"Countdown" was a Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of the Year, 2010; an Amazon's Best Books of the Year (2010), Top Ten Middle Grade Books; a Booklist Editor’s Choice for 2010; a Book Links Lasting Connection of 2010; a Best Books of 2010, The Christian Science Monitor, and an ALA Notable Book..It received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly.