Last Kids on Earth Books in Order
Zombies are shuffling down Main Street. Giant monsters stomp through the suburbs. And a 13-year-old kid named Jack Sullivan is living his best life in a tricked-out tree house. That is the setup of The Last Kids on Earth, and it has hooked millions of young readers. If your kid just finished book one and is begging for more, you will want the Last Kids on Earth books in order.
The series by Max Brallier, with art by Douglas Holgate, has grown well past its first book. There are ten main novels, a few side adventures, a short story collection, a survival guide, a comic spin-off, and graphic novel versions. This guide sorts it all out so you know exactly what to read next.
What Is The Last Kids on Earth About?
After a monster apocalypse hits the town of Wakefield, Jack Sullivan is left on his own. Instead of panicking, he turns the disaster into an adventure. He builds a fort in a tree house, fights zombies with a homemade weapon, and tracks down his friends.
Jack’s crew includes:
- Quint Baker: Jack’s best friend, a science genius who builds gadgets.
- June Del Toro: A brave, smart girl who can hold her own in any fight.
- Dirk Savage: A former bully who becomes a loyal friend.
- Rover: A huge, friendly monster who acts like a giant dog.
Together, they face zombies, monsters, and much bigger villains who want to bring an evil ruler into their world. The books mix action, jokes, friendship, and lots of illustrations, which makes them a great fit for kids who like Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Dog Man but want more adventure.
Last Kids on Earth Books in Order: The Main Series
Here are the ten main books in order. These carry the main story, so read them first.
- The Last Kids on Earth (2015): Jack builds his tree house, finds his friends, and meets Rover.
- The Last Kids on Earth and the Zombie Parade (2016): The zombies start acting strange, and the crew must find out why.
- The Last Kids on Earth and the Nightmare King (2017)
- The Last Kids on Earth and the Cosmic Beyond (2018)
- The Last Kids on Earth and the Midnight Blade (2019)
- The Last Kids on Earth and the Skeleton Road (2020)
- The Last Kids on Earth and the Doomsday Race (2021)
- The Last Kids on Earth and the Forbidden Fortress (2022)
- The Last Kids on Earth and the Monster Dimension (2023)
- The Last Kids on Earth and the Destructor’s Lair (2025)
Each book raises the stakes. The crew learns more about where the monsters came from, faces bigger villains, and travels farther from home. Jack’s weapon, his friendships, and his role as a leader all grow along the way. The Destructor’s Lair is the newest main book.
The Side Adventures
Brallier also wrote side books that focus on other members of the crew. They fit between the main books, and many fans read them in release order.
| Side Book | Year | Read After |
|---|---|---|
| June’s Wild Flight | 2020 | Book 5, The Midnight Blade |
| Thrilling Tales from the Tree House | 2021 | Book 6, The Skeleton Road |
| Quint and Dirk’s Hero Quest | 2022 | Book 7, The Doomsday Race |
June’s Wild Flight
June gets her own adventure, told from her point of view. It is a great book for readers who want more of June’s side of the story and a closer look at what makes her so tough.
Thrilling Tales from the Tree House
This is a collection of short stories set in Jack’s world. It is fun, quick, and optional.
Quint and Dirk’s Hero Quest
Quint and Dirk team up for a mission of their own. It shows how two very different friends work together.
Full Reading Order With Side Books
If you want to read every Last Kids on Earth book in the order it came out, here is the complete list:
- The Last Kids on Earth (2015)
- The Zombie Parade (2016)
- The Nightmare King (2017)
- The Cosmic Beyond (2018)
- The Midnight Blade (2019)
- June’s Wild Flight (2020)
- The Skeleton Road (2020)
- Thrilling Tales from the Tree House (2021)
- The Doomsday Race (2021)
- Quint and Dirk’s Hero Quest (2022)
- The Forbidden Fortress (2022)
- The Monster Dimension (2023)
- The Destructor’s Lair (2025)
Companion Books and Spin-Offs
The Last Kids on Earth Survival Guide (2019)
This is a fun guidebook written as if Jack made it himself. It covers monsters, weapons, and tips for surviving the apocalypse. It is not part of the story, but kids who love the world will enjoy flipping through it.
The Last Comics on Earth
This spin-off is a comic book series. In the story, Jack and his friends make their own comics, so the books feel like something the crew drew themselves.
- The Last Comics on Earth (2023)
- Too Many Villains! (2024)
- A Song of Swords and Stuffies (2025)
- Across the Doodleverse (2026)
These are great for reluctant readers who prefer comics over chapter books.
Graphic Novel Versions
The main books are also being turned into full graphic novels:
- The Last Kids on Earth: The Graphic Novel (2024)
- The Last Kids on Earth and the Zombie Parade: The Graphic Novel (2026)
These retell the same story in comic form, so they are a nice way to revisit the series or hook a kid who finds long chapter books tough.
The Last Kids on Earth on Netflix
The series became an animated show on Netflix in 2019. It adapts the early books and follows Jack, Quint, June, Dirk, and Rover as they fight monsters in Wakefield. Netflix also released an interactive special called The Last Kids on Earth: Happy Apocalypse to You, where viewers pick what happens next.
Kids who loved the show often go on to read the books, and the books go much further than the show does.
What Age Are the Books For?
The Last Kids on Earth books are written for readers around ages 8 to 12. The mix of text and pictures helps younger readers, while the action and humor keep older kids hooked.
Parents should know the books include cartoon-style monster violence and gross-out humor, but nothing graphic. The friendships and themes of courage and loyalty are strong points for young readers.
Do You Need to Read Them in Order?
Yes. The main story builds from book to book, and each one ends with a twist or cliffhanger that leads into the next. The side books are more flexible, but they make the most sense after the main book listed above.
The comics and graphic novels can be read anytime, though kids will enjoy them more once they know the characters.
Common Questions About the Last Kids on Earth Books in Order
How many Last Kids on Earth books are there? There are ten main books, three side adventures, a survival guide, four comic spin-off books, and graphic novel versions.
Who illustrates the series? Douglas Holgate creates the art for the main books.
Is the series finished? The Destructor’s Lair (2025) is the newest main book. Check the publisher’s page for news on what comes next.
What should my kid read after this series? Try Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior, Dog Man, or Brallier’s other series, Mister Shivers and Galactic Hot Dogs.
Tips for Parents and Readers
- Start with book one. It sets up the world and the characters perfectly.
- Use the comics to bridge gaps. If your child loses interest, the comic spin-off can spark it again.
- Watch the show together. It is a fun way to share the series as a family.
- Read aloud. The humor lands even better when shared.
Keeping Track at Home
A simple checklist on the fridge or in a reading journal helps young readers track the Last Kids on Earth books in order. Kids love checking off each book as they move through the Last Kids on Earth books in order, and it gives them a clear goal for the next library trip. You can also use the side books and comics as rewards between main books. A printed list of the Last Kids on Earth books in order makes a fun bookmark too.
Final Thoughts
The Last Kids on Earth books in order begin with Jack’s tree house in 2015 and run through The Destructor’s Lair in 2025, with side stories and comics along the way. Read the ten main books first, slot in the side adventures, and enjoy the comics anytime. Keep this list of Last Kids on Earth books in order nearby, and your young reader will always know what comes next.
Key Takeaways
- The Last Kids on Earth series by Max Brallier has ten main books, from 2015 to 2025.
- The newest main book is The Last Kids on Earth and the Destructor’s Lair (2025).
- Side books include June’s Wild Flight, Thrilling Tales from the Tree House, and Quint and Dirk’s Hero Quest.
- The Last Comics on Earth spin-off has four books, with Across the Doodleverse arriving in 2026.
- Graphic novel versions of the first two books came out in 2024 and 2026.
- Douglas Holgate illustrates the main series.
- The series became a Netflix animated show in 2019, plus an interactive special.
- The books are best for ages 8 to 12 and should be read in order.