"In the second installment of The Darkest Minds trilogy, Ruby joins forces with the revolutionary Children's League to find critical information about the epidemic that has torn both her life and America apart"--

Like everyone else, twelve-year-old Cleo and her parents are sealed in an apartment without windows or doors. They never leave. They never get visitors. Their food is dropped off by drones. So they're safe. Safe from the disease that nearly wiped humans from the earth. Safe from everything. The trade-off? They're alone. Thus, when they receive a package clearly meant for someone else--a package containing a substance critical for a stranger's survival--Cleo...

When the lethal plague known as the Scourge returns to Keldan the victims are sent to Attic Island, and Ani Mells of the River People is among them--but Ani does not feel sick, and with the help of her best friend, Weevil, she sets out to uncover the truth of what is happening, and expose the lies the people of Keldan have been told.

"The Extraordinary Pause is a keepsake testament of the pandemic of 2020-2021 and a tribute to the simple and remarkable efforts people made in the face of the unexpected and unknown. Whether reflecting on what was lost or gained, you'll find this book is a wonderful tool for discussing the physical, mental, and emotional impact of this extraordinary event."--Back cover.

A deadly, mysterious epidemic is sweeping the country, and young kidnap victim Callie is one of the few who survived infection, only to be sacrificed by her captors at a secret lab working with antimatter; her older brother Kai is desperate to find out what happened to her--his best hope lies with Shay, the girl who last saw Callie alive, and together they will seek answers, even if it means evading soldiers and crossing the quarantine zone.