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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
Ashfall by Mike Mullin starts with a terrific premise. The dormant volcano under Yellowstone National Park, which last erupted 640,000 or so years ago, explodes, burying the western U.S. under ash and creating a world of darkness.
The main character is a teenager who lives in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Alex’s family wants him to come along on a visit to family in Illinois; an argument ensues and he convinces his parents to let him stay behind alone for the weekend. When the volcano erupts his house is crushed by flying debris and he is trapped. He manages to free himself and make his way to his neighbors’ home. Eventually, he decides to strike out alone, travelling over the ash on his father’s old skis, to find his family in Illinois. He finds a traveling companion, a teenaged girl named Darla, and Ashfall tells the story of their journey together.
The science of the eruption seems plausible, but the timeline struck me as extremely condensed. I can believe rifle-toting farmers refusing to let other refugees on to their property, but some of the other conditions seem unlikely in the early days after a disaster. Darla and Alex encounter a woman who is afraid they are going to kill and eat her and her children because a mob captured her husband. “They’d built a bonfire. … Above it, spitted like a pig, there was my Roger. … They were roasting my Roger. Roasting him like a pig.” (p. 289) I found this very unbelievable.
Later, Darla and Alex end up in a refugee camp run by FEMA. There is no food except a single cup of rice per person each day. Even if the U.S. were down to the last remnants of food, I don’t think the last thing left would be white rice. After striking an authority figure, Alex is thrown into a punishment hut and left to die. (Darla rescues him.) The authorities also shoot all animals brought into the camp. (Darla carries a rabbit through all kinds of trials only to see it shot at the camp.) I don’t believe the U. S. government would treat its citizens the way people are treated in Ashfall so soon after a disaster. Neglect and incompetence I can believe, but not the behavior described in Ashfall.
The dissolving of American society into anarchy is not hard to imagine, but it all seems to happen too quickly. Still, this book is a quick read with a lot of action, and it will appeal to fans of The Hunger Games, Divergent, Delirium, and other dystopian series.
The main character is a teenager who lives in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Alex’s family wants him to come along on a visit to family in Illinois; an argument ensues and he convinces his parents to let him stay behind alone for the weekend. When the volcano erupts his house is crushed by flying debris and he is trapped. He manages to free himself and make his way to his neighbors’ home. Eventually, he decides to strike out alone, travelling over the ash on his father’s old skis, to find his family in Illinois. He finds a traveling companion, a teenaged girl named Darla, and Ashfall tells the story of their journey together.
The science of the eruption seems plausible, but the timeline struck me as extremely condensed. I can believe rifle-toting farmers refusing to let other refugees on to their property, but some of the other conditions seem unlikely in the early days after a disaster. Darla and Alex encounter a woman who is afraid they are going to kill and eat her and her children because a mob captured her husband. “They’d built a bonfire. … Above it, spitted like a pig, there was my Roger. … They were roasting my Roger. Roasting him like a pig.” (p. 289) I found this very unbelievable.
Later, Darla and Alex end up in a refugee camp run by FEMA. There is no food except a single cup of rice per person each day. Even if the U.S. were down to the last remnants of food, I don’t think the last thing left would be white rice. After striking an authority figure, Alex is thrown into a punishment hut and left to die. (Darla rescues him.) The authorities also shoot all animals brought into the camp. (Darla carries a rabbit through all kinds of trials only to see it shot at the camp.) I don’t believe the U. S. government would treat its citizens the way people are treated in Ashfall so soon after a disaster. Neglect and incompetence I can believe, but not the behavior described in Ashfall.
The dissolving of American society into anarchy is not hard to imagine, but it all seems to happen too quickly. Still, this book is a quick read with a lot of action, and it will appeal to fans of The Hunger Games, Divergent, Delirium, and other dystopian series.
I would give this book more stars if I could. Enjoyed this book so very much! I haven’t ever read any book like this. So glad there are more books to the series. To think this is a children’s book! Kids get the best things.
adventurous
dark
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
Oh my. I couldn't decide whether I should put this in my middle school library or not. There are a couple of intense scenes involving violence against women. Books like this make me think that I need a really clear collection policy, at least in my own mind. Anyway, this book was a page turner, and I just whipped through it the moment I picked it up at Powells (10 year anniversary splurge!). I even read it on the airplane, which was intense. I know airplanes aren't directly related to explosions of supervolcanoes, but they do present me with freaky scenarios, and I usually don't combine books that make me uncomfortable with situations that make me uncomfortable.
More Reviews at: Rondo of Possible World
I must bow down to you Mr. Mullin, for it takes quite a bit to get my stomach knotting, and you good sir had done just that.
It is hard for me to find a good book with a mail protagonist that i enjoy. Just the feeling of trying to step into shoes that usually are much larger than my own (I have petite feet) is a challenge for myself as a female reader. Gender aside, Alex was an adoring character that had me rooting for him on the sidelines through all his troubles.
Though there were parts that seemed a tad slow and the sentence structure was slightly choppy in places, the journey of Alex and Darla surly made up for that. Not only that but you get a little bit of everything in this book: Action, Adventure, Romance. What is not to love about this book?
Oh my, do not get me started on that cover. Simply ominous. It's breathtaking and truly had me drawn in.
Kudos Mr. Mullin, for you have me swooning over this book not only to my family but pretty much to those who have cursed themselves by talking to me. And I am truly excited to hear that there is going to be a sequel to this book, something that aches to wait for but longing to look forward to.
I must bow down to you Mr. Mullin, for it takes quite a bit to get my stomach knotting, and you good sir had done just that.
It is hard for me to find a good book with a mail protagonist that i enjoy. Just the feeling of trying to step into shoes that usually are much larger than my own (I have petite feet) is a challenge for myself as a female reader. Gender aside, Alex was an adoring character that had me rooting for him on the sidelines through all his troubles.
Though there were parts that seemed a tad slow and the sentence structure was slightly choppy in places, the journey of Alex and Darla surly made up for that. Not only that but you get a little bit of everything in this book: Action, Adventure, Romance. What is not to love about this book?
Oh my, do not get me started on that cover. Simply ominous. It's breathtaking and truly had me drawn in.
Kudos Mr. Mullin, for you have me swooning over this book not only to my family but pretty much to those who have cursed themselves by talking to me. And I am truly excited to hear that there is going to be a sequel to this book, something that aches to wait for but longing to look forward to.
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Well now I know how I'd die if the supervolcano under Yellowstone erupted: eaten by cannibals.
This book is both horrifying and excellent.
This book is both horrifying and excellent.
I loved this one, and my son blew through all 3 books in less than a week.
I originally put this down as SF, but it's not, really. It's this world, but it's after a disaster, a super-volcano, has erupted, and how two teenagers in particular deal with it.