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bayliekusch's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Eating disorder, and Death
Moderate: Pregnancy and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, and Animal death
lovelymisanthrope's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I read this book when I was younger (maybe seventh grade) and during the pandemic, I remembered reading this and enjoying it (a book about a "new normal" written over a decade ago, yes please!). When I looked into getting a copy to reread it, I discovered this book is actually part of a series that I did not know existed! I have slowly collected all four books, and finally did my reread of this title.
"Life As We Knew It" is told in a series of journal entries from high schooler Miranda. Miranda is from a small town in Pennsylvania, where she lives with her older brother (who is away at college), younger brother, and mom. Her father has a new wife who is expecting her first child soon. Because of all the climate problems created by humanity, an asteroid is scheduled to hit the moon, and it is so big that it should be visible to the naked eye. The entire world is excited to witness such an incredible event, but no one was expecting the fallout that would ensue.
The moon controls so much on planet Earth, so when an asteroid hits the moon and moves it closer to Earth, life is changed forever. I loved seeing this post-apocalyptic-esque story unfold. The population is initially panicked, and everyone is buying everything they can. But, the story quickly delves into despair when no one has electricity, access to food and water, and the temperatures start rapidly dropping. Miranda has a strained relationship with her mom to begin with and being forced into such close proximity really tests their patience for each other. Miranda is just a young girl who was worried about finals and who she will go to prom with, and now she has to worry about survival.
There are definitely some references in this book that age it, but overall, I enjoyed this story as much as I did when I was younger.
"Life As We Knew It" is told in a series of journal entries from high schooler Miranda. Miranda is from a small town in Pennsylvania, where she lives with her older brother (who is away at college), younger brother, and mom. Her father has a new wife who is expecting her first child soon. Because of all the climate problems created by humanity, an asteroid is scheduled to hit the moon, and it is so big that it should be visible to the naked eye. The entire world is excited to witness such an incredible event, but no one was expecting the fallout that would ensue.
The moon controls so much on planet Earth, so when an asteroid hits the moon and moves it closer to Earth, life is changed forever. I loved seeing this post-apocalyptic-esque story unfold. The population is initially panicked, and everyone is buying everything they can. But, the story quickly delves into despair when no one has electricity, access to food and water, and the temperatures start rapidly dropping. Miranda has a strained relationship with her mom to begin with and being forced into such close proximity really tests their patience for each other. Miranda is just a young girl who was worried about finals and who she will go to prom with, and now she has to worry about survival.
There are definitely some references in this book that age it, but overall, I enjoyed this story as much as I did when I was younger.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Animal death, Pregnancy, Classism, Death, and Grief
christinastuart26's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Toxic friendship, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Animal death and Gun violence
pear's review
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Loved the development of the main character, Miranda. She really grew up a lot during that year.
The science wasn't very on point but that wasn't the reason I was reading the book so I don't mind. What really mattered was how the characters faced the increasing difficulties in their ways - and that was done superbly.
The science wasn't very on point but that wasn't the reason I was reading the book so I don't mind. What really mattered was how the characters faced the increasing difficulties in their ways - and that was done superbly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Eating disorder
Moderate: Death and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, and Suicidal thoughts
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