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axolotl13's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
apologiesforeverything's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
hilocrasher's review
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
hickorynut's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
I read this in one sitting, finding that my rating was fluctuating up and down as I read. We're introduced to an immature young teen, Maddie, who is left behind by a sudden evacuation of every person in her town and surrounding towns.
The main issue I had with the plot was the idea that every single human but her had been evacuated within a 12 hour period, as logistically, in our modern world, that is simply not possible. It was hard to believe that Maddie only ever encountered out-of-town looters once, and that there were never any signs of other people. I also expected that while she would lose access to most technology within her immediate reach, she would still encounter some external signs of life like aircrafts, drones, etc.
Having her spend a full four years with only one looter encounter and no other signs of a modern human world felt like it was leading to her understanding of a major apocalyptic event in which she would have her fears confirmed that everyone was dead. But instead she is abruptly rescued by the only helicopter she has seen in those four years, that happened to be carrying her parents. It would have felt far more tense and then relieving if Maddie had had more encounters with signs of human life. Having her parents suddenly show up to rescue her, and having the only explanation for their evacuation being "a massive land grab, unprecedented fraud, elections, new government, and conditions returning to normal" felt so abrupt and confusing after four years of no hope of a continued modern society.
Overall I appreciated the journey of survival through complete isolation, so similar to the Island of Blue Dolphins as was often referenced in these pages. At times it felt like there was not enough focus on the emotional impact of her surroundings and adapted life, but it's balanced by the knowledge that survival is often so physically taxing there is no energy left for emotional processing. It felt like the animal violence by the looters, intended to make them seem more dangerous, was supposed to traumatize Maddie but instead was relayed without emotion and ended up feeling unnecessary.
The conclusion was just very disappointing. It did not make sense for the level of technology in the modern world, the timeline of evacuation, the unattended natural disasters, and the complete isolation of four years of surviving on her own. It was sort of a best-odds type happy ending which felt misaligned with the more complex and dark parts of Maddie's experience.
As someone struggling with chronic loneliness and grief, there were some passages that stuck with me.
"Staying alive isnt easy but it's a heck of a lot easier than keeping my heart hopefully and my mind focused on what's real."
"Loneliness and insanity are twin houseguests and it's hard to entertain one without inviting the other in as well."
"It's not that I don't grieve the loss of my family or feel the acute emptiness of being so alone. It's just that my grief and loneliness are no longer burdened by the hope that things will change."
"My own story just keeps unraveling with a depressing predictability."
The main issue I had with the plot was the idea that every single human but her had been evacuated within a 12 hour period, as logistically, in our modern world, that is simply not possible. It was hard to believe that Maddie only ever encountered out-of-town looters once, and that there were never any signs of other people. I also expected that while she would lose access to most technology within her immediate reach, she would still encounter some external signs of life like aircrafts, drones, etc.
Having her spend a full four years with only one looter encounter and no other signs of a modern human world felt like it was leading to her understanding of a major apocalyptic event in which she would have her fears confirmed that everyone was dead. But instead she is abruptly rescued by the only helicopter she has seen in those four years, that happened to be carrying her parents. It would have felt far more tense and then relieving if Maddie had had more encounters with signs of human life. Having her parents suddenly show up to rescue her, and having the only explanation for their evacuation being "a massive land grab, unprecedented fraud, elections, new government, and conditions returning to normal" felt so abrupt and confusing after four years of no hope of a continued modern society.
Overall I appreciated the journey of survival through complete isolation, so similar to the Island of Blue Dolphins as was often referenced in these pages. At times it felt like there was not enough focus on the emotional impact of her surroundings and adapted life, but it's balanced by the knowledge that survival is often so physically taxing there is no energy left for emotional processing. It felt like the animal violence by the looters, intended to make them seem more dangerous, was supposed to traumatize Maddie but instead was relayed without emotion and ended up feeling unnecessary.
The conclusion was just very disappointing. It did not make sense for the level of technology in the modern world, the timeline of evacuation, the unattended natural disasters, and the complete isolation of four years of surviving on her own. It was sort of a best-odds type happy ending which felt misaligned with the more complex and dark parts of Maddie's experience.
As someone struggling with chronic loneliness and grief, there were some passages that stuck with me.
"Staying alive isnt easy but it's a heck of a lot easier than keeping my heart hopefully and my mind focused on what's real."
"Loneliness and insanity are twin houseguests and it's hard to entertain one without inviting the other in as well."
"It's not that I don't grieve the loss of my family or feel the acute emptiness of being so alone. It's just that my grief and loneliness are no longer burdened by the hope that things will change."
"My own story just keeps unraveling with a depressing predictability."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Abandonment
Minor: Ableism
popgoesbitty's review
3.0
This was good! Unique, prose style writing, and the narrator did an excellent job in the audiobook. I was a little disappointed by the vague "why" behind the plot, which is honestly what kept me reading in the first place, but overall this was a solid, intriguing read.
annabong92's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
samantha709's review
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
bibliobrandie's review
3.0
Survival story told in verse about a 12 year old girl who wakes up to find she is all alone. Everyone in her community has been evacuated as she slept. She must learn to survive as she tries to find out what has happened. I appreciated this as a novel in verse because you didn't get bogged down in the details of survival, but instead were moved right along the plot line. There were some moments where i was like Oh Come ON, now there's a flood?! But I think a lot of kids will like this one, especially fans of Canyon's Edge and Hatchet.