Rating;
Paperback: 352 pages Publisher: Marion Lloyd Books (5 Mar 2007) Genre: Young Adult Source: Library
My Thoughts - I read Life as we knew it some years back. I was Miranda's age when I first read it, I was fifteen. At that time of my life I was into the whole younger teen novel phase, with mushy plots, and shy girls, and first kisses, that sort of thing... hey we all go through it :)
So, when my fifteen year old self picked this book up from that moment I knew there was this whole other world of books out there that needed exploring, and I was blown away. Years later I knew it was time to re - read this amazing novel and finally review it.
It's an average day for fifteen year old Miranda living in the wonders of Pennsylvania, until reports arrive that a asteroid is going to collide with the moon, if anything though, everyone gets their chairs, barbecue and popcorn ready in wait for the special night, all are filled with smiles until the collision occurs and everyone realises that something is very very wrong. The smiles are long gone. Soon reports come in that the collision has caused, Earthquakes, Tsunami, epidemics and many more disasters.
The story follows the struggle of Miranda's family who are struggling to survive like many others. Up until now she has been facing your average teen problems, friends that are changing and drifting away, family and misunderstandings, and even a first crush. I found it so touching to see Miranda find it within her to feel for Dan after all the destruction that surrounded them it was almost bitter sweet.
Life as we Knew it, shows the reality that could possibly be if such a fate ever befell us. There is no sight of a team effort in this situation everyone is in it for themselves and only the strongest will survive. Religion is mentioned briefly when it comes to Miranda's friend Megan, and in this case it's not particularly seen as a positive thing since her faith destroys her, with all the chaos people have lost faith and prayers are long gone.
Although I had my issues with Miranda at first, due to her being quite immature which frustrated me at times, I realised when I noticed this new-found change in her later on in the book that the author may have done this on purpose for us readers to see and acknowledge how much she had grown. I did and it was saddening because you feel it, that she grew up to fast and that is unfortunate.
Her father is no help as his girlfriend Lisa is pregnant and they are to busy seeking their own salvation. Never did Miranda imagine she would be the one doing the saving, but before she knows it, her families lives are resting on her shoulders, its up to her now to save her weak mother, and older brother Matt.
A fifteen year old girl will have to push unbelievable boundaries and test unimaginable limits to the point, where even death itself isn't such a scary thought. This book is haunting and sent chills down my spine. It's a book that will keep playing in your mind throughout nights to come.
Of course there's been plenty of indirect danger.In case i needed any more reminding, a mosquito landed on my left arm.I killed it before it killed me.
Pub. Date: June 2008 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Format:Hardcover, 321 pages Genre: Young Adult Rating;
My thoughts - Alex is a seventeen year old Puerto Rican boy. He is serving Pizza that faithful day, his mother has been asked to come and help at the hospital as an emergency and his father is in Puerto Rico to attend a funeral.
Due to living in New York City little does he know he is right in the center - fold of all the destruction that is to come. There are many differences between this book and Life as we knew it, for one this book follows a whole different story with a different character so you don't have to read the previous book, but I would recommend you do.
Religion is mentioned briefly in the first book, In this book it surrounds everyone, it tackles how many are struggling to keep faith through this hard time when everything is at an all time low. Alex and his family as well many people in the community are highly religious, the local Church has a big part to play in reaching out to others and offering hope through this difficult time. When I mentioned Life as we knew it was horrifying, let me just say, if you could not handle the previous book, if it was to much for you, then be prepared, because in this book it doubles in the fear factor.
Miranda's quite lucky compared to Alex, well that's how you feel when you see everything Alex has to go through. In fact you can't help but compare both of their situations because you can't help but notice how much easier she has had it than Alex. I'm not saying that she had it extremely easier, Alex just went through more. After hearing no word from his parents it takes time but he finally starts to accept that they are in fact dead and are never coming back.
His brother Carlos is away as a Marine, meaning now it's his sole responsibility to look after his younger sisters, Bri and Julie. I was quite shocked when I first came across Julie as she seemed more clued up about the situation than both her older siblings, I was very proud of her.
Alex makes a lot of bad choices but he has an excuse, he has no one to guide him, although in this book we see a sense of companionship and support within the community which we don't in the previous book, others can only look out for you for so long and it's no secret that family is the main priority. Unlike Miranda's family who took full opportunity when the electricity did come on for mere minutes and used it to their advantage to wash clothes, and use the microwave and think about hygiene. Alex and his sisters meanwhile watched TV.
I wanted to shake some sense into him at times, to tell him to spare the rations and be careful, but I had to remember he was doing this on his own. He is on his own, and he is doing the best in which he knows how. Miranda's family also got the opportunity to stock up on food, due to their mother having money, Alex being alone, isn't so fortunate.
When things worsen Alex must go to the extreme to provide food for his siblings. Finding a new found friend and companion in Kevin he starts body picking, it's foul and disgusting yes, but when your family is on the line, you push all that away. They look for corpses and take any piece of clothing and valuables they can find, and exchange it for food.
Hard times equal to extreme measures. One of the saddest things has to be the great characters that are lost, of course the book wouldn't be very realistic if didn't contain any death, but it doesn't make it any easier for the reader to see it all happen. There are some heartbreaking moments and this book is much more gory and disturbing than the first, as you get a bigger insight of the situation at hand. Like I mentioned this is not a easy read.
When I finished it, I looked outside and everything was so bright and calm and I couldn't stop thinking, how in a moment all that could change.
I just found out that there is a third book in the series which I'm very excited to read, I just can't get over how thought - provoking and well done these novels are. I've seen many since then with similar concepts, but for me this series will always be the original. In both books the endings show one thing "Hope" and in a time where the world is at an end, hope means everything and possibly survival.
Hey, its a family. Look at that: Daddy, Mommy and Baby,"
Alex stared at them.The mother's arm had loosened and the baby had fallen next to her.
The father was lying on top of them both.
"I'm going to be sick," Alex said
"Not on me," Kevin said
*Whilst body picking* That is only a small glimpse of the reality that Alex must face, I chose this particular scene because it stayed with me for a quite a while. It gets worse.
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