Post-Apocalypse

The post-apocalyptic world forms an important theme in the novel “The Country of Ice Cream Star” by Sandra Newman. A post-apocalyptic world is seen as a world that has been plagued by a disaster or catastrophe, manmade or natural, which leads to widespread death and destruction. The events often lead to a dystopian existence (see the theme “Dystopianism”). The survivors or their descendants are now living in the aftermath. The Country of Ice Cream Star is one such post-apocalyptic world.

At some point eighty years before the events of the novel, the United States was stricken by the WAKS virus, commonly known as “posies.” Knowledge about the disease and its origin are unknown to Ice and her people decades later. The disease outbreak led to mass evacuations. Those already contaminated or unable to leave were left behind. Most of those who fled went either to Europe...