Dystopian · Literary
The Road
A father and his young son push a shopping cart south across an ash-covered America, after an unnamed disaster has killed almost everything. They scavenge for food and hide from other survivors, who are mostly dangerous.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 2006
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 287
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you want a spare, devastating story about love between a parent and child in the worst of worlds.
Skip this if you want hope or explanation, since the book is relentlessly bleak and gives little backstory.
The feel
Content warnings
Also reported by Hardcover readers:
Quick answers about The Road
- What is The Road about?
- A father and his young son push a shopping cart south across an ash-covered America, after an unnamed disaster has killed almost everything. They scavenge for food and hide from other survivors, who are mostly dangerous.
- Who should read The Road?
- Read it if you want a spare, devastating story about love between a parent and child in the worst of worlds. Skip it if you want hope or explanation, since the book is relentlessly bleak and gives little backstory.
- How long and how fast is The Road?
- It is a slow-paced, short read of about 287 pages, first published in 2006.
- Does The Road have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Violence, Death, Gore.
- Can I borrow The Road for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends The Road; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after The Road?
- Readers who liked it often move on to Station Eleven, Parable of the Sower.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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