Dead Batteries: A Novel

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.

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: Adult, Science Fiction

288 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication 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

[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!

[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.

[Michelle Lott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found myself sobbing more than once. Kate Maupin absolutely delivered.

As a mother of a child with sensory processing disorder, this one hit close to home. Ironically, my child had a full meltdown over a toy car battery dying while I was in the middle of the first chapter. It was funny in the moment, but it also put a lot into perspective. I can’t even begin to imagine navigating motherhood in a true apocalyptic world-especially alone.

This story is layered with self-discovery, resilience, and the kind of unexpected friendship (and romance) that sneaks up on you in the best way. It felt raw, honest, and deeply human.

I would absolutely recommend this one.
Thank you to Kate Maupin, NetGalley, and Crown Publishing for the ARC.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

Thanks to Kate Maupin, Crown Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel. I enjoy post-apocalyptic fiction, and in particular I liked that this novel had an original premise, with a mom surviving a pandemic with her neurodivergent son. Overall, this kept my attention and as the novel progressed I was invested in finding out how it would end. I think there were some weak spots — some things that were confusing, not sufficiently explained, or too off-stage to really understand — but still this kept me reading and so I am rounding it up.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC. I love post-apocalypse fiction and we don't get enough of this genre in the publishing world. This one didn't quite fully hit the mark for me for a couple of reasons. The pacing was too slow. It wasn't until the last 10-15% where it picked up. There was missed opportunity to explain more about the virus and survival which PA fiction readers crave. As a mother, I appreciate May's determination to protect her son, yet I could not really connect to her emotionally.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Dead Batteries, from the beginning to the end and all points in between. I don’t want to reveal anything; when the book is released in October, set aside at least one day for the reading of the book. It took me two days because of work, but this is a story you do not want to miss. A hard life is made even harder for a single mother with a neurodivergent child when world systems collapse. That’s all I can say to prepare you for a most amazing novel.

[Soledad · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good post-apocalyptic read. With a mother who already lived an isolated world struggling to take care of her child's needs after the world is gone. What do you do when routine gets thrown out? Thank you to Netgalley and Crown publishing for the eARC!

[✩｡°⋆ Lala ⋆｡°✩ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review coming soon!