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Coywood Creek
From the award-winning author of Hollow Beauty and Junior Missing comes a funny dystopian survival story about a teenage girl forced to adopt new coping and survival strategies after a catastrophic global event leads to famine and societal collapse.
At first, Zoey brushes off the blackout, the dead cell service, and the eerie northern lights in the southern sky. But as reality sets in, she knows one she can’t stay in her parents’ condo alone with no power. So she packs her snacks and sets out for Coywood Creek with Kent, a teenage boy living in her building, hoping to find safety with her uncle and grandmother.
As food becomes scarcer and things get weirder, Zoey must figure out how to cope with the anxieties of life—or she’ll die.
At the end of the world, there are no more OREO cookies.
At first, Zoey brushes off the blackout, the dead cell service, and the eerie northern lights in the southern sky. But as reality sets in, she knows one she can’t stay in her parents’ condo alone with no power. So she packs her snacks and sets out for Coywood Creek with Kent, a teenage boy living in her building, hoping to find safety with her uncle and grandmother.
As food becomes scarcer and things get weirder, Zoey must figure out how to cope with the anxieties of life—or she’ll die.
At the end of the world, there are no more OREO cookies.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 19, 2025
4 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Khristina Chess
13 books130 followersKhristina Chess is an award-winning author of more than a dozen young adult novels, including The Cutting Edge of Friendship, The Delinquent Hero, and Junior Missing. Her novel about eating disorders, Hollow Beauty, was named a finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She tackles tough teen topics and writes binge-worthy books across multiple genres, including contemporary, thriller, mystery, dystopian, and adventure.
Visit her online at www.khristinachess.com and on Twitter @KhristinaChess.
Visit her online at www.khristinachess.com and on Twitter @KhristinaChess.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 17, 2025
Getting the narrative voice right is writing magic, and Khristina Chess nails the tone of this young adult apocalyptic book with a buoyant, believable inner monologue, humorously punctuated by a refrain of eating Oreo cookies - Twist, lick, crunch. "Coywood Creek" is a wonderful tale with a dystopian bent, at turns poignant, wise and funny. Highly recommended.
April 24, 2025
I will be frank, I did not expect this book to be as good as it was! I was googling books similar to the Stand and the author's blog appeared. I thought, it's KU, I will give it a try. Wow! I am a hard reviewer, so if you get 4 stars from me, it is truly an outstanding read (5 stars are for the ultimate classic pieces-of-pure-art literature).
I like both Zoey and Kent and their development as characters. The Franklin family gave a good story line. Very entertaining and interesting. I hope there is a sequel!
I like both Zoey and Kent and their development as characters. The Franklin family gave a good story line. Very entertaining and interesting. I hope there is a sequel!
March 25, 2025
I loved this book!
I’m not one to choose a dystopian apocalyptic thriller, but Khristina Chess is such a talented author, I decided to give this one a chance. I’m so glad I did.
The story moves from utter despair to hope and felt strangely relevant for our times. The end is perfect. Perhaps there’ll be a sequel?
I’m not one to choose a dystopian apocalyptic thriller, but Khristina Chess is such a talented author, I decided to give this one a chance. I’m so glad I did.
The story moves from utter despair to hope and felt strangely relevant for our times. The end is perfect. Perhaps there’ll be a sequel?
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews