Set reading for 80s 'O' level English?

[purpose]

Around 1984ish I read a book which I think was part of the CSE/O level English syllabus as I read it at school. I only THINK it was a set book as no one I have asked about it since has any recollection of it (perhaps just different exam. boards?)

 

Anyway, it scared me but I would love to read it again now I am older (and wiser?) but can't remember the title.

 

It was written in diary form by (I believe) a girl who woke up one day to find that the home she knew had been devastated. There were no people, no houses, nothing - it was as if a bomb had been dropped and she was the only survivor. I'm not sure if she knew this had happened, or whether she was unaware of the reason for the sudden total loss of everyone/thing she knew etc.

 

At some point she meets up with someone - a man? - another survivor and I think they travel together. Not sure about that.

 

The book was about how she coped through this period and it was my 'introduction' to nuclear war. Sounds like a tough read for a kid, but was very interesting!

 

Can anyone help with the title, please?

[Golem]

Could it be Brother in the Land by Robert Swindells?

This won a children's book award in 1984 and is used in some English classes, but the main character is a boy named Danny and his brother Ben who have survived a nuclear war. It's set in Yorkshire and has become a classic 'anti-war' novel that continues to make an impact on those who read it. It's easily available from most bookshops.

[tubeway]

Now I left school in 1978 - and do remember reading a book that sounded similar to this - its a long time ago and I have not read it since 1977 but could it be the Crysalids by John Wyndham - excuse the spelling it is probably wrong

[brachiopod]

Think it may be "Z for Zachariah" by Robert O'Brien.

A girl survives alone in the protected valley in which her parents' farm survives intact. From what I remember, she seems not quite aware of the full extent of the nuclear devastation that has occurred outside her world, and unsure as to why her parents and brother haven't returned from their journey to the big town.

One day, a man (a scientist clad in a radiation suit) arrives in the valley, and a complex, sometimes hostile relationship developes between the two of them.

It's written in diary style too.

[KebabMeister]

Brachiopod, is that the one where the scientist has equipment for testing water for radiation?  He checks the spring water and it's clear, but then bathes/drinks water from another area that he assumed was the same as the one that was clear.  It turned out it was different water and he got radiation sickness?

I read that at school, mid/late 80s plus I saw the BBC adaption of it too.

[brachiopod]

Yep, that's the one. I've got a copy of it somewhere on my bookshelves.

[purpose]

Thankyou soooooooooooooo much brachiopod!!!!!!

 

As soon as I saw the title, I recognized it. You have no idea how excited i am... have just been to Amazon... still buzzing with total happiness... for YEARS I have been puzzling over this - I CAN'T WAIT TO READ IT AGAIN!

 

Thanks, too, to Golem - I shall also check this book out as I like the sound of it. And to tubeway who reminded me of The Chrysalids - an EXCELLENT book which I also read at school. Another one to get. KebabMeister - I hope the BBC adaptation wasn't as scary as the book.

 

Thanks guys!

 

 

[KebabMeister]

purpose -

I can't remember to be honest.  I saw the BBC adaption first and then read the book at school some years later.  During reading the book I thought "hey, I've seen this..." and it really helped to visualise it easier!

[mycatis]

Yeah I loved Z for Zachariah , I read it when I was about 10 and going through a faze of being interested in nuclear war, (that stopped cause I got really scared about it all) I also loved the "fire brats" series though not as scary

[purpose]

Oh, KebabMeister... you're just teasing me with all this talk of a BBC adaptation!

 

Anyone know where I can get hold of it...? Lol... only kidding.