Author: Mike Mullin
Genre: Young Adult, Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic
Page Count: 466 pages
Publish Date: October 11, 2011
Book Type: Kindle galley from Netgalley
Publisher: Tanglewood Press
ISBN: 9781933718552
From Goodreads: Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.
My Review: Oh I really enjoyed this book. One thing is for certain, if I was in Alex’s situation, I would totally be dead. What he went through was absolutely awful. I cannot imagine having to go through any of that. While this was a long book, the pacing was done very well, so it never felt like a long book--if that makes sense.
I was amazed, but I guess not that surprised, at how quickly the society crumbled. In Ashfall, there were the people who completely fell apart, the people who thrived, and then everyone else who were sort of in between. It was very interesting to see how the people a greater distance away from the supervolcano were handling it. I don’t want to say too much, because I think this is one that you should read for yourself, but the character development was pretty exceptional.
One of my favorite aspects of this book was that I felt like I was really learning some survival skills while reading. I could definitely tell that Mike Mullin did his research, so I can’t wait to see what new skills Alex and the gang learn throughout the rest of the series. [Does anyone know if this is a planned trilogy? More? Just two?]
I’m so glad I have Ashen Winter waiting for me on my Kindle - I’m not sure I could wait until fall to read it!
I actually think the world falls into chaos a little TOO fast than is believable in this one. At least, I don't want to believe people could lose their humanity that fast. Yikes! Although this series isn't my favorite, I still enjoy it (even though some parts of it make me sick to my stomach).
ReplyDeleteYeah - I don't really want to believe that people would act that way either. I hope we never have to find out! I completely agree that some parts made me sick - super descriptive, but I still enjoyed it!
DeleteThanks for the review! I really want to start reading this series. :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy it!
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