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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
Megan E. Freeman's new novel is a heartwrenching tale of survival and hope. I could not put this book down! Maddie goes through realistic periods of despair and hope and grows into a strong independent young woman by the end. Readers will be engrossed in her story and curious about what caused the evacuation in the first place. Now I want a sequel that shows what was happening on the outside and Maddie learns to be with people again after years on her own. There is one scene of animal cruelty that is necessary to the plot, but it's something to be aware of for more sensitive readers. This book is definitely a conversation starter, and I would recommend teachers and parents read it with kids and engage in discussion.
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I read this one so that I could do research for a novel study. It would be a great novel for grade 7 and up. You probably could even weave in poetry and lots of social justice. Great cross-curricular book. Some very heavy topics though.
I liked it. Good character. Good development. Lots of really good topics.
I liked it. Good character. Good development. Lots of really good topics.
This had been recommended several times by a dear friend, but it took me too many proddings to finally pick it up. I opened it at 10 pm to start before bed....and closed it at 2 am when I was finished. I read it straight through. It's that good. Written in verse, this is the story of a 12 year old girl left alone in her town during a dystopian evacuation. It not too harrowing or scary, but it is unputdownable. I will be passing this on to my 12 year old immediately. Highly recommend.
Absolutely amazing!! "Alone" had me entranced from beginning to end. I loved the connection with "Island of the Blue Dolphins" throughout the book.
Spoiler
I think my only complaint would be that I wished the reason for the evacuation was more... Dramatic, you could say. I'm not upset with how it ended, especially since Maddie reunited with her family, but a government scam just underwhelmed me. You go through the entire book wondering what happened only for it all to be caused by government officials basically lying about some imminent threat. This may have just been the wrong book for something dramatic like that but I wish we'd been given more for why everyone disappeared. I think that ending worked for the book as a whole, but I was still left wishing for more since that aspect really intrigued me. Overall an amazing book; that aspect was the only disappointing thing I experienced.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A beautifully written book. The book being written in verse helps you feel in touch with Maddy's emotions and experiences throughout
adventurous
challenging
tense
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:
Complicated
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 5/5 Stars
I read this in 2 sittings, but only because I was interrupted the first time. I ready this greedily, hungrily, and only wanted more.
I was lucky enough to hear Megan speak on her book, AND have her sign it at my local bookstore. She is the kindest soul you could meet. I’m now a lifelong fan!
I read this in 2 sittings, but only because I was interrupted the first time. I ready this greedily, hungrily, and only wanted more.
I was lucky enough to hear Megan speak on her book, AND have her sign it at my local bookstore. She is the kindest soul you could meet. I’m now a lifelong fan!
“maybe God
sends us nightmares
so our living reality
doesn’t seem so bad
when we wake up”
A really amazing read.
sends us nightmares
so our living reality
doesn’t seem so bad
when we wake up”
A really amazing read.
Started out full of action and intrigue, and then got boring toward the end. How does she end up facing 5 different natural disasters in 2 years? And I thought there weren’t tornadoes in Colorado?