Saturday, October 8, 2011

Review: This World We Live In


This World We Live In
Last Survivors #3
by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Harcourt Children’s Books Hardcover
ISBN 9780547248042
239 pages
Release Date: April 1, 2011
Available for purchase 
AMAZON          BARNES AND NOBLE


Why did you choose this book? I’ve read the first book of the series for my book club last year, and liked it. I liked the second book even more, so the logical thing to do was to complete the series.
When did you read this book? September 2011
Who should read this book? middle grade readers and above, fans of dystopian novels
Here is a synopsis of ‘This World We Live In' from Goodreads, where it rates 3.68 stars.

The heart-wrenching companion to the bestselling novels Life As We Knew It and The Dead & The Gone.
It’s been a year since a meteor collided with the moon, catastrophically altering the earth’s climate. Miranda and her two brothers spend their days scavenging for food and household items, while their mother stays at home and desperately tries to hold on to the ordinary activities of their previous life. But they all know that nothing is truly normal in this surreal new world they live in.
           
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 Review 

This is a continuation of the Last Survivor series that started with Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. In book 1, we meet Miranda, a normal sixteen year old in small town Pennsylvania. In book 2 we meet Alex, a smart hard-working teen in New York City. Both stories take place simultaneous and follow them as their lives are drastically changed by one event. A large meteorite smashes into the moon and moves it from it’s orbit to a new orbit closer to earth. This triggers multiple natural disasters, including tidal waves, volcanoes, and nearly permanent winter. The result is food shortages, energy shortages and the disintegration of modern civilization!
You do not need to read the first two books in order; you may read either of them first. But I do recommend you read them both before book 3. All of the main characters are introduced in the first 2 books, and the circumstances are explained in detail. You will probably feel a little lost if you start in on book 3.
This is a bit of a spoiler if you’ve not read the first two books. In book 3, Alex joins Miranda and her family in Pennsylvania. It is one year after the catastrophe and supplies are running low. Miranda is realizing she will never see ‘normal’ again, and in fact, has forgotten what ‘normal’ looks like. I really didn’t enjoy this book as much as the others, as there was really nothing ‘new’ in it. Conditions haven’t really changed and this story just tells more of the challenges of surviving. Even worse, there is really no resolution. The story ends with us no knowing if things will get better or even if Alex and Miranda continue to survive. The only reason I am not completely let down by this book is that I learned just now, literally, that the author has book 4 in progress to be released next year! I definitely plan to read this one, too!

My Rating:  ★★★ 3 Stars

No comments:

Post a Comment