Susan Beth Pfeffer

27 Jan 2012 2 Comments

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Paperback: 321 pages
Publisher: Graphia (June 1, 2008)
The Last Survivors Series #2

Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life as We Knew It enthralled and devastated readers with its brutal but hopeful look at an apocalyptic event–an asteroid hitting the moon, setting off a tailspin of horrific climate changes. Now this harrowing companion novel examines the same events as they unfold in New York City, revealed through the eyes of seventeen-year-old Puerto Rican Alex Morales. When Alex’s parents disappear in the aftermath of tidal waves, he must care for his two younger sisters, even as Manhattan becomes a deadly wasteland, and food and aid dwindle.

With haunting themes of family, faith, personal change, and courage, this powerful new novel explores how a young man takes on unimaginable responsibilities

Once again, I am completely blown away by Pfeffer’s captivating continuation of The Last Survivors series. This installment introduces the Morales family of New York City, giving the apocalyptic tale a new angle. We go through the initial onset of the disaster for a second time, but Pfeffer keeps it new and exciting. Even though we know exactly what will happen, we are still shocked by the dramatic emotional content.

Alex is suddenly thrust into the adult role of the household with younger siblings under his care. Emotions run high as Alex struggles to care for his sisters. Lack of food, heat, and not knowing if their parents are alive or dead weighs heavy on his mind.

The level of realism in this series is heartbreaking and emotional, no matter how you look at it. The differences between Life As We Know It and The Dead and the Gone are unbelievable. I was concerned at first that the stories might be too similar but other than the disaster itself, the situations are more different than I thought possible. The religious aspect is much higher in this installment and fits nicely with the characters’ family background.

I highly recommend this series to readers of all ages as it puts life, death, responsibilities, and family into perspective. A must-read

by Jennifer in Reviews, Young Adult Tags: , , ,

17 Jan 2012 No Comments

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Paperback: 337 pages
Publisher: Graphia (May 1, 2008)
The Last Survivors Series #1

Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove.

Told in journal entries, this is the heart-pounding story of Miranda’s struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all–hope–in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world.

Once I began reading The Last Survivors series, I was immediately shaken and enthralled in the realistic setting that Pfeffer created. The emotional quality of this heart-stopping novel brought me to my knees as Miranda’s world came to a stand still. As the once quiet town turns upside-down and Miranda’s mother changes in ways she doesn’t understand, you sense the stress and pressure that each of her family members experience.

I was literally blown away by the descriptions and real-world feel of every aspect of the novel. Having experienced hurricanes and tornadoes with loss of power, water, and not having the ability to get what you need hits close to home, making it easy to relate to the situation the characters are in.

Pfeffer takes readers on a wild ride that I found to be startling and emotionally-charged from beginning to end. Apocalyptic novels are becoming a fast favorite and this novel is a perfect example of why. This gripping first installment in The Last Survivor series will captivate readers that enjoy a heart-pounding and emotional plot with characters that leap from the pages. A must-read for all ages!

by Jennifer in Reviews, Young Adult Tags: , ,

09 Jan 2012 No Comments

Enclave by Ann Aguirre (Audio)

Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Audiobook: 6 discs
Publisher: MacMillan Audio (April 12, 2011)
Razorland Series #1

WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups-Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear–to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first she thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.

Aguirre draws readers into this amazingly intense apocalyptic adventure from the very first page, never ceasing to capture your attention with the unusual lifestyle the characters live. As the story begins, we are immediately introduced to Girl 15 as she prepares for her naming ceremony, where she is renamed Deuce and given the scars that mark her as a huntress. Names are very special in Enclave, as many brats do not live long enough to experience the ritual. Deuce is one of the lucky ones and takes it very seriously. She wished more than anything to become a Huntress and wear her Huntress marks with pride. After she receives her marks, she soon realizes that the Enclave isn’t as perfect as she once thought.  Once she is teamed up with the enigmatic Fade, many questions arise as their time together progresses. Once the Freaks begin to slink ever closer to the Enclave and the other colonies, survival becomes increasingly difficult.

Enclave was a breath of fresh air as far as apocalyptic tales go. The mystery of the Enclave and the elders added drama to an already intense situation. The characters were vibrant and memorable, making it easy to cheer them on as they found themselves between a rock and a hard spot. Seeing them grow as individuals only made them more likable. The Freaks are definitely freaky. I could easily imagine them as being similar in nature to the zombies on The Walking Dead or 33 days Later. I’d like to have learned a little more about them. Aguirre’s world-building and descriptions are phenomenal, keeping you engulfed in the nightmare world Deuce and Fade call home. I don’t know if I would stand a chance in Aguirre’s world but the realistic, yet horrifying feel, is definitely unsettling.

Overall, Enclave is an action-packed read that stands out amongst the scores of apocalyptic novels available today.  I highly recommend it to readers that enjoyed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and the The Last Survivors Series by Susan Beth Pfeffer.

Special Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the review copy.

by Jennifer in Audio Books, Reviews, Young Adult Tags: , , , , , , ,