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I am going to return to this: it's wonderfully, poignantly, and powerfully written.
However, this created the rub for me. The depiction of dire straits, despair, and the balances between prepping for family v working toward collective liberation were too much for me right at this point in history, so I'm going to pause reading this series for a bit.
However, this created the rub for me. The depiction of dire straits, despair, and the balances between prepping for family v working toward collective liberation were too much for me right at this point in history, so I'm going to pause reading this series for a bit.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma
Minor: Fatphobia
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've read this book so many times, and I'm sure I'll go back to it. Each time I've read it I've noticed different things, felt different things, understood different things.
The book, while yes maybe not the most scientifically accurate, is extremely relatable and heartbreaking. Pretty much every section I read brought me to tears. Watching the family go through so much was painful to watch.
Miranda, a 16 year old girl who just wants to skate and go on a date, having to watch her world that was just starting to blossom for her go smaller and smaller, while having to sacrifice for her family.
Matt, an 18 year old forced to take over the role of man of the house and sacrifice any sense of youth for his family.
Johnny, a 13 year old kid who just wants to play baseball left out of the know as he watches everything fall apart.
Mom/Laura, who has to watch her children go hungry, starves herself to give them a better chance, and is stuck trying to figure out how to keep her family alive.
And so many more characters going through so many harsh things. After covid it's so much more real, but also I read this book for the first time in middle school, now I'm reading it as adult with a daughter and a baby on the way. There are so many different things I see and understand now, and I just think this book is a great example of all the blessings we have and that family is what truly matters in the end.
The book, while yes maybe not the most scientifically accurate, is extremely relatable and heartbreaking. Pretty much every section I read brought me to tears. Watching the family go through so much was painful to watch.
Miranda, a 16 year old girl who just wants to skate and go on a date, having to watch her world that was just starting to blossom for her go smaller and smaller, while having to sacrifice for her family.
Matt, an 18 year old forced to take over the role of man of the house and sacrifice any sense of youth for his family.
Johnny, a 13 year old kid who just wants to play baseball left out of the know as he watches everything fall apart.
Mom/Laura, who has to watch her children go hungry, starves herself to give them a better chance, and is stuck trying to figure out how to keep her family alive.
And so many more characters going through so many harsh things. After covid it's so much more real, but also I read this book for the first time in middle school, now I'm reading it as adult with a daughter and a baby on the way. There are so many different things I see and understand now, and I just think this book is a great example of all the blessings we have and that family is what truly matters in the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Terminal illness
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Religious bigotry, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Sexism, Suicide, Death of parent
Starvation, End of the World, Apocalypse, Diary Narrative, Survival, Environmental Disasters
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I read this book a long time ago, and it’s stuck with me since my first read through. Reading it again is just as heart-wrenching, especially on the heels of the COVID pandemic.
I mourn for Miranda and the way she had to grow up too fast, and take on responsibility that no 16 year old should do.From giving up meals for her younger brother to finding Mrs. Nesbitt dead and carrying out her last wishes, Miranda is constantly faced with problems many of us only confront in our nightmares.
This dystopian novel is much more grounded in reality than some of its other YA counterparts. A global, environmental disaster that hit so suddenly, in stark contrast to the creeping threat of climate change, leaves you wondering if you could survive the apocalypse at 16.
Under it all, Life as we Knew it is a story about family, hope, survival, and growing up. It’s dark and desperate but also underscores the little things that make life worth living.
I mourn for Miranda and the way she had to grow up too fast, and take on responsibility that no 16 year old should do.
This dystopian novel is much more grounded in reality than some of its other YA counterparts. A global, environmental disaster that hit so suddenly, in stark contrast to the creeping threat of climate change, leaves you wondering if you could survive the apocalypse at 16.
Under it all, Life as we Knew it is a story about family, hope, survival, and growing up. It’s dark and desperate but also underscores the little things that make life worth living.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Violence, Grief
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma
Minor: Animal death, Gun violence
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Really great dystopian/apocalyptic novel! It was a brutally honest look at a family and what they do to survive and how they interact with each other. I couldn’t put it down!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Eating disorder
Minor: Suicide