Nadia and everyone else would be able to survive from. When I picked it up I didn't think I was even going to like it but what happened is that I ended up reading it in a single day and wishing that there would be a sequel for it. It isn't open ended or anything, but I did wish we got to live a little bit more in their world, especially with how short the book is, at 288 pages. A Matter of Days is another survival novel I will be sure to recommend to all the fans of the survival sub-genre. I will definitely check out any new releases by Amber Kizer and pray for more survival novels by her!

[Eleanor D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nadia is just like any other fifteen year old girl other than the fact that she and her brother, Rabbit, might be the only survivors after a horrific virus outbreak throughout the world. The only reason she and her brother survived was because her Uncle Bean, who worked for a very secretive part of the military, gave her antidote to the virus. For Nadia and Rabbit the antidote worked but by the time she gave it to her mom it was too late. Now Nadia and Rabbit had to travel cross country to get to her grandfather's, Papi, house and she does not have a drivers license! Nadia depended on Rabbit for directions and lots of survival knowledge. As they travel they meet some other survivors most of them are mean. Although they met mostly mean survivors they did meet one that would be a crucial impact on survival and his name was Zach. Nadia, Rabbit, and Zach went through many good and bad situations, will they survive in the new world? I loved this book because it was very suspenseful and interesting. I felt enticed by the book because it was so interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes suspenseful, survival, or fictional books.

[Lyle D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a girl and a boy who overcome a big virus that almost kills everyone and they're uncle is a medic for the army so he gave them a virus killer and before they give it to their mom, she dies as well as their dad. Now, they are all alone, traveling towards their uncle who lives in West Virginia. The come across a lot of problems and it's a mystery if they make its safely to the safe haven of their uncles house.....
I loved this book because it has a realistically factor that you can't just travel amongst a empty country without running into any problems. This book really reels you in from the first page. If you liked A Night Divided you will love this survival fantasy!

[Callie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5. Not much happens but a journey. Enjoyable. Good choice for younger YA readers. Little violence. The author’s end note with reassurance and suggested reads was an added bonus for the book.

[Anastasia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love dystopian novels because I like to see what the authors' visions of the future of humanity entail. The vision of this book is definitely dark, though I think the author really focused on surviving the immediate aftermath, not really on envisioning a post-apocalyptic culture. As others have noted, the novel is pretty tame and thus much more appropriate for middle grade readers (such as my 11 year old) than for older teens or adults. I appreciated the exposure to military survival culture, and one the emphasis on critical thinking and preparation. However, one of the most disappointing things about this book is the author's complete lack of attention to race. Most white authors only detail the race of a character if it's a character of color. Who knows what Kizer was seeing in her head? All I know is that none of the descriptions of the characters, their names, their languages (for example, no one appeared to be bilingual), or their ways of speaking implied anything other than white people. And to suggest that those who survived, no matter how few Nadia and Rabbit encountered, would all be white is not only unlikely but a bit insulting and lacking creativity.

[Baileys Book Babble · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book totally blind, like didn't know a thing about it. My husband had wanted to buy me books for Christmas but didn't know what to get me and didn't want me to know what I was getting. So I bought a bunch judging them by their covers....I know I know that is horrible but I am so happy I did and may continue to in the future because this isn't something I would normally pick up and I LOVED it!! Like finished it within a day and a half loved it. That for me is extremely difficult beings I work fulltime and have a 2 year old but it was so worth every minute of sleep I missed.

[Cait S · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable but pretty standard post-apocalyptic YA. I deeply appreciated the lack of an insta-love, poorly done romance so this gets bumped to a 3.5 for that. It did get repetitive in places and the characters suffered from "too stupid to live" syndrome ((who leaves a truck fully stocked with food, meds, and supplies to go on a day trip to the mall...for fun?)) but overall it was a quick and enjoyable read that kept me entertained through the end.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the typical YA dystopian, coming of age story. There were somethings that were fairly plausible and other parts that were likely a bit unbelievable and just a little bit contrived. Yet I recognize this was written for a YA audience and I appreciated the author's note at the end of the book addressed to younger readers.

[Cristi-Lael · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ok, a bit predictable, but ok.

[Joeyc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Joey Cockell
period:5
A Matter of Days
Can you imagine you surviving with just a younger brother? Yes, the rest of your family is dead. Amber Kizer, the author, introduces the novel by shocking her readers her as you learn that the protagonist's parents are deceased. They died of a virus called Bluestar which broke out around the world unexpectedly, which led Nadia the daughter, and Rabbit the younger brother by themselves. But this first chapter was not why I chose the book. It was hard for my eyes to pass up the title, A Matter of Days. This title intrigued me as the words “a matter” shows the characters must have very little time to live.
After Nadia’s mother died from the Blustar, she and Rabbit had a plan to travel from Los Angeles, where they previously lived, to West Virginia, where her Uncle Bean resided. He was a scientist who saved their life by giving them a shot to defend off the virus, and her Pappi, a doctor, lived. They filled the car with most of their valuables from the house and set out on their long journey. One belonging that really meant a lot to Nadia was her dad's MP3 player which is what he cared mostly about before he died in the war. On their way to West Virginia, they hit a lot of snow, so they found a Ski Resort south of Utah, where they found multiple water bottles and some chip bags half open. They stayed their for 3 nights and then went on their way. Even though their was a lot of snow still, they were running low on supplies. Their next stop was in a small town near Arkansas. There they met the one survivor named Zack who had black hair and was completely covered with tattoos. He let them stay in his house and helped them food and comfort. A week later, Rab and Nadia decided they had to get back on the road and Zach joined them. Next, they stopped in Kentucky to see if the world's biggest mall had any supplies. They found very little food, but discovered a little girl named Patty who also accompanied them. Unfortunately, they were attacked by bikers wanting to kill them. They captured Patty, but Nadia saved her by shooting a man and running. Finally, they came across woods. They went through until finding a small house, almost looking like a cabin. She then saw teo men come out and then she knew it was him. They then went inside and talked about their journey. Uncle Bean then said, “I can’t wait for the new life we will have.”
I didn’t very like the ending of this book. It was good knowing they made it to West Virginia, but I would have preferred a different ending. It gave very vague conclusion saying how happy they were. I would have liked the author to go more into detail adding how their life was afterwards. My favorite quote of the book was “we finally made it” because it showed that all their hard work eventually paid off. The journey was dangerous but worth the gamble.
Evening though I strongly didn’t like the book’s conclusion, the rest of the book was amazing giving lots of suspense like “ is Zack a good guy?” or “ why is the dog here?” which made me think of multiple things that could have occurred. I also loved the theme of this book: just because you're smaller than the world, doesn’t mean you can’t defeat it. Given these multiple assets of the book, everyone should read this because you can’t get find a novel with adventure and mystery. This book in my opinion deserves four stars out of five ideally because of the great plot, the characters, and the conflicts they had to endure. It was a page turner, hard to put down.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were times that we went the tiniest (or not) bit unrealistic in this story of survival, but the rest of it was so good, I decided to forgive & get over it. And that's saying something!

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be the cockroach, survive the affect. This is the mantra that Nadia, a sixteen-year-old girl, tells herself as she and her younger brother, Rabbit, try to survive in a post-apocalyptic world. I first picked up “A Matter of Days” by Amber Kizer, because apocalyptic stories always interested me but I’ve never read one. This book had been popping up everywhere in my school, so I took the opportunity to read one. Once I read the first page I couldn’t put it down!

In this story, Nadia and Rabbit travel across post-crisis America, Washington to West Virginia. They get robbed a few times and lose all of their belongings, make friends, and run into many conflicts along the way. These conflicts are either character vs. character or character vs. nature. Throughout the entire book you’re constantly on alert for another conflict to come. No matter what though, they keep going. They keep surviving. They are cockroaches.

I have a love/hate relationship with the ending. I love how Kizer ended this story, but I wish there was a sequel. It was hard to say goodbye to the lovely characters. I felt like I hurt, laughed, and was overall there with them throughout all of it. My favorite part of the book is when they stay in the ski lodge. It gave a sense of normal for the first time in months. They had a chance to get away from all of the death and destruction from the world for a day or two.

I enjoyed this book very much. It was very actioned packed and I was unable to pot it down. When I wasn’t reading it, I was constantly thinking about what was going to happen next. The character development for the protagonist was extremely well done. If you enjoy constant action conflicts then this book is for you. This book was filled with action, but it was detailed just enough so you could enjoy it thoroughly.

[KieleH · Rating 4 out of 5]

What if a deadly sickness wiped out the whole U.S. and you had to find a way out? That was the life for Nadia and Rabbit, in the book A Matter of Days by Amber Kizer. I read this book because a lot of my classmates told me it was really good and because it is a Truman Award Winning book so is had to be really good.
Nadia and Rabbit were living a normal teenage life when suddenly a disease called Blue Star wiped out almost the whole U.S. including their parents. They had to find a way out, so they went to go find their aunt and uncle in West Virginia. They went there because their uncle works for the military and had sent them a letter saying he has a vaccine for this disease. On their way they meet some new friends and they meet some people who are not very nice. The setting is based in the future because there is advanced medicine. The three main characters are Nadia, Rabbit, and Zach. The main conflicts are the people they run into and the disease that is about to wipe them out.
I thought the ending was very good and I thought it ended how I thought it was supposed to. My favorite part of the whole book was when they met Frank in the pet store. I liked that part so much because Frank was so nice and because he was really trying to help and be nice unlike some people that they me along the way.
My personal opinion on the book was that it was very slow and took me a really long time to get into it. This book is similar to The Testing because it dealt with death and because it happened in the future. I think if you have the time to get into this book or you like books that are really snow then you would really like A Matter of Days by Amber Kizer.

[Ericha M.]

The main characters are sixteen year old Nadia and her little brother Rabbit(11 year old). Than it splits into smaller roles,there father was a special force marine. The mother was a nurse. Their Uncle Bean is a medical researcher and their grandfather was a Doomsday prepper.
The type of book is a mystery and it took place in Washington and West Virginia. The feeling the book made you feel was a violent, scary and anxious. After Nadia and Rabbit’s mother die of a virus called Bluestar there grandfather takes them to West virginia from washington to go live with family members, trying to save their lives from this killer virus. They go through lots of tough obstacles throughout their trip to there family and makes friends too. By Nadia’s mother dieing this makes her grow up faster and be responsible for herself and her little brother.
My final thoughts of A Matter Of Days is that it was an alright book, it's not what I expected at all and a little confusing. If I was to rate the book out of ten it would be about a four. The whole story was kinda everywhere which made it hard to focus on the main ideas. Nadia taking care of her brother was a good feeling because all parents want to know there kids are going to take care of each other when they are gone. I learned that when you are going through something hard you have to be responsible and make good decisions with your actions. I wouldn't recommend this book, it's hard to watch someone struggle and seeing someone you love die

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Image struggling to survive a disease that strikes the world and manages to kill 98% of the population. Nadia and her little brother Rabbit are traveling from the Seattle area, to West Virginia, where Bean their uncle has instructed to go when the disease strikes.
Nadia and her 11 year-old brother, Rabbit are injected with a secret military vaccine from the uncle Bean, months before Blue Star breaks through. Uncle Bean informed Nadia about the disease and instructed Nadia to take Rab to West Virginia where their Papi lives. Along the way, the face struggles like starvation and crazy people out to kill, but end up meeting Zack, a teenage boy who lived on the streets in New York. Zack is very educated in survival and knows enough to get Nadia and Rabbit to their Papi’s.
I read this book thinking it was going to be just “another survival book” but I turned out loving it.The best part of the book, was when Nadia Rab, and Zack were in the mall celebrating Rabs birthday, and they met Polly. I really enjoyed that part because you never knew if it was a bad guy trying to kill them, or just a small little girl. My favorite quote in the book, was “be the cockroach” I enjoyed this because it reminded me to be selfless and to protect your loved ones.
In conclusion, I rate this book 4 out of 5, only because at some times, it was slow, but sometimes there were chapters where I just couldn't put it down. I definitely suggest reading this book if you are interested in survival.

[Empress Reece (Hooked on Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Your Everyday Road Trip... A deadly virus called Blustar sweeps the world and leaves 98% of the population dead within a matter of weeks. Two young survivors, Nadia and Robert a.k.a. Rabbit are left to fend on their own so they pack up and hit the road to try to reach their only, hopefully surviving, Uncle in West Virginia.
 
The story takes you through the challenges they encounter along the way on their road trip and their struggle to survive as kids in the changed world. I thought it was a really endearing story. I listened to the audio book in the car with my son and he enjoyed it. It kept his interest throughout the entire audio book. The end was a little anti-climatic though and I wish there was a second book to continue their story but I think this may be a stand-alone. If you're looking for something to listen to with your kids though, this is a very good choice if they enjoy survival stories. There are some nice moral messages in it and a lot of good sister/brother dynamics displayed too. The age recommendation is 11-16 and I think that's a pretty fair age range. My son is 10 going on 16 : ) and it was perfect for him. Wish I could find more books that captured his attention so well. 

[Robin Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well done and realistic. I really liked the main character, Nadia, a teen who acts like a teen (and makes mistakes like a teen), but takes control of the situation, devises a quirky fix and moves on. She cares for her younger brother, Rabbit. The book reminded me of the fantastic Z for Zachariah, which managed to evoke desolation, terror and a plucky teen heroine with careful, measured language. There's also a lightness to this book that is welcome -- everything is not so serious and lugubrious. There's a little too much flashback for my taste, to explain the plague -- I think it could have been done more economically, and you don't really need the full explanation -- but an excellent, chilling read. It's not quite as poetic as The Age of Miracles, an excellent book (the earth's rotation slows, causing civilization to crumble) -- but this should go on any dystopians to read list.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best post-apocalyptic survival story I've ever read. I felt as claustrophobic as if I were cooped up in their possession-packed car, felt the tension in my body every time they encountered signs of other people, and genuinely felt the left-behind horror of surviving a world where an estimated 98% of the population has died from an incurable, weaponized virus.

I loved the relationship between the siblings, I LOVED that they picked up a big dog to take along, and I loved that there was no forced romance despite coming across a Single Young Guy. Each new place they stopped at along the way to their destination came alive in vivid detail, good or bad. The mall encounter was especially memorable, but honestly every detail about scavenging or medical care was fascinating to read. In conclusion, absolutely everything I look for in this type of book.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bluestar pandemic has devastated the earth, killing most but not all of the inhabitants. Why did some survive? Sixteen year old Nadia and her little brother have lost their family, but they were given a vaccination by their uncle who works in the military. He told them that when the worst beggins to happen, if they survive, they should do everything they can to get to him in Virginia. So begins their harrowing cross country journey through areas controlled by lawless desperadoes, to an occasional friendly face, animals desperate for food and death, so much death all around them. This is a suspenseful survival tale with likable characters and realistic scenarios. You root for Nadia, but can she make this trip on her own? Read A Matter of Days, for fans of dystopian fiction. Similar in tone to Life as we Knew It, 7th grade and up.