The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley

Ann and Peter Brooks have been separated for a year when the virus H5N1 arrives in their hometown of Columbus, Ohio. In fact, the bird flu has traveled to the United States from Asia and has a mortality rate near 50%. Soon, the schools are closed and everyone is encouraged to stay in their homes and not make contact with anyone outside of their immediate family in order to stop the spread of the flu. Peter, a professor specializing in avian viruses, and his graduate assistant, Shazia, move in with Ann and their two daughters aged 8 and 13. Their primary concerns are food, staying healthy and keeping warm in the winter weather after the power goes out. It becomes clear that the government is not able to provide help and that everyone is on their own. Tensions are high because of the situation, but Ann and Peter's impending divorce and the need to keep the girls busy (and shielding them from the gravity of what's occurring) lead Ann to become stronger and resourceful. The Things That Keep Us Here is a different kind of page turner--focusing on family issues and relationships, but impossible to put down because of the event the family has to face. For readers of Jodi Picoult.