Downwind

by Louise Moeri

Meltdown. The newscasters insist it’s only a possibility, but it sparks panic and chaos in the valley 30 miles downwind, where 12 year old Ephraim lives with his family. If there really is a meltdown, the entire valley will be blanketed with radiation, and the people are stampeding to get out , now. But escape seems impossible. There is no evacuation plan, and the highways are jammed with fleeing people, and the panicky mobs are becoming violent. When Ephraim’s little sister is injured, with no help nearby, things look hopeless. Can this fragile family reach the hills in time?

121 pages, Hardcover

First published May 21, 1984

Reviews

[SL Reads and Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

So different than I remembered! Like—in my mind, the mom was away: at work, at risk. In reality, the mom was right there, freaking out, making terrible choices, and not parenting. Fascinating.