A top "post apocalyptic" fiction.

I've read it several times myself.

from my older brother's bookshelf and couldn't put it down. I did a book report on it in 7th grade. I'm 70 now and can still remember and recommend it. It kind of shaped my geekiness. Having lived, worked and raised a family in the Bay area, I felt I was in Isherwood's neighborhood all the while. Great story, a good primer for young readers and a fine story in general. It does seem appropriate for today.

but if you keep in mind that it came out in 1949, you'll be able to account for that. Which actually makes the book very interesting all these years later. The technology of the late 1940s was vastly simpler than what we have now, which might actually make surviving such an epidemic (not a plot spoiler that a nasty disease kills almost anyone) much easier than now, when we are far more dependent of sophisticated electronics.

I would certainly recommend it to anyone even remotely interested.