Can anyone remember this dystopian book?

[FedUpToTheBackTooth]

I am hoping someone might remember this book. It was a book I borrowed from my secondary school library in the mid 90s but the book was probably older than that. It is set in London (I think) and there is an illness that makes people age rapidly and die. The main character is a little boy that seems to be immune. His Mum and little sister die I think.

Sorry, I know that isn’t much to go on!

Thanks.

It's the Children of Men, by PD James. It was made into a film.

But they weren't aging rapidly - it was infertility causing humans to die out.

Frost and Fire (short story) by Ray Bradbury ?

I don’t think it’s children on men, sounds like a different story!

Thanks for the suggestion. It isn’t that one though. This one definitely was a disease that made people age.

The Ray Bradbury story sounds good but this book was set in 1970s/80s Britain. Thanks for the suggestions.

The Aging, Jack Hunt ?

I think we read this in English class mid 80's. The disease was called the Calcutta plague. The boy eventually met a girl and they had a baby.
Sorry but I can't recall the name of the book though.

Empty world

Empty World

Sounds like Empty World by John Christopher. I loved his books. There was quite a scary 3 some dynamic I seem to recall as the teenagers were growing up.

I hardly ever know the answer to these questions, but this was one of my favourite books when I was a teenager! Even without looking it up, I can remember that he lived in Winchester, with his grandparents. Ended up in London.

And there were 2 girls who, during a worldwide pandemic were more interested in trying on nail polish than in surviving (that part always made me go )

I think you might be right www.fantasticfiction.com/h/jack-hunt/aging.htm

Yes! That is it. Thank you. I had got some of the details wrong but it is definitely Empty World!

Haha thanks for this thread, this sounds like the next book on my reading list 😁

Plague 99?

Yay! Happy ending.

I'm so pleased you started this thread as it has brought back so many happy memories. I read Empty World for the first time on holiday in Florida and didn't even look out the window as we drove over these amazing bridges in the Keys as I was so hooked. I also loved the Tripods and the Burning Lands books with Will from Winchester. My favourite genre is post apocalyptic still, over 30 years later!

Haven’t heard of this but will be having a look for it thanks

Yes, that's what came to mind for me, too.

Adding to my reading list :)

I’ve still got Empty World on my bookshelf. Along side the Prince in waiting trilogy by the same author. And brother in the land and Z for Zachariah too.