kim_j_dare 's review for:

We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach

4.0

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Peter, Eliza, Andy, and Anita attend the same Seattle high school, but move in different circles. Peter is the star basketball player, Eliza the reclusive photographer, Andy the good-natured stoner, and Anita the college-bound daughter whose parents have decided she'll be a doctor in spite of her passion for music. Life moves along a fairly predictable trajectory for these four teens. When scientists discover an asteroid streaking along the far edges of space, newscasters tout ARDR-1388 as the source of a pretty light show. But the scientists soon realize that Ardor is on a collision course with Earth. After President Obama solemnly tells the American public that there's a two-thirds chance that the asteroid is going to collide with Earth in about eight weeks, normalcy goes out the window. Within days, people stop showing up for school or for work, businesses close, utilities shut down, looting commences, and Seattle, along with much of the country, turns into a militarized zone. Chapters alternate between the four teens as they respond to the almost-certain end of the world in different ways that ultimately lead to their connecting with one another. Wallach has given readers a fast-paced story and a realistic portrayal of different reactions to calamity. An enjoyable read with a satisfying and thought-provoking ending. Some casual sex and recreational drug use make this most suitable for grades 9 and up.

Thanks to Edelweiss for the digital ARC.