Helpful Score: 1
I got an eGalley of this book through NetGalley(dot)com. I love reading survival, post-apocalyptic type books and was eager to read about a world in which the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts (I was just in Yellowstone a couple weeks ago, so it was strangely fitting). This was a good book; not exceptional but a decent read. A sequel called, Ashen Winter, is planned for release in October 2012.
Sixteen year old Alex is spending a weekend at home alone when his house is hit by something and set on fire. Little does he know that the supervolcano in Yellowstone has erupted. As ash clogs the air, temperatures drop, and civilization collapses Alex decides to travel to the east in an effort to reach his parents. Along the way he struggles with ash filled air, lack of food, and desperate humans doing what they much to survive.
You can't help but compare this book to Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Granted that book is about an asteroid hitting the moon, but the results are similar. In that book many volcanoes erupt causing the characters to face many of the issues (if in a bit smaller scale) that Alex faces in this book. While I enjoyed reading this book, I couldn't help but feel that I've read about a lot of these issues (air quality, blocking out sunlight, long winters, lawless humanity) before.
This book has a lot of themes that other post-apocalyptic books do. Alex not only struggles against nature but against other humans trying to survive in a lawless society. You also see similar themes of refuge camps being horrible places to live and the military taking advantage of humans who don't have the firepower they do. Basically when faced with mass destruction, humanity shows both its best and worst face.
Alex is an interesting character; he knows karate so that gave him a good skill set for surviving the lawlessness he faced during his travels. He is also very resourceful as he shows by realizing that skis would travel well over ash (although anyone familiar with snow would probably draw the same conclusions).
Things get a lot more interesting when he meets up with Darla. Darla is incredibly strong, resourceful, and really an amazing girl. Her and Alex make a great team and watching them fall in love between attacks, horrible storms, and refuge camps is especially touching.
The book is paced well and the question that really drives the story forward is will Alex make it to his parents. The way the story ends is well done but definitely set up for a sequel. The book is well-written, easy to read, and engaging. The author includes an excellent afterward talking about Yellowstone and some of the other volcano eruptions the story is based on.
Overall while I enjoyed this book I didn't think it was incredibly original. Alex faces many of the same problems that the characters in Life as We Knew It face. The same issues of lawlessness, starvation, air quality, refuge camps, and abandonment by the government are dealt with. This book is a bit more violent than Life as We Knew was. The thing that sets this book apart from other post-apocalyptic books is the relationship that develops between Alex and Darla. Both of these characters are amazingly resourceful and watching them fall in love through all the hardships they face was a beautiful thing. The book is well-written and I would recommend to those who enjoy post-apocalyptic YA reads. I would also recommend Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer, Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick, Blood Red Road by Moira Young, and The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell.
Sixteen year old Alex is spending a weekend at home alone when his house is hit by something and set on fire. Little does he know that the supervolcano in Yellowstone has erupted. As ash clogs the air, temperatures drop, and civilization collapses Alex decides to travel to the east in an effort to reach his parents. Along the way he struggles with ash filled air, lack of food, and desperate humans doing what they much to survive.
You can't help but compare this book to Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Granted that book is about an asteroid hitting the moon, but the results are similar. In that book many volcanoes erupt causing the characters to face many of the issues (if in a bit smaller scale) that Alex faces in this book. While I enjoyed reading this book, I couldn't help but feel that I've read about a lot of these issues (air quality, blocking out sunlight, long winters, lawless humanity) before.
This book has a lot of themes that other post-apocalyptic books do. Alex not only struggles against nature but against other humans trying to survive in a lawless society. You also see similar themes of refuge camps being horrible places to live and the military taking advantage of humans who don't have the firepower they do. Basically when faced with mass destruction, humanity shows both its best and worst face.
Alex is an interesting character; he knows karate so that gave him a good skill set for surviving the lawlessness he faced during his travels. He is also very resourceful as he shows by realizing that skis would travel well over ash (although anyone familiar with snow would probably draw the same conclusions).
Things get a lot more interesting when he meets up with Darla. Darla is incredibly strong, resourceful, and really an amazing girl. Her and Alex make a great team and watching them fall in love between attacks, horrible storms, and refuge camps is especially touching.
The book is paced well and the question that really drives the story forward is will Alex make it to his parents. The way the story ends is well done but definitely set up for a sequel. The book is well-written, easy to read, and engaging. The author includes an excellent afterward talking about Yellowstone and some of the other volcano eruptions the story is based on.
Overall while I enjoyed this book I didn't think it was incredibly original. Alex faces many of the same problems that the characters in Life as We Knew It face. The same issues of lawlessness, starvation, air quality, refuge camps, and abandonment by the government are dealt with. This book is a bit more violent than Life as We Knew was. The thing that sets this book apart from other post-apocalyptic books is the relationship that develops between Alex and Darla. Both of these characters are amazingly resourceful and watching them fall in love through all the hardships they face was a beautiful thing. The book is well-written and I would recommend to those who enjoy post-apocalyptic YA reads. I would also recommend Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer, Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick, Blood Red Road by Moira Young, and The Reapers are the Angels by Alden Bell.
Reviewed by Karin Librarian for TeensReadToo.com
Alex, a typical teenage boy, is left alone for the weekend because he refused to go away with his parents to his Uncle's farm. He quickly regrets his decision after the unthinkable happens. A volcano in Yellowstone National Park erupts, sending ash across the entire country. Forced to leave after the destruction of his home, Alex decides to try and make it to his family the only way he can - on foot. Taking only what he can carry, he sets out on a dangerous journey, hoping for the best.
Alex encounters many obstacles along the way - many extremely dangerous. When he can't go any further he is lucky enough to come across a farmhouse with people willing to help. Darla, a girl a couple of years older than he is, and her mother seem to be making it so far. Darla's mechanical abilities have allowed her to rig things up to help them stay fed.
But, after disaster strikes, Darla is left with no choice but to leave with Alex as he continues his journey toward his family. Will their food and water last? Can they stay away from the desperate people willing to do anything to survive? Will his family even be there when he gets to the farm?
ASHFALL is a true page-turner. The fact that a scenario like this could really happen makes you stop and think. How long could you make it on the food and water you have at home? Could you protect yourself from people willing to do anything to take what you have? Author Mike Mullin does a great job putting Alex in situations that I feel would be very likely to happen. He doesn't allow Alex to get through the story unscathed and I appreciated it. Realistically, what teen could make it hundreds of miles on foot through dangerous conditions without running into some MAJOR trouble?
I also enjoyed how the author handled the relationship between Alex and Darla. He created two intelligent, responsible characters, and it was a pleasure to take this journey with them. Something else I liked is that Darla is a strong and smart girl and Alex isn't intimidated by that at all. He realizes she is smarter than he is in many aspects of survival and allows her to lead the way when it is necessary.
I really can't wait for the sequel, ASHEN WINTER, which is set to come out in October 2012.
Alex, a typical teenage boy, is left alone for the weekend because he refused to go away with his parents to his Uncle's farm. He quickly regrets his decision after the unthinkable happens. A volcano in Yellowstone National Park erupts, sending ash across the entire country. Forced to leave after the destruction of his home, Alex decides to try and make it to his family the only way he can - on foot. Taking only what he can carry, he sets out on a dangerous journey, hoping for the best.
Alex encounters many obstacles along the way - many extremely dangerous. When he can't go any further he is lucky enough to come across a farmhouse with people willing to help. Darla, a girl a couple of years older than he is, and her mother seem to be making it so far. Darla's mechanical abilities have allowed her to rig things up to help them stay fed.
But, after disaster strikes, Darla is left with no choice but to leave with Alex as he continues his journey toward his family. Will their food and water last? Can they stay away from the desperate people willing to do anything to survive? Will his family even be there when he gets to the farm?
ASHFALL is a true page-turner. The fact that a scenario like this could really happen makes you stop and think. How long could you make it on the food and water you have at home? Could you protect yourself from people willing to do anything to take what you have? Author Mike Mullin does a great job putting Alex in situations that I feel would be very likely to happen. He doesn't allow Alex to get through the story unscathed and I appreciated it. Realistically, what teen could make it hundreds of miles on foot through dangerous conditions without running into some MAJOR trouble?
I also enjoyed how the author handled the relationship between Alex and Darla. He created two intelligent, responsible characters, and it was a pleasure to take this journey with them. Something else I liked is that Darla is a strong and smart girl and Alex isn't intimidated by that at all. He realizes she is smarter than he is in many aspects of survival and allows her to lead the way when it is necessary.
I really can't wait for the sequel, ASHEN WINTER, which is set to come out in October 2012.
It took me a while to get into this book -- maybe because it is so chaotic and confusing at first -- but then it just kept getting better and better ... to the point where I lost sleep wondering what was going to happen next!
I read this on the plane going to Yellowstone National Park, which was pretty funny since I knew only in general what the book was about. It's a nice YA book about courage, loyalty, and survival in the worst of times. I liked Alex quite a lot, although his voice is too mature for a teen his age (c'mon, when you were 15 did you know the word "harbinger"?). Having him know karate was an excellent thought, it allows him to have defensive skills without introducing a lot of weapons into the story. I liked his determination and just essential goodness without acting too "Boy Scout". Darla is perhaps just a little too accomplished but the story did need someone with competence in basic living skills. None of the ideas or even the survival story are terribly original but that's no matter, it's well told and worth going on to the next.
I could have done without the graphic elderly rape scene. Surprised to read something so graphic in a YA literature book.
