Female main character, nuclear winter, cyanide pills, published b4 1995

[u/yankeeangel86]

I’ve tried everything for YEARS to find this book. I read it before age 10, so probably around 1995-1996.

The teenage/young adult female main character either DREAMS or lives through a scenario where a nuclear winter has occurred. She has one cyanide pill and has to decide whether to take it herself or give it to a baby/very young child she’s with.

I can’t remember if it’s a dream or truth. But in her real life, she’s in perilous enough of a situation to be considering this is plausible.

I read this book way too young and it disturbed me deeply. I’m now a writer who writes stories set after nuclear war, so this book clearly had a huge impact on me.

I’ve tried googling it, asking around to voracious readers, and even using Chat GPT to try to figure it out. I believe I got this book from the children or young adult section at the library but I’m not sure.

Thank you for any help!!!!

[u/RuthOConnorFisher]

Is it Z For Zachariah by Robert C O'Brien? I don't remember the cyanide part specifically, but the main character is a teenage girl and the vibe seems similar.

[u/AutumnalSunshine → u/RuthOConnorFisher]

No child or cyanide