Scan barcode
moorlady's review
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
yopoydan_kirjat's review
4.0
Alone oli ensimmäinen englanniksi lukemani säeromaani. Teoksen päähenkilö Maddie on 12, kun hänen kotikaupunkinsa (ja ilmeisesti useampi osavaltio) evakuoidaan. Maddie jää kyydistä, sillä hän oli suunnitellut ystäviensä kanssa pitävänsä hauskan illan vanhemmilta salaa. Ystäville tulee kuitenkin esteitä ja Maddie on yksin isovanhempiensa kesäasunnolla.
Teos menee periaatteessa dystopioiden genreen, vaikka syytä evakuoimiselle ei selkeästi anneta. Teos keskittyy Maddien tarvikkeiden keräämiseen ja selviytymiskamppailuun ankarista talvista ainoana kumppaninaan naapurin George-koira. Tässä on paljon samaa kuin vuoden parhaassa lukukokemuksessani [b:All That’s Left in the World|59108549|All That’s Left in the World|Erik J. Brown|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1632839679l/59108549._SY75_.jpg|89343609] ja klassikossa [b:Tohtori L: Vieras kuolleesta maailmasta|16041837|Tohtori L Vieras kuolleesta maailmasta|Robert C. O'Brien|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1396714511l/16041837._SY75_.jpg|2070709].
Ehdottomasti lukemisen arvoinen!
Teos menee periaatteessa dystopioiden genreen, vaikka syytä evakuoimiselle ei selkeästi anneta. Teos keskittyy Maddien tarvikkeiden keräämiseen ja selviytymiskamppailuun ankarista talvista ainoana kumppaninaan naapurin George-koira. Tässä on paljon samaa kuin vuoden parhaassa lukukokemuksessani [b:All That’s Left in the World|59108549|All That’s Left in the World|Erik J. Brown|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1632839679l/59108549._SY75_.jpg|89343609] ja klassikossa [b:Tohtori L: Vieras kuolleesta maailmasta|16041837|Tohtori L Vieras kuolleesta maailmasta|Robert C. O'Brien|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1396714511l/16041837._SY75_.jpg|2070709].
Ehdottomasti lukemisen arvoinen!
paigereitz's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
clenk's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
mgseaton01's review
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
I’ve seen complaints about how the ending and the reveal of the “imminent threat” fell flat and left people frustrated. While it definitely left me with questions, what young teenager is going to understand the complexities of “imminent threat?”? Yes, it did confuse me, but that felt on par with what the narrator was likely feeling, so I think it worked with the grand scheme of the book.
TW: there is mentions of animal/pet death and one instance where a character (not the MC) kills a kitten.
TW: there is mentions of animal/pet death and one instance where a character (not the MC) kills a kitten.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
user613's review
4.0
This reads like a dystopian version of [b:Island of the Blue Dolphins|41044096|Island of the Blue Dolphins|Scott O'Dell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1533405446l/41044096._SX50_.jpg|3215136], but with a few more missing facts.
Don’t get me wrong. The book was great. The entire novel, I was engrossed in Maddie, her struggle to just stay alive, and her determination. The narration was full of emotions, and depth, and Maddie’s character kept the story going. So, despite some small missing details and inconsistencies, I remained invested in Maddie and her story and wanted to know what would happen, and how she would survive living all alone. I just kept reading.
The prose style also added to the story, though I usually can’t stand prose. It added to Maddie’s voice, her struggle, her world, and felt like a natural expression of her character.
I also loved how how Maddie’s struggle with loneliness and survival was compared to Karana’s struggle from the [b:Island of the Blue Dolphins|41044096|Island of the Blue Dolphins|Scott O'Dell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1533405446l/41044096._SX50_.jpg|3215136]. Even better, to learn new skills, Maddie frequently referenced the library. She read books to survive. She started reading her way through the library to pass time. And she mentioned her favorite authors many times throughout.
The main point that bothered me was the ending. And the fact that we never really learned what happened. The entire book was based on some mysterious end-of-world event. Maddie spent months by herself fighting to survive because of this event. It was completely anti-climatic, and a major letdown. The missing details ruined the entire book for me, and made the entire story feel unrealistic.
So, yeah, there were many chilling scenes, raw emotions, and great conflicts. But it never made sense to me. The book itself was great. The ending was horrible. If you care about small details, and all facts making sense at the end of a book, I’d recommend moving on to another read.
Similar reads:
[b:Island of the Blue Dolphins|41044096|Island of the Blue Dolphins|Scott O'Dell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1533405446l/41044096._SX50_.jpg|3215136]
[b:Life As We Knew It|213753|Life As We Knew It (Last Survivors, #1)|Susan Beth Pfeffer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328012816l/213753._SY75_.jpg|206925]
[b:The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane|37186|The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane|Kate DiCamillo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1361121815l/37186._SX50_.jpg|822151]
[b:Crenshaw|23310699|Crenshaw|Katherine Applegate|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1475972698l/23310699._SX50_.jpg|42864821]
[b:The Girl Who Drank the Moon|28110852|The Girl Who Drank the Moon|Kelly Barnhill|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1485376116l/28110852._SY75_.jpg|48118988]
Content:
Religion:
Maddie doubted whether God existed. Once, she wrote a letter, doubting his existence and asking where He was, then realizing He might be the reason she survived at all. Later in the book, she decided she’d be able to live without His help, but that to stay sane she might need Him.
Maddie celebrates xmas once, with candles, decorations and carols. Once, as she prayed, she pictured Jesus, Buddha and Muhammad sitting together and all listening to peoples’ prayers.
Violence:
This was a story of survival. There were many scary scenes and moments of peril. Maddie was left to survive on her own. She was sure the rest of the world died. She encountered animal carcasses in various states of decomposing. They weren’t described, though.
Romance:
Maddie got her period during the story. She saw blood in the toilet, knew what to do from her mom’s explanations, then regretted that her mom wasn’t there to make it into a milestone. She discovered that her twin brothers were born from in vitro fertilization, and was glad that they weren’t just freaks of nature. Mention of kissing.
Language:
Maddie used some mild language, in her understandably horrific situation.
Other:
Many books and authors were mentioned in this novel including [b:Island of the Blue Dolphins|41044096|Island of the Blue Dolphins|Scott O'Dell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1533405446l/41044096._SX50_.jpg|3215136], Mrs. Mike, and authors E.B. White, Kate DiCamillo, Roald Dahl, and Natalie Babbit
Don’t get me wrong. The book was great. The entire novel, I was engrossed in Maddie, her struggle to just stay alive, and her determination. The narration was full of emotions, and depth, and Maddie’s character kept the story going. So, despite some small missing details and inconsistencies, I remained invested in Maddie and her story and wanted to know what would happen, and how she would survive living all alone. I just kept reading.
The prose style also added to the story, though I usually can’t stand prose. It added to Maddie’s voice, her struggle, her world, and felt like a natural expression of her character.
I also loved how how Maddie’s struggle with loneliness and survival was compared to Karana’s struggle from the [b:Island of the Blue Dolphins|41044096|Island of the Blue Dolphins|Scott O'Dell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1533405446l/41044096._SX50_.jpg|3215136]. Even better, to learn new skills, Maddie frequently referenced the library. She read books to survive. She started reading her way through the library to pass time. And she mentioned her favorite authors many times throughout.
The main point that bothered me was the ending. And the fact that we never really learned what happened. The entire book was based on some mysterious end-of-world event. Maddie spent months by herself fighting to survive because of this event.
Spoiler
And, then, in the last chapter, she discovered that her parents were still alive. Two years later. They came to get her in a helicopter. And were taking her back to their mysterious location. And then they went off together into the sunset. That was it. No explanations. Nothing. Why did they leave? Where did they go? Will they ever come back? Yes, there was something about a land grab. But what does that even mean? Who took the land? How did it happen so quickly? Where did everyone go?So, yeah, there were many chilling scenes, raw emotions, and great conflicts. But it never made sense to me. The book itself was great. The ending was horrible. If you care about small details, and all facts making sense at the end of a book, I’d recommend moving on to another read.
Similar reads:
[b:Island of the Blue Dolphins|41044096|Island of the Blue Dolphins|Scott O'Dell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1533405446l/41044096._SX50_.jpg|3215136]
[b:Life As We Knew It|213753|Life As We Knew It (Last Survivors, #1)|Susan Beth Pfeffer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328012816l/213753._SY75_.jpg|206925]
[b:The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane|37186|The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane|Kate DiCamillo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1361121815l/37186._SX50_.jpg|822151]
[b:Crenshaw|23310699|Crenshaw|Katherine Applegate|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1475972698l/23310699._SX50_.jpg|42864821]
[b:The Girl Who Drank the Moon|28110852|The Girl Who Drank the Moon|Kelly Barnhill|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1485376116l/28110852._SY75_.jpg|48118988]
Content:
Religion:
Maddie doubted whether God existed. Once, she wrote a letter, doubting his existence and asking where He was, then realizing He might be the reason she survived at all. Later in the book, she decided she’d be able to live without His help, but that to stay sane she might need Him.
Maddie celebrates xmas once, with candles, decorations and carols. Once, as she prayed, she pictured Jesus, Buddha and Muhammad sitting together and all listening to peoples’ prayers.
Violence:
This was a story of survival. There were many scary scenes and moments of peril. Maddie was left to survive on her own. She was sure the rest of the world died. She encountered animal carcasses in various states of decomposing. They weren’t described, though.
Spoiler
She also encountered cruel gang members, with vine tattoos on their head, looting the city and ruthlessly killing a cat. She knew they might harm her if they found her. She carried a gun for the next few months.Romance:
Maddie got her period during the story. She saw blood in the toilet, knew what to do from her mom’s explanations, then regretted that her mom wasn’t there to make it into a milestone. She discovered that her twin brothers were born from in vitro fertilization, and was glad that they weren’t just freaks of nature. Mention of kissing.
Language:
Maddie used some mild language, in her understandably horrific situation.
Other:
Many books and authors were mentioned in this novel including [b:Island of the Blue Dolphins|41044096|Island of the Blue Dolphins|Scott O'Dell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1533405446l/41044096._SX50_.jpg|3215136], Mrs. Mike, and authors E.B. White, Kate DiCamillo, Roald Dahl, and Natalie Babbit
aeskare23's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0