Dead Batteries

by Kate Maupin

A single mom and her neurodivergent son battle for survival and stability in a post-apocalyptic world, one that is arguably no less harsh to them then the pre-pandemic one, in this gripping, one-of-a-kind debut.

“Imagine The Road from a mother’s perspective.”—The New York Times Book Review

Ever since May’s husband decided parenthood wasn’t for him and left, it’s just been May and her autistic son with high support needs, Davis, against the world. A rather unwelcoming one that never had much patience or understanding.

Then 99.9% of the population was wiped out by a virus in just a few weeks, and that world ended. May has kept herself and Davis alive only through the self-imposed isolation she got so good at in the Before. They have their routines, their cozy nest in an abandoned library, and most importantly, the old battery-powered Game Boy that offers Davis familiarity and comfort in a world that’s difficult to understand.

One day May runs into a stranger while out scavenging for the precious batteries that keep Davis's Game Boy alive. This stranger calls himself Bird, he has intel—and a proposition. Supposedly there’s an entire haven of survivors nearby. Bird wants in, and he needs May and Davis to play along as wife and child in order to guarantee himself a spot. Besides, wouldn’t May want to be part of a community again?

Not particularly—but the survivors have batteries. So she reluctantly agrees. And while May knows better than to trust the man who ripped her and Davis out of their routines, she can’t help but open up to him. But when Bird’s true motivations come to light, her old life collides with the new in terrifyingly dark ways, forcing May to question how far she would go to protect her son. How long can she and Davis last until the batteries run out?

Genres: Dystopia, Fiction, Science Fiction, Post Apocalyptic, Ebooks, Book Club, Speculative Fiction

288 pages, Hardcover

Published October 27, 2026

About the author

Kate Maupin, M.A. is an educator, foster child advocate, and national speaker. She is a genre hopping author with work originating in academic nonfiction, with her highly anticipated fiction debut, DEAD BATTERIES (Crown, 2026) being released in October of 2026.

Reviews

[Angelie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the premise much more than the execution. It was a unique fresh take on the post-apocalyptic genre. A genre I generally enjoy. Sadly, I struggled to connect to any of the characters. I was not sold on her perspective of the guy in the first few chapters, and when a book gets off to rocky start for me, it can be hard to recover. And I didn't recover.

For one, Davis, a child with autism and OCD seems to never have a personality outside of his neurodivergence, and the way that it was described made him seem more annoying and exhausting than what I think was meant to invoke empathy or education.

It mostly seemed like the main female character was just a complaining negative person all the time, and most of her perspective and communications were also exhausting, as was her inner dialogue. I tired of her in general. And I understand that post-apocalyptic life is meant to seem bleak, but this just landed more in the potential zone for me. It needed something more, whether that be grit, character development, atmosphere, or a bolder plot.

📢 Publication Date: 10/27/26
🎉 My Star Rating: 3/5🌟🌟🌟
📖 Genre: Adult Fiction/ Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing | Crown for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.

[Stephanie Peterman · Rating 4 out of 5]

reading this book gave me major anxiety as i imagined parenting my own autistic/adhd/SPD son during society’s collapse — and i guess that’s what made it so raw and relatable. this author has personal experience and it shows. thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Crown Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel.

Dead Batteries is a unique entry into the post-apocalyptic survival genre with the large focus on how a mother of a special needs child navigates this new world, but it falls a bit flat with both the genre and character development. The story of the struggles of managing an autistic child in this kind of harsh setting are tiring, which is probably part of the point that Maupin is trying to make. But it's largely tiring not because the characters are well defined and empathetic enough to let you feel their exhaustion. Instead, it's tiring because it the characters themselves are fairly one-dimensional. This struggle is their only defining characteristic, and it is repeated over and over again. The plot is evenly paced if a bit slow, and the final spurt of character development tucked into the end of the story comes as too little and too late.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A searing portrait of a mother's love in a world turned upside down. This is unique in the post-apocalyptic genre because of May and Davis, who survived the White Lung virus which wiped out most of the world because they did not leave their home until fires forced them out and they went to an abandoned library. Davis is neurodivergent, with autism and OCD, and largely nonverbal. It's only his father's gameboy that gives him (and May) peace so she's always on the hunt for batteries. And then Bird shows up. He's got a secret that won't be revealed until late in the novel. He insists they band together to travel to a community of survivor. This is a road trip like no other as they make their way through devastated areas while being hunted by a group known as Ghosts. It's well paced, urgent, and there are twists and surprises around every corner. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I read this great debut in a gulp.

[Rachel | fullybookedtbr · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

Characters: 3.75⭐️
Setting: 3.00⭐️
Plot: 3.25⭐️
Themes: 3.00⭐️
Personal enjoyment: 3.00⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3.00⭐️
Overall rating: 3.25⭐️

Dead Batteries is a world where a mother will do whatever she can to protect her autistic son in a post-apocalyptic type world where a disease called "White Lung" ravaged the world killing the majority of people. May keeps her son Davis isolated in an abandoned library to keep them safe where they have specific routines and comforts. One day, May runs into a strange named Bird while looking for batteries for her son's Game Boy and Bird convinces May to leave with him to a safe haven for other survivors.

This is definitely more of a literary fiction take on a post-apocalyptic world with very minimal world building. This is definitely more of a character driven story, and I saw that The New York Times compared it to "The Road" but from "a mother's perspective." The tone of this book does not match The Road at all, and this definitely cannot be compared to that. I appreciate the take on what a mother would do to protect their child in a world that cannot have routines and safety and comfort, but I did not find myself connecting with any of the characters and I think that is okay.

I think it is really hard to create a literary fiction dystopian world, and this just didn't hit the mark for me.

Would I recommend this book? No.

Thank you to Crown Publishing for gifting me a finished copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Cheryl · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Game Boy to the rescue

May and her autistic/OCD son Davis are living in the library in Windham, Connecticut. 99.9% of the world's population has died from the virus White Lung and May and her son have escaped it because they stay sequestered away from people and weren't exposed.

They are found by Bird who wants them to come with him to a community that supposedly will have mutual benefits for all of them. And thus starts the trek that is the basis for this story.

This book was not an easy one to get through. A good portion of it was given to May dealing with her son's outbursts. I KNOW they can't be helped. I have an autistic son and an autistic grandson. But that doesn't mean I think the outbursts need to control the book.

I did like the ending of the book and I wasn't expecting it.

[Kimberly · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Dead batteries is a dystopian fiction about a young mom named May who is taking care of her autistic son after a virus wiped out 90% of the population.

Did you ever wonder how hard it would be to live in a world after a virus? Then with kids? The author does a well thought out deep dive into what it would be like as a survivor with a highly autistic child in a destroyed world.

The character depth and development are phenomenal. May is prickly but devoted entirely to her son. Nothing else matters but him and his comfort. Anything that would harm her son is a threat. Her son has episodes and the one thing that calms him is his gameboy, so May is always scavenging for new batteries for it. That is until Bird comes along. Bird convinces her that for more batteries, for more safety for her and Davis she needed to leave and go with him to a community. Bird is an unknown. His name and his past, it’s buried deep.
Davis himself is wrote as a severely autistic boy that is mostly nonverbal. The author does a great job portraying him.

The side characters make this book. Holly is one person I see every day and would like to smack in the face. The person who thinks she knows best and knows everything. We have Vihaan and Aaysha, as well.

You would think the evil villains would be easy to spot and there were some but in a world full of death anyone can be friend or foe.

There was only one thing I struggled with and it was this odd “You” POV the main character does and it alternates. First it starts with Patrick “Pat” and it’s just a normal her talking to him narrative, but then it does this abrupt transition to “you” and the reader has to figure how exactly who you is. It was very confusing at first. Towards the end she does it again, and while less abrupt, it seemed unnecessary.

A well done novel that explores the what ifs and what lengths a mother of an autistic boy will go to, to help him survive. All around a great novel.

Thank you to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for the arc.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead Batteries was one of the most unique post-apocalyptic books I’ve ever read. May is living in a world in which 99% of the population died from a fast-moving lethal virus. Her son, Davis, is mostly nonverbal with autism and OCD. Along with scavenging for regular supplies, May spends much of her time searching for batteries to keep Davis’s Game Boy alive. One day, a stranger who calls himself Bird interrupts the delicate balance of her precarious life, offering her a deal. She and Davis pretend to be his family so he can get into a community of survivors and, once there, she’ll have access to all the batteries they’ll ever need.

There were parts of this novel that I was confused about, mostly because May narrates in an unusual manner. For much of the novel, it’s as if she’s talking to Pat, the husband who abandoned her and Davis when he decided life with a special needs child wasn’t for him. It almost feels like she’s writing it down in a journal she would give to Pat one day.

One of the things I really liked about it was the nitty-gritty reality of going out in the open, on a trek to an unknown place, with a special needs child. The author put them in plenty of realistic situations (realistic enough for a dystopian future), and Davis behaved like a child with high-needs autism would. He gets scared and runs off, or he has a meltdown if a sound or texture doesn’t make sense to him.

May also wasn’t the perfect example of a parent. She screwed up; she didn’t explain things well when meeting new people, and she was cynical and nontrusting. But in her position, I can’t say I’d be any better. She was just doing the best she could with an absolutely crappy situation. Overall, I liked her (though she doesn’t think Die Hard is a Christmas movie, so that’s strike one)

There were secrets and mysteries that kept me (digitally) turning pages. I was fascinated by Bird and his motivations. The book’s ending was surprisingly sweet in what I’d consider to be a HFN (Happy for Now). There were times while reading when I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, but overall, I wound up really enjoying it.

On its surface, this is a book about a post-apocalyptic world where most of humanity was decimated by a virus. But deeper than that, it’s a story about a mother going to absolutely any lengths to protect her child.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for the advanced review copy. My opinions are my own.

[Pamela Shrewsbury · Rating 3 out of 5]

📚DEAD BATTERIES📚
Kate Maupin
Publishes 10/27/26
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to @netgalley, @crownpublishing, and @katemaupinwrites for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

After a virus wipes out 99.9% of the population, May and her autistic son, Davis, survive inside an abandoned library. Their home is small but predictable, and Davis’s battery-powered Game Boy gives him a much-needed sense of comfort and routine.

When May meets Bird, a stranger who knows about a nearby survivor community, she reluctantly agrees to go with him. She isn’t looking for companionship—the settlement has batteries. What follows is a tense journey involving trust, motherhood, disability, and the frightening cost of being forced out of the routines that help you feel safe.

⸻
Dead Batteries puts a deeply human spin on post-apocalyptic fiction. The danger kept me reading, but the relationship between May and Davis gave the story its emotional heart. I appreciated the focus on the quieter realities of survival: caregiving, sensory comfort, isolation, and the exhaustion of making impossible choices.

The Game Boy was such a memorable detail. Something as ordinary as a package of batteries carried enormous meaning, and May’s determination to find them showed how far she would go to give Davis a small sense of security in a world that had become completely unpredictable.

Unfortunately, the pacing felt uneven to me, and the middle dragged more than I expected. I also wanted more development of Bird, the survivor community, and the relationships forming around May and Davis. Some of the most interesting parts of the premise felt like they could have been explored much more deeply.

Overall, Dead Batteries has a distinctive premise and some moving ideas about motherhood, disability, caregiving, trust, and survival. It didn’t completely come together for me, but May and Davis’s relationship stayed on my mind after I finished.

[Michelle G. · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

ARC review; thanks to Crown Publishing, Crown, and NetGalley for the early access to this ebook. Pub date: Oct 27, 2026.

I'm not sure how to feel about this one!

On the one hand, I think it's an interesting premise and take on post-apocalyptic survival. It's focused on how a mother who already isolated herself before the world ended to focus entirely on her child is navigating the world with a special-needs son and how all-consuming it is for her. And the writing is really good; I liked this author's voice and style.

On the other hand, I was a bit annoyed by the lack of progressive character development. It seems like it all happened in the last 10% of the book at once instead of little by little, naturally, and I don't personally find that satisfying. And I also felt very lukewarm about the romance; that was also underdeveloped.

I understand why May was so overprotective of her son, but that clouded all her judgment about him and what he could be capable of - her overprotectiveness limited him more. She constantly refused or got very defensive whenever anyone wanted to give Davis a little more leeway, to his benefit. And again, I can technically understand why. This was a post-apocalyptic world full of dangers, but in somewhat controlled environments, she didn't think Davis was capable of a little more. It takes an outsider to push their boundaries to show her that maybe Davis is open to learning new things, trying new things, etc., despite his disabilities, and she doesn't exactly embrace it. Again, I understand the initial refusal to trust others and accept help; I just don't understand why we don't see her work through it more progressively as she gets more and more familiar with the people she meets. The good ones, at least.

Overall, I don't think this really hit the mark for me, but it wasn't a bad read and I did appreciate quite a few things. Do with that what you will!

[Qrstephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been on a post-apocalyptic kick lately but Dead Batteries still managed to be unique. The world collapsed this time due to White Lung, a highly contagious upper respiratory infection that ultimately suffocates the host. We are introduced to May and her 10 year old son Davis. Stylistically, the narrative reads as though May is writing directly to her husband. She addressed him in a conversational, sometimes confessional tone, which brought in moments of humor.
“Don’t get me wrong, Pat, and excuse me very much if you’re dead, but men are a damn problem in the apocalypse.”

She had been alone with Davis for years prior to the apocalypse and survived thus far with routine and as much familiarity as she could manage. Davis’ Gameboy became the MVP distraction and batteries became May’s priority to scrimmage. Davis is mostly nonverbal and May lacked stimuli, so when Bird enters the picture, it isn’t too surprising that she is transfixed by something as simple as him unzipping a bag. They head to a camp of survivors, Bird masking his intentions until nearly the end.

I feel like the author portrayed autism and OCD realistically with Davis. There were several on page meltdowns that weren’t resolved instantly and May wasn’t the picture perfect parent. She had stims of her own and as the sole narrator, became a bit unreliable when she was overwhelmed. These were the only times I was lost in the story. Overall, I liked this, it made me cry a few times, and it ends in what I would consider a HFN.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always interested in dystopian stories that focus on the people trying to survive rather than just the big, dramatic end-of-the-world scenario. The idea of a mother doing whatever it takes to protect her son immediately gives this story an emotional element that makes it more than just a survival thriller.
When everything familiar disappears, the decisions people make become so much more complicated. How far would you go to keep your family safe? What would you be willing to sacrifice? And how do you hold on to your humanity when survival becomes the priority? Those are the kinds of questions that can make a dystopian story really stick with me.
I also like the idea of having some humor mixed into a darker story. The subject matter sounds intense, so moments of levity could help balance things out without taking away from the seriousness of what's happening.
That said, with a story like this, the characters really need to work for me. I can handle an imperfect plot if I'm invested in the people at the center of it, but if their decisions don't make sense, it's harder to stay engaged. The emotional connection is what makes a survival story memorable rather than just a series of unfortunate events.
Overall, this sounds like an interesting take on the genre, especially for readers who enjoy stories about motherhood, resilience, and the lengths people will go to for the ones they love. It's the kind of premise that makes you wonder what you would do if everything changed overnight.

[rebeccareads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Batteries is a fast-paced, frenetic, and thoroughly engaging examination of motherhood, duty, and disability in the end of times. As an autistic adult with needs very different from Davis's, I was equally fascinated and horrified by May's struggles to keep him safe. It's hard enough for us and our loved ones in the world as it exists now; I can't even begin to imagine how we'd survive if society breaks down even further. But I'm glad Kate Maupin could— you can feel her real-life experience with special-needs parenting on every page — because I enjoyed Dead Batteries from start to finish.

I was instantly hooked by the hectic, desperate, almost manic first-person narration, the post-apocalyptic setting that strikes just the right balance of lived-in details and mysterious gaps, and the immediate, pressing call-to-action: more batteries, right now, or else. The looming weight of "or else" never lets up, and the same goes for the lurking, not-quite-menacing but never-non-threatening presence of Bird. The escalation of that tension is a solidly good time, and by the time I reached the climax, I wanted to crawl out of my skin, in the best possible way, though the ending itself is surprisingly sweet.

Dead Batteries will appeal to fans of post-apocalyptic survival stories and motherhood-oriented women's fiction alike. It's a fantastic fiction debut by Kate Maupin!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Xiibalba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead Batteries looks like a post apocalyptic survival story on the surface, but it's really about one mother and her autistic, nonverbal son trying to hold their tiny routine together after a virus wipes out almost everyone. May and Davis live in an abandoned library, and the whole world has narrowed down to scavenging batteries for Davis's old Game Boy. That little lifeline carries so much weight, and Maupin clearly writes it from the inside.
What stayed with me is how honestly the book shows the labor of caring for a kid who can't speak for himself. The mental load, the physical exhaustion, the constant scanning for the next meltdown, none of it ever lets up. As someone neurodivergent myself I found a lot of it painfully familiar, even though Davis's needs are nothing like mine. May carries something that would flatten most people, and the book never turns her into a lesson or a tragedy. She just gets to be tired and scared and fiercely loving.
My one real gripe is that the middle drags. Once Bird turns up with his proposition the pacing slows to a crawl, and that same exhaustion that makes the book powerful starts to feel repetitive on the page. A few things get implied rather than explained too, so I reread some passages and still wasn't sure what happened. The ending won me back though, and it's surprisingly tender. Four stars, and I'll be thinking about May for a while.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead Batteries is Kate Maupin's first work of fiction. The novel is set in the aftermath of White Lung, a pandemic that has drastically reduced the world's population. Some survivors have banded together into groups, while others, like May and her son Davis, have found more safety in isolation. Since May's husband left the family, she has kept a routine that helps Davis, who is autistic and has OCD, stay regulated: staying inside with him during the day and going out at night to forage for supplies. AA batteries are near the top of her list, since they power the toy Davis relies on most for comfort.

One night while out foraging, May encounters something she has been dreading, another human, and perhaps the most dangerous kind, a lone adult man. The man introduces himself as "Bird" and says he means her no harm. He proposes that May and Davis come with him to try joining one of the small pockets of society that accepts family units. The journey will take at least a week and is in no way guaranteed to be a safe one. In a completely unreliable world May will do anything to keep Davis steady and safe, but she can never see far enough down the road to know the outcomes that her choice will bring.

This is a terrific book for anyone who enjoys survival stories. It also opens a window into the life of caregivers of children with special needs. I learned a lot from this short and well-written novel.

Many thanks to #NetGalley for the advance copy of the book.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique take in a sea of post-apocalyptic content, which usually features clever, prepared, "normal" people with excellent stamina, no need for glasses, antihistamines, or lip balm, while personal hygiene (or lack thereof) is never discussed.

Enter May, a single mom having a near-constant stream-of-consciousness conversation with her long-gone ex-husband, Pat, about the daily rituals and barriers to keeping herself and their autistic son, Davis, alive and fed in a quiet, rural corner of Connecticut. May has lost all sense of self, living only to keep Davis safe and out of harm's way, especially when it comes to outsiders. Mentally and physically exhausted from constantly monitoring Davis' behavior for a coming meltdown and scavenging at night while he sleeps, May literally turns to ripping out her own hair to feel like she has control over something.

Enter Bird, a mysterious stranger who encourages her to leave the sanctuary she has built in an abandoned library in search of the potential safety nets of community and better supplies. As with many "on the road" stories, they encounter potentially dangerous strangers, impassable roads, hungry wildlife, dead ends, and each other's emotional baggage.

This is a good read if you want a different sort of post-pandemic story, with plenty of grit and heart.

Thanks to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for an advance reader copy.

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dystopian post-apocalyptic novel that offers a unique story of caring for an autistic child in a world beset by limitations that could mean life or death for the child.

In a world devastated by a virus, May fights to keep her autistic son, Davis, alive by sticking to a routine and finding batteries to keep Game Boy going as this is the only thing that soothes him. Finding batteries is dangerous in this world as there are roving, armed survivors everywhere looking for these as well. It’s a scary world. One day May meets Bird, a strange man, offering her a deal - help him get into a certain community and she will have all the batteries she needs. The community only accepts families. May has misgivings but her son is the focus. So what kind of a deal she’s she made?

May narrates the story often talking to her ex-husband, Pat, who decided parenthood wasn’t for him, as she traverses her crazy world, always telling him how she and Davis are making it. She’s built a cozy life in an abandoned library so the new family life she gets outside in the work that’s left is a bit overwhelming . May isn’t the greatest parent, shes socially awkward as well as cynical and untrusting. But who can blame her in this world. The story hinges on May and Davis leaving their cloistered world to join a community where fitting in can be difficult.

I liked the plot idea. You can viscerally sense May’s exhaustion as she strives to care for Davis. This is especially true after she meets Bird. But you have to admire her. That’s why the ending is so good.

My thanks to NetGalley and Crown Publishing for granting me access to this ARC.

[Marisa TA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Crown Publisbing for this lovely story.

Um.

😭🥹

What the actual heck. I loved this.

I was not expecting this from an arc. Honestly the entire book was really good, I wanted to read it often. But I think even if the entire book was trash apart from that last chapter alone, I still would’ve given it 5 stars.

It’s pretty short, but the author did a great job in so many ways. It’s well written, beautifully written really. The characters are really raw and real. It seems incredibly realistic of what could really happen to a mom of a child on the spectrum. As a dystopian lover, I really loved a story that considers this kind of family with her son’s needs being a very real thing to work through in the worse of times. I think we don’t get to see this kind of narrative in dystopians a lot. Whether that be mental/physical disabilities, neurodivergence, or really anything considered different from a “normal” person or “normal” human.

I think individuals that have a basic understanding or experience of autism will emotionally connect with the story more, but anyone could really enjoy this beautiful story. Beautiful, emotional, raw, thoughtful, but also with plenty of action and suspense sprinkled in.

Please read the synopsis and if any bit of it sounds like something you could get into, go for it!

💚

[Caitlin Clifford · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Characters: 4⭐️
Setting: 4⭐️
Plot: 4⭐️
Themes: 4⭐️
Emotional Impact: 3⭐️
Personal Enjoyment: 4⭐️
Overall Rating: 3.75⭐️

Thank you to Crown Publishing for this eARC.
Dead Batteries is a post-apocalyptic tale about a single mother doing her best to keep her and her autistic son alive. May has been raising Davis on her own for over half a decade before the lights go out. Surviving fires and avoiding illness that has wiped out the majority of the population, she keeps them safe by holing up in an abandoned library and taking short trips out to scavenge for food and supplies. When a stranger of a man shows up strongly encouraging May to take her and Davis with him to a community of survivors, May has a difficult decision to make as disrupting Davis’ routine can be detrimental to his mood and coping mechanisms. Armed with a handgun, a sparse amount of food, and a Gameboy, May and Davis set out with Bird to find this community that they hope will be their saving grace in this grey, dying world.
Although this story is shelved as a post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel, it explores the inner monologue of a struggling single mother with a special-needs child that we do not typically see in the genre. The focus of the story is not what caused the apocalypse or what will save them, but more so the journey and struggles they face along their way.

[Harris · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was like a ski slope for me in the sense that it started off on a high note and progressively went down from there. I'm all for a realistic, post-apocalyptic world. "White Lung" which seems to be a close enough relative to COVID that wipes out almost the entire population I can get behind as a reader. No zombies or anything paranormal is a huge plus. Add in a neurodivergent character to this genre and we're off to a great start. I enjoyed reading about May trying to keep her and Davis alive by dosing him with cough syrup at night so she can scavenge without concern for his well-being. The premise for the book title makes perfect sense when we read how May uses a Game Boy to keep Davis calm and the never-ending quest for more batteries.

Quite frankly, I was okay with her interactions with Bird and the ultimate decision to go with him to locate a community where they can survive unmolested. But when they started having run-ins with "the Ghosts" it felt a little too "Walking Dead" for me with all the competing factions. I was waiting for someone to attack them with a bat wrapped in barbed wire. I felt like there was more to Holly and Vihaan that I missed - lots of references to looks they gave each other; maybe I started losing interest stopped reading closely or maybe it was not fleshed out enough.

[✩｡°⋆ Lala ⋆｡°✩ · Rating 4 out of 5]

✦•┈๑⋅⋯ Dead Batteries by Kate Maupin ⋯⋅๑┈•✦

➝ • 4/5 ☆ •

☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆
This story takes the apocalypse and twists it into something smaller, stranger, and more personal. The world is ending, but somehow the emotional fallout hits harder than the apocalypse itself. May is the kind of character who makes you want to step into the book, hand her a snack, and tell her she deserves a nap and a break from literally everything. Her situation is awful, and I felt for her immediately.

What really got me was the way she handles Davis. It is a responsibility that would flatten most people, and she still manages to carry it with a grace that made me respect her even more. She is overwhelmed, scared, and doing her best, and the book never makes a joke out of that. It lets her be human, and that softness is what got to me most.

This is a great pick for readers who want an apocalypse story with heart, tension, and a main character who feels painfully real. It is bleak, tender, and a little chaotic in all the right ways.
☆꧁✬◦°˚°◦..◦°˚°◦✬꧂☆

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
If you like:
✔️ emotion driven apocalypse
✔️ quiet character resilience
✔️ caretaker tension
✔️ soft survival stories
✔️ found strength arcs
✔️ end of the world with heart
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

📅 Pub Day: Oct 27, 2026 📚
💌 ARC gifted via NetGalley from Crown Publishing. All opinions are my own.

[George Stull · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

This book has an incredibly intriguing premise. Post apocalypse type event with an autistic 10 year old? Sign me up! It did not disappoint either. If I had to quickly summarize the book, I’d say to imagine the Walking Dead, minus the zombies, and with Carl being autistic. It has the societal elements, where different groups are encountered, some good, some bad, some horrible. It has the relationship dynamics, where you don’t know if you can trust those who you encounter. Some turn out to be good, some bad, some surprisingly great. It also has the general anxiety of recently changed world with the added anxiety of caring for the special needs of an autistic child.

The way the book unfolds sucks you right in. The premise grabs you, then different events and characters occur that keep your interest and has you questioning everything. There are some twists and turns. Some tense moments. Some reflective moments. Overall, it seemed very believable. The ending is not at all what I expected, and I really appreciated how it turned out. It was unique from most stories like this one. I started reading it because I love post apocalypse type books, and I have an autistic daughter. I kept reading because I was genuinely interested in the story.

[Jen Juenke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting take on the post apocalyptic genre. A single mother survives the White Lung with her severely autistic child.
Davis needs routines, familiar items, and his mom May to navigate the world.
What happens when the world ends and they need to leave their shelter?

The book was a fresh look at the difficulties navigating a world with an autistic child, but add in the end of the world and those problems become mountains.

I liked the premise of the book. I did not like the writing. Some of it was very odd. For instance why did the mom, May, call the peoples homes she raided Cathy? Further, there was so many points in the book where things were implied but NOT explained, leaving me wondering what had happened. Often I would re-read the same passage to understand what is going on and still not getting it.
A prime example of this is the first night with Bird and May attacks (?) him? I have no idea.

Overall this is an interesting read but one that needs a bit more polish to fully understand what is going on.

Thank you to the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.

[Sandra The Old Woman in a Van · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Dead Batteries is a unique addition to the post-apocalyptic fiction genre. It was a stressful read for me, though, because the author does a brilliant job describing what it must be like to parent a mostly non-verbal older child with severe autism and OCD. Wow. The urgency of batteries becomes so real. The parenting aspects of the novel seemed much deeper/detailed than the parallel post-apocalyptic elements.



I appreciate the complexity of writing characters that are very difficult to attach to. Davis is a very complicated kid and has many behaviors that make interactions and attachment difficult. Of course, there is one special guy who totally gets it. Right. I liked this for the mom, but it also seemed a stretch.



I think people with experience teaching or parenting a non-verbal neurodivergent child may connect/identify with the characters in this book. Others may find the characters hard to connect with, but readers can learn a lot about the challenges of this situation.



Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ebook ARC in exchange for a review.

[Alyssa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Batteries was recommended to me by my friend. I went in blind, because In Jaida We Trust. But holy hell, I did not expect this book to hit me so hard.

I am an ASD mom, my seven year old has level 1 Autism, ADHD, and epilepsy. He can function, but there are things he struggles with, and there isn’t a day that goes by that I worry about what would happen to him without me. Add that every day fear to the apocalypse. All of his comforts, medicines, and regulation tools, gone. The day to day routine he needs is in the wind. There is no electricity, batteries are a commodity. His meltdowns could mean exposing any safety that was manufactured. It’s truly horrifying to imagine. And Dead Batteries is that reality.

This book gutted me. Even our Mother, May, whose stoic unraveling was like looking in a mirror. Her scalp picking made me feel like I was being recorded, because same. I am an emotional wreck after reading this, my OCD ready to spiral a hole into the floor.

What an incredible read.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a veritable sea of post-apocalyptic novels, Dead Batteries stands out for its unique premise and well drawn characters. Like most parents, I’ve spent time contemplating how I’d weather a disaster with my children in tow. Could we survive the zombie apocalypse? (Not if my four year old had to be quiet.) Maupin builds on this relatable parental anxiety by following May, whose son Davis is autistic with high support needs. Abandoned by her husband prior to the end of the world, she’s used to surviving on her own but attempting to find everyday necessities (the titular batteries) in a post-apocalyptic landscape proves more and more difficult the longer time wears on. An encounter with a stranger offers both opportunity and danger, and the joy of this book is rooting for May to not just survive but thrive. I loved this novel and would recommend it to anyone who’s a fan of dystopian fiction or books featuring strong women.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

[Jessica · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I received this book as a good read giveaway and I am so glad I did. This was not on any of my to read piles and a complete unknown.

Overall I loved the storyline. I do enjoy a good end of the world survival plot. At times I found the mother to be rather insufferable but given the circumstances of her life, it fit. The pacing was quick and kept you engaged. There were enough side quests and characters to keep you as the reader guessing where things were headed next. In the last two chapters, I frustratingly thought the ending was headed in one direction and was prepared to rank a little lower but last 5 pages or so surprised me and gave me an ending that had me ranking up. A cheeky little gift I didn’t see coming.

I would absolutely recommend this book to friends. It has a little bit of something for most genre readers. Not too dark, just enough suspense, and an unexpected ending. Happy reading!

[Reading Xennial · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what an original post apocalyptic book. I am a sucker for this type of book and this one did not disappoint. It’s impossible not to feel for May as she navigates this harsh situation while caring for her son with special needs. It’s difficult for a single parent to do this in the current world, and I can’t imagine having to do this in such a wasteland.

This book had some interesting characters that you got to know very quickly. Some I got strong opinions about straight away, but sometimes you think you know a person and then things change. The writing was also very well done and I had a hard time believing this was a debut.This book was very unique and I highly recommend it if you’re interested in this premise.

Thank you, NetGalley and Crown Publishing for allowing me to read and listen to this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

[reese b · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

The world is over. In this fresh take on dystopia, May is our anxious, determined, mom who will protect Davis at all costs. Her days are the same. Davis. Scavenge. Batteries. She is determined to keep Davis, his gameboy, and herself alive. are there other survivors out there? Should this island family of 2 care?

I really enjoyed this book. Dystopian post apocalyptic novels are not new but I found this such a fresh take on it. May’s perspective was the harsh reality of caring for a neurodivergent kid in a post apocalyptic world. I thought the writing was really well done because I felt everything may felt. When she was terrified my heart was racing. When she was anger I started getting irritated. I really enjoyed this story and loved the ending!

Thank you to Crown and Kate Maupin for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Anytime I read dystopian books where survival is key, I get anxious, and this one is no exception.

May is trying to survive on her own with her Autistic son after a virus wiped out 99.9% of the population. Batteries are a key commodity for survival and for her son’s Game Boy. But when a stranger convinces her to help him join a community, May’s instincts and decision-making are tested.

I almost set this one down a few times, but the farther I got in, the more I needed to know what would happen to May and her son. Plus, the villain(s) weren’t entirely as clear as I thought. I would say be patient with this one.

🎧 I enjoyed both the print and the audiobook narrated by Ellen Adair. But because May tells the story, Ellen’s narration felt more intimate and helped me connect with May.

Thank you | gifted | @crownpublishing and @prhaudio #prhaudiopartner