On a remote Scottish island, five children are the only ones left. Since the Last Adult died, sensible Elizabeth has been the group leader, testing for a radio signal, playing teacher and keeping an eye on Alex, the littlest, whose insulin can only last so long. There is ‘shopping’ to do in the houses they haven’t yet searched and wrong smells to avoid. For eight-year-old Rona each day brings fresh hope that someone will come back for them, tempered by the reality of their dwindling supplies. With no adults to rebel against, squabbles threaten the fragile family they have formed. And when brothers Calum Ian and Duncan attempt to thwart Elizabeth’s leadership, it prompts a chain of events that will endanger Alex’s life and test them all in unimaginable ways. Regular readers of The Eloquent Page are no doubt well aware that I read a lot of apocalyptic fiction. I make little effort to hide the fact that it is my favourite sub-genre of fiction. I’m always on the look for a fresh new interpretation of the end of the world. As soon as I read the blurb for The Last of Us, I knew it was going to be...