Book excerpt: Marlene Sales wants what all mothers want—for her children to be safe, healthy, and happy. That can be a tough order to fill even in the best of times, but like any good mother, Marlene does her best to be prepared for the worst. If her husband loses his job, her car breaks down, or the pipe under the sink bursts, it’s no problem because Marlene has a plan. However, she didn’t plan for the apocalypse. When a massive solar storm wipes out all the electronics on the planet, what follows is a complete breakdown of all communication systems. Violent fires and riots tear cities to pieces, while those who can’t evacuate huddle together in refugee camps. Marlene and her family find shelter with a squad of Army Corps Engineers who are working to repair a radio tower and restore power. While these soldiers are focused on getting the lights back on, Marlene has other priorities. She’s focused on dinner, bath time, and buying diapers. It might be the apocalypse, but this mom has a job to do: raising her kids right at the end of the world.