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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Starting my new reading year with a book that I’d never would have picked up if I didn’t discover it through the StoryGraph Genres Challenge, and I love this fact! (Also my first novel written in verse 😊🥰)
This is the story of Maddie, a 13 year old girl who finds herself completely alone in her hometown after she misses a mass evacuation because of an “imminent threat”.
At first I struggled a bit to connect with the writing style in verse, but after a while I got adjusted to it and I found it really engaging and fitting for the dystopian setting. The strongest asset of this book for me is indeed the fact that the writing style did a really good job of reflecting the sensations and emotions of loss, grief, fear and isolation that anybody in Maddie’s shoes would feel. It also described very realistic scenarios and portrayed a survival story that felt real and emotional, and I admit that the end made my eyes a little watery. I feel like the themes explored in this book also offer a great opportunity of self-exploration for teens and some of them may feel seen despite the dystopian setting, since parts of Maddie’s journey can reflect universal experiences of loss, loneliness and grief.
My rating isn’t higher mainly because, despite being a really fast read, after a while I found it a bit repetitive and think that the ending (although I was happy about it) was rushed, providing no explanation of the threat that put Maddie in this situation in the first place.
Still I really enjoyed my experience with this book and felt really connected to Maddie, which for me is always the best sign that the characters are well-written and something that I love to feel while reading.
So I absolutely recommend it! ✨💜
This is the story of Maddie, a 13 year old girl who finds herself completely alone in her hometown after she misses a mass evacuation because of an “imminent threat”.
At first I struggled a bit to connect with the writing style in verse, but after a while I got adjusted to it and I found it really engaging and fitting for the dystopian setting. The strongest asset of this book for me is indeed the fact that the writing style did a really good job of reflecting the sensations and emotions of loss, grief, fear and isolation that anybody in Maddie’s shoes would feel. It also described very realistic scenarios and portrayed a survival story that felt real and emotional, and I admit that the end made my eyes a little watery. I feel like the themes explored in this book also offer a great opportunity of self-exploration for teens and some of them may feel seen despite the dystopian setting, since parts of Maddie’s journey can reflect universal experiences of loss, loneliness and grief.
My rating isn’t higher mainly because, despite being a really fast read, after a while I found it a bit repetitive and think that the ending (although I was happy about it) was rushed, providing no explanation of the threat that put Maddie in this situation in the first place.
Still I really enjoyed my experience with this book and felt really connected to Maddie, which for me is always the best sign that the characters are well-written and something that I love to feel while reading.
So I absolutely recommend it! ✨💜
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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:
Complicated
What a roller coaster! I would have devoured that in one sitting if my family had let me!
3.25 rounded down. I flew through this book in verse needing to know what happened next. I thought the author did a good job with tension but the numerous natural disasters bordered on ridiculous to the point where the story just stopped being believable. Compounded with the fact that there was truly zero acknowledgement of what actually made her circumstances occur and I just ended the book entirely frustrated more than anything. Had the author put some more time into deciding how the major event would have come to be and taken out the over the top natural disasters I would have loved this.
Such an amazing free verse novel. There are so many stories that could pair well with this one (Island of the Blue dolphins, 96 Miles). I think as a classroom teacher, you could unpack the aspects of poetry, the environment, and the ability to survive all alone. Readers will love this one. It’s scary enough in parts to be very realistic.
Grades 6 and up.
Grades 6 and up.
My highest reviews are often juvenile fiction. Great writing for kids makes me happy! Totally recommend this book! Who doesn’t love a survivor???
I devoured this book! I was so stressed out for this poor teenaged girl, and waiting, impatiently, alongside her, for rescue. The trials she faced broke my mama heart!
I do think the ending came quite abruptly and I wasn't too thrilled with the conclusion, but I do feel like it was an appropriate ending for a middle grade book. It just fell kind of flat for me, after such a tense and emotional journey with Maddie.
This story of a young girl, growing up way too soon, due to poor decisions and being in the very wrong place at the very wrong time, was an interesting spin on dystopia that I haven't yet experienced. I love dystopian stories and I'm very glad I gave this one a read!
I do think the ending came quite abruptly and I wasn't too thrilled with the conclusion, but I do feel like it was an appropriate ending for a middle grade book. It just fell kind of flat for me, after such a tense and emotional journey with Maddie.
This story of a young girl, growing up way too soon, due to poor decisions and being in the very wrong place at the very wrong time, was an interesting spin on dystopia that I haven't yet experienced. I love dystopian stories and I'm very glad I gave this one a read!
