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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
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:
No
Excellent throughout. Thought provoking and timely. Fans of Alone will be excited for this companion novel.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Told in multiple POVS with a mixture of novel in verse, movie script, production diary, letters, and newspaper articles, this companion novel to Alone, Away follows a group of kids who were placed in the same evacuation camp after the imminent yet unnamed danger that forced them out of their home. When the group of kids has an aspiring filmmaker and a budding journalist, they begin to dig into the reasoning as to why their world was turned upside down.
As they begin to investigate, they start to discover there’s more of a cover-up operation going on than there is an actual immediate threat. Can the group get to the root of the conspiracy and tell the adults in a way they’ll be believed before it’s too late?
I absolutely adored Alone when I read it back in 2023, so I immediately tried to get my hands on Away as soon as I could. This novel is not a full novel in verse but jumps around between different styles depending on which character it’s focusing on at the moment - though Grandin and Ashantae’s are in verse, Teddy’s is written in movie script or production diary, and Harmony writes letters to her Aunt and essays in new reports.
I think this fast paced story would be fun for middle school readers, especially those who like to prove kids can be just as absorbent, if not more, than adults. The charge to question what is really going on begins with the kids and they’re the ones who shine the light on it in order for the adults to finally see what’s happening.
Are some of the scenarios in this unrealistic? Yes, but it didn’t stop me from thoroughly enjoying it as I’m sure many others will.
You don’t have to have read Alone in order to understand what is happening in this novel as it is a companion novel and not a sequel.
*Thank you Aladdin and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
3.5/5 *
I read "Alone" a few weeks ago and I was ecstatic to hear that Megan Freeman wrote a companion novel. This was very well written and I loved the transitions between verse and the screen write format. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as "Alone"; I went into this novel with erroneous expectations. I knew it was about kids who successfully evacuated versus the other novel centered on survival, but I was still expecting the plot to move a bit quicker.
I read "Alone" a few weeks ago and I was ecstatic to hear that Megan Freeman wrote a companion novel. This was very well written and I loved the transitions between verse and the screen write format. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as "Alone"; I went into this novel with erroneous expectations. I knew it was about kids who successfully evacuated versus the other novel centered on survival, but I was still expecting the plot to move a bit quicker.
Thanks to @this_is_edelweiss and Aladdin books for the advance Kindle copy of this 2.11.25 release. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this follow-up to the 2024 @indianalibrary YHBA middle grade winner Alone. SO many kids have asked me about a sequel. This is told in 4 POVs of kids who are evacuated during the events of Alone. It runs parallel to Maddie’s story. As these four teens are held in an evacuation center, they suspect that the news they are getting from the outside is not completely accurate. They take it upon themselves to find out the truth. The characters aren’t as solid as Maddie, but I raced through this to figure out what was really going on. It will be popular!
•
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this follow-up to the 2024 @indianalibrary YHBA middle grade winner Alone. SO many kids have asked me about a sequel. This is told in 4 POVs of kids who are evacuated during the events of Alone. It runs parallel to Maddie’s story. As these four teens are held in an evacuation center, they suspect that the news they are getting from the outside is not completely accurate. They take it upon themselves to find out the truth. The characters aren’t as solid as Maddie, but I raced through this to figure out what was really going on. It will be popular!
medium-paced
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Away by Megan Freeman.
An amazing companion novel in verse to Alone, the story continues through the eyes of the ones who were evacuated. Their journey is similar to the early days of the pandemic shut down when people kept repeating "just two weeks". Absolutely a must for middle grade readers.
Read as an ARC thanks to NetGalley
An amazing companion novel in verse to Alone, the story continues through the eyes of the ones who were evacuated. Their journey is similar to the early days of the pandemic shut down when people kept repeating "just two weeks". Absolutely a must for middle grade readers.
Read as an ARC thanks to NetGalley
The sequel or companion novel to Alone; a dystopian middle grade novel in verse.
Away features the voices of Gradin, the son of a farmer, Harmony, an aspiring journalist, Teddy, an aspiring film maker, and Ashanti, a girl who loves Greek mythology and her mom is a doctor. Each voice and character is unique and moves the story along. They all find themselves in the same camp after mandatory evacuations. Together, the try to uncover the truth behind the evacuations and the “imminent threat.” I was hoping this book would give the reader more incite into the “imminent threat”, evacuations, and the reason why it took years for people to return home. This book did provide answers but also left me with more questions. Readers who enjoyed the first will enjoy the second one.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.
Away features the voices of Gradin, the son of a farmer, Harmony, an aspiring journalist, Teddy, an aspiring film maker, and Ashanti, a girl who loves Greek mythology and her mom is a doctor. Each voice and character is unique and moves the story along. They all find themselves in the same camp after mandatory evacuations. Together, the try to uncover the truth behind the evacuations and the “imminent threat.” I was hoping this book would give the reader more incite into the “imminent threat”, evacuations, and the reason why it took years for people to return home. This book did provide answers but also left me with more questions. Readers who enjoyed the first will enjoy the second one.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Written from multiple POVs and in different styles, this is a companion novel to Alone by the same author. Getting used to the styles took a little time - one character is written in free poetry, another in movie scripts. One makes frequent references to gods and goddesses from different mythologies, which was interesting. Once I was used to the styles, the story flew by.
I haven't read Alone, but this story stands on its own. I found it a little implausible, but as a story it worked very well, with great character development and an interesting plot. Watching the characters adapt to their circumstances and make the best of things was fascinating. The time jumps were a little disorienting, but using newspaper articles to let us know how long it had been was really clever.
I don't want to spoil the plot, but the main plot seemed unrealistic simply because of the number of people who would have had to have been involved. Even if a whole swath of them were unaware and following orders, it still feels unlikely to me. Maybe if I'd read the first one I'd feel differently! It didn't ruin the story, but it was something I noticed as I read. (There's also a moment that hinges on no one in a large audience reading papers left on their chairs until the right moment. I can't justify that one all at.)
For readers looking for an interesting read that digs into character, following an exciting investigation, this is the read for you.
Movie review: Although it's a little more adult, Erin Brockavich has a similar theme of investigating wrong doings and holding the perpetrators responsible.
Book recommendation: If you're looking for a story that blends adventure, mystery, and character development, try The Wild Robot by Peter Brown. While it’s a bit more grounded in nature and technology, the themes of adaptation, survival, and uncovering truths resonate with the investigative spirit of this book.
adventurous
tense