March 5, 2018
Module 8: Fantasy & Science Fiction
Title: Life As We Knew It (Last Survivors #1) by Susan Beth Pfeffer
When a meteor hits the moon and knocks it out of its orbit and closer to the earth, Miranda's life is changed in an instant. How does she prepare for a future when tsunamis and earthquakes are destroying the earth as she knows it. As summer turns into an Arctic winter, Miranda and her family must find a way to survive. As told through Miranda's journal entries, the story tells of the struggle of a family trying to survive and to hang on to hope in this new normal.
Z for Zachariah by Robert C. O'Brien
Title: Life As We Knew It (Last Survivors #1) by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Genre: Science Fiction/Young Adult
Book Summary:
When a meteor hits the moon and knocks it out of its orbit and closer to the earth, Miranda's life is changed in an instant. How does she prepare for a future when tsunamis and earthquakes are destroying the earth as she knows it. As summer turns into an Arctic winter, Miranda and her family must find a way to survive. As told through Miranda's journal entries, the story tells of the struggle of a family trying to survive and to hang on to hope in this new normal.
APA Reference of Book:
Pfeffer, S. (2008). Life As We Knew It. Orlando, FL: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Impression:
This was a story that had all of the feels: desperation, hope, loss of hope, sadness, among others. I liked how it was told through journal form. The writing grabbed me from the start and made me believe that something like this could really happen! I wanted to start stockpiling as soon as I could. The character of Miranda has to grow up very fast. She starts out as the typical whiny teenager, only worrying about being with her friends and changes quickly into a leader, one who takes charge and leads the way towards survival.
This was a story that had all of the feels: desperation, hope, loss of hope, sadness, among others. I liked how it was told through journal form. The writing grabbed me from the start and made me believe that something like this could really happen! I wanted to start stockpiling as soon as I could. The character of Miranda has to grow up very fast. She starts out as the typical whiny teenager, only worrying about being with her friends and changes quickly into a leader, one who takes charge and leads the way towards survival.
Professional Review:
Sixteen-year-old Miranda begins a daily ten-month diary documenting the survival ordeal her rural Pennsylvania family endures when a large meteor’s collision with the moon brings on destruction of the modern world and all its technological conveniences. The change in the moon’s gravitational pull begins to cause natural havoc around the globe in the form of catastrophic tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes and other weather-related disasters. Miranda’s American teen view gradually alters as personal security, physical strength and health become priorities. Pfeffer paints a gruesome and often depressing drama as conditions become increasingly difficult and dangerous with the dwindling of public and private services. Miranda’s daily litany of cutting firewood, rationing canned meals, short tempers flaring in a one-room confinement is offset by lots of heart-to-heart talks about life and its true significance with her mother, older brother and religiously devout best friend. Death is a constant threat, and Pfeffer instills despair right to the end but is cognizant to provide a ray of hope with a promising conclusion. Plausible science fiction with a frighteningly realistic reminder of recent tragedies here and abroad. (Fiction. YA)
IT, L., Pfeffer, S., & REVIEW, K. (2018). LIFE AS WE KNEW IT by Susan Beth Pfeffer | Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 20 March 2018, from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/susan-beth-pfeffer/life-as-we-knew-it/
IT, L., Pfeffer, S., & REVIEW, K. (2018). LIFE AS WE KNEW IT by Susan Beth Pfeffer | Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 20 March 2018, from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/susan-beth-pfeffer/life-as-we-knew-it/
Library Use:
Read alikes:
For readers interested in survival stories due to world disasters or apocalypses, each of these novels fit the bill.
Ashfall Series by Mike Mullins
Ashes, Ashes (Ashes, Ashes #1) by Jo TreggiariZ for Zachariah by Robert C. O'Brien
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