Z for Zachariah facts for kids
Puffin Teenage Fiction cover
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| Author | Robert C. O'Brien |
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| Cover artist | Larry Rostant |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children, science fiction |
| Published | 1974 (Atheneum Books) |
| Media type | Hardback, paperback, e-book |
| Pages | 192 (276 in hardback version) |
| ISBN | 978-1-4169-3921-4 (paperback) |
Z for Zachariah is a science fiction book about a world after a big disaster. It was written by Robert C. O'Brien and came out in 1974, after he had passed away. Robert C. O'Brien was the pen name for Robert Leslie Conly. After he died in 1973, his wife Sally M. Conly and daughter Jane Leslie Conly finished the book using his notes.
The story takes place in the United States. It is told like a diary by a sixteen-year-old girl named Ann Burden. She is the only one left in her small valley after a nuclear war and a nerve gas attack. Her valley was safe because it had its own special weather system.
Contents
About the Story
The book is written from Ann's point of view. She writes about her daily life and feelings. She thinks she is the only person left alive. Ann lives alone in her valley, growing food and taking care of her farm.
One day, a man wearing a special suit arrives in the valley. His name is John Loomis. He is a scientist who survived the war. Ann is at first happy to see another person. But soon, she starts to feel uneasy about him.
A New Arrival
Loomis brings new challenges and dangers to Ann's peaceful life. He has a special suit that protects him from the outside world. He also has a machine that can test for radiation. Ann learns more about the world outside her valley from him.
Loomis gets sick after swimming in a contaminated stream. Ann helps him get better. During this time, she learns more about him. She starts to see that he might not be as kind as she first thought.
Struggles and Decisions
As Loomis recovers, he tries to take control of the valley. He wants to use Ann's resources for his own plans. Ann feels trapped and scared. She has to make difficult choices to protect herself and her home. The story explores themes of trust, survival, and what it means to be human when everything is lost.
Other Versions of the Story
Soon after the book was published, it was printed in parts in a UK magazine called Jackie.
TV and Movie Adaptations
In February 1984, the BBC made a film version for its Play for Today TV series. In this version, the story was set in Wales instead of America.
A movie called Z for Zachariah came out in 2015. This film changed some parts of the book's story. It added a third character, which created a love triangle. The movie stars Margot Robbie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Chris Pine. Craig Zobel directed the film. Filming happened in New Zealand and in a town called Welch, West Virginia.
