Title: Life as We Knew ItAuthor: Susan Beth Pfeffer
Publication: October 1, 2006
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Source: Library
Genre: Young
Adult
Audience: 12 and up
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Told in journal entries, this is the heart-pounding story of Miranda’s struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all--hope--in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world.
My Thoughts: This was a very emotional one for me. It's just sad to thing about your whole world changing so drastically. Miranda mother has the incite to get as much nonperishable food as her car will hold, while there is still food available. Miranda does spend a lot of time talking about food, rather the lack of food. She also spend a good amount of time fantisizing about her unborn half sibling, that she calls baby Rachel. I don't know what I would do in a situation like this but it makes me want to have a year supply of food at my house. Through all of this Miranda becomes the glue that holds her family together. I don't think any of them would have ever realized how strong each of them are unless this happened. This could have definately been a standalone, but I'm glad that it was continued as a series. I wanted to know more about what happened to Miranda's family and how her father ends up. This a great story and I'm praying that the publisher accepts the authors latest edition to the series.
Summary
Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove.
Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove.
Told in journal entries, this is the heart-pounding story of Miranda’s struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all--hope--in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world.
My Thoughts: This was a very emotional one for me. It's just sad to thing about your whole world changing so drastically. Miranda mother has the incite to get as much nonperishable food as her car will hold, while there is still food available. Miranda does spend a lot of time talking about food, rather the lack of food. She also spend a good amount of time fantisizing about her unborn half sibling, that she calls baby Rachel. I don't know what I would do in a situation like this but it makes me want to have a year supply of food at my house. Through all of this Miranda becomes the glue that holds her family together. I don't think any of them would have ever realized how strong each of them are unless this happened. This could have definately been a standalone, but I'm glad that it was continued as a series. I wanted to know more about what happened to Miranda's family and how her father ends up. This a great story and I'm praying that the publisher accepts the authors latest edition to the series.
Title: The Dead & The GoneAuthor: Susan Beth Pfeffer
Publication: June 1, 2008
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult
Audience: 12 and up
Website|Amazon |Goodreads
With haunting themes of family, faith, personal change, and courage, this powerful new novel explores how a young man takes on unimaginable responsibilities.
My Thoughts: This is Alex's story. It is told from his point of during the same time as Miranda's story. Alex's is more heartbreaking to me. His parents aren't there to support him and he is forced to become an adult. Alex is also forced to do some unthinkable things to feed his family, it's not anything I wouldn't do to feed my family. Unlike Miranda no preparations were made after the meteor hits. Alex spends a lot of time thinking about his brother, Carlos, who is in the military and what safe places he can get his sisters too. I felt like Alex's story and Miranda's story would have be better if they were told in one book. It's just emotionally draining to get both of their tragic stories piecemeal.
Summary
Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life as We Knew It enthralled and devastated readers with its brutal but hopeful look at an apocalyptic event--an asteroid hitting the moon, setting off a tailspin of horrific climate changes. Now this harrowing companion novel examines the same events as they unfold in New York City, revealed through the eyes of seventeen-year-old Puerto Rican Alex Morales. When Alex's parents disappear in the aftermath of tidal waves, he must care for his two younger sisters, even as Manhattan becomes a deadly wasteland, and food and aid dwindle.With haunting themes of family, faith, personal change, and courage, this powerful new novel explores how a young man takes on unimaginable responsibilities.
My Thoughts: This is Alex's story. It is told from his point of during the same time as Miranda's story. Alex's is more heartbreaking to me. His parents aren't there to support him and he is forced to become an adult. Alex is also forced to do some unthinkable things to feed his family, it's not anything I wouldn't do to feed my family. Unlike Miranda no preparations were made after the meteor hits. Alex spends a lot of time thinking about his brother, Carlos, who is in the military and what safe places he can get his sisters too. I felt like Alex's story and Miranda's story would have be better if they were told in one book. It's just emotionally draining to get both of their tragic stories piecemeal.
Title: This World We Live InAuthor: Susan Beth Pfeffer
Publication: April 1, 2010
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult
Audience: 12 and up
Website|Amazon |Goodreads
The struggle to survive intensifies when Miranda’s father and stepmother arrive with a baby and three strangers in tow. One of the newcomers is Alex Morales, and as Miranda’s complicated feelings for him turn to love, his plans for his future thwart their relationship. Then a devastating tornado hits the town of Howell, and Miranda makes a decision that will change their lives forever.
My Thoughts: I was excited when i started listing to this. It explains what happens to Miranda's dad, when he shows up at the door, and it Alex is there to. Miranda and her family have torn emotions when 6 more mouths to feed show up at their door. Not to mention that when Miranda's older brother goes fishing for a few days he comes back with a wife, so it's actually 7 additional mouths to feed. It doesn't take long to see that Miranda and Alex have a budding relationship. Alex remains secretive and continues to be on a mission to find some where safe for his sister to go. Alex and Miranda prove to be a great team when it come to locating food. This World We Live in has more action that the other two books and seems to move at a faster pace. This a great series and I'm praying that the publisher accepts the author's latest edition to the book. I have lots of questions that need to be answered and that can only be done with another book. I hope you get a chance to check these out and when you do that you enjoy them as much as I did.
Summary
It’s been a year since a meteor collided with the moon, catastrophically altering the earth’s climate. For Miranda Evans, life as she knew it no longer exists. Her friends and neighbors are dead, the landscape is frozen, and food is increasingly scarce.The struggle to survive intensifies when Miranda’s father and stepmother arrive with a baby and three strangers in tow. One of the newcomers is Alex Morales, and as Miranda’s complicated feelings for him turn to love, his plans for his future thwart their relationship. Then a devastating tornado hits the town of Howell, and Miranda makes a decision that will change their lives forever.
My Thoughts: I was excited when i started listing to this. It explains what happens to Miranda's dad, when he shows up at the door, and it Alex is there to. Miranda and her family have torn emotions when 6 more mouths to feed show up at their door. Not to mention that when Miranda's older brother goes fishing for a few days he comes back with a wife, so it's actually 7 additional mouths to feed. It doesn't take long to see that Miranda and Alex have a budding relationship. Alex remains secretive and continues to be on a mission to find some where safe for his sister to go. Alex and Miranda prove to be a great team when it come to locating food. This World We Live in has more action that the other two books and seems to move at a faster pace. This a great series and I'm praying that the publisher accepts the author's latest edition to the book. I have lots of questions that need to be answered and that can only be done with another book. I hope you get a chance to check these out and when you do that you enjoy them as much as I did.
The first one got on my nerves but since you like it, I may attempt to finish them.
ReplyDeleteIt gets better. I would say skip the second one but it is necessary to get to know Alex and his family. He doesn't complain as much and his issues seem more pressing than Miranda's but the Third book is great.
Deleteoh, alright
DeleteYou read the saddest books. I could not read this. Post- nuclear/apocalyptic/ severe natural disaster books really freak me out. Just because there is a very real chance something like this could happen at any moment.
ReplyDeleteI remember in middle school I had to do an English project with the first book, Life As We Knew It. It felt like a really long time ago, but it was probably like a few years ago. I liked this book. It was really powerful. At the time, it scared me, with the whole end-of-the-world thing. That's not something I was thinking about at the time. But this book was really well written, and made the end of the world seem real. I agree with you: this book will stay with me for a long time. I didn't read the rest of the books that follow this one, but it doesn't matter, because this book had a great impact on me. I never read the rest of the series though, because the first book was so... sad. I know, it's a horrible excuse. But it's true. I never got to read about Alex! I probably should go read this series. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteAlyssa Susanna
You should read the other books. You have an advantage reading them now because you know going into it how sad it will be.
Delete