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A review by marylannireads
Away by Megan E. Freeman
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Without any warning at all, the world has suddenly turned on its head, and mandatory evacuations have taken countless families from their homes in Colorado to camps across the rural plains. In the absence of phones or television, it is impossible to fully comprehend the scope of the evacuation or why it has happened, so everyone must wait and hope for a positive resolution. As the weeks and months drag on, the evacuees band together to create a new kind of community, complete with religious gatherings and even school, much to the dismay of the children residing there. There appears to be no end in sight, and only time will tell when or how their lives may ever return to normal.
This companion to the verse novel Alone recounts the events of the same time period from the other side. Through the perspectives of multiple youth forced together by the evacuation, the experience becomes multifaceted and complex as their voices share their individual observations. Each character speaks in a manner that is authentic to their personality, whether in limited verse, film scripts, or journalistic articles, and this makes it clear for readers which character is speaking at any given time. Interspersed with these voices are occasional news bulletins that attempt to provide some factual information to support the observations of the children, but these formal declarations omit the personal feelings the youth are able to share. Characters and readers alike feel the seemingly interminable nature of time because of the experiences described in the narrative, though the book is punctuated by strategic divides that serve as anchor points for readers.
Similar to Alone, this book offers a depth of emotions with very few words, which is both striking and meaningful. Additionally, the ample white space and the overall design of the book help to make it accessible to a wide range of readers. Fans of Alone will appreciate this secondary approach to the same situation, and the resiliency of the human spirit is equally well represented in this book. Descriptive, powerful, and thought provoking, this novel is one that will resonate with readers long after its conclusion. This is an excellent addition to speculative fiction library collections for middle grade readers.
This companion to the verse novel Alone recounts the events of the same time period from the other side. Through the perspectives of multiple youth forced together by the evacuation, the experience becomes multifaceted and complex as their voices share their individual observations. Each character speaks in a manner that is authentic to their personality, whether in limited verse, film scripts, or journalistic articles, and this makes it clear for readers which character is speaking at any given time. Interspersed with these voices are occasional news bulletins that attempt to provide some factual information to support the observations of the children, but these formal declarations omit the personal feelings the youth are able to share. Characters and readers alike feel the seemingly interminable nature of time because of the experiences described in the narrative, though the book is punctuated by strategic divides that serve as anchor points for readers.
Similar to Alone, this book offers a depth of emotions with very few words, which is both striking and meaningful. Additionally, the ample white space and the overall design of the book help to make it accessible to a wide range of readers. Fans of Alone will appreciate this secondary approach to the same situation, and the resiliency of the human spirit is equally well represented in this book. Descriptive, powerful, and thought provoking, this novel is one that will resonate with readers long after its conclusion. This is an excellent addition to speculative fiction library collections for middle grade readers.