Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

What would you do if a meteor hit the moon and caused an apocalyptic climate change that left billions dead and forced you to survive in the world with no modern conveniences, such as heat, running water, or refrigeration? And did I forget to mention that everyone is out to protect themselves and just may kill you for your can of beans? Or that disease has run rampant and your loved ones may not survive against an onslaught of West Nile virus, and the deadliest flu in a hundred years?

These are the situations that Miranda, the main character who just wanted to enjoy high school, has to face in Life As We Knew It. The novel is written in diary form by Miranda herself. In the beginning she is just enjoying being a teenager, school, and hanging with her friends and wrestling with her feelings about her divorced parents and how her step-mom is expecting a new baby in a few months. Miranda mentions off handedly that a meteor is expected to hit the moon and how everyone is excited to see it occur. After the meteor impact the moon changes (it’s tilted and looms larger in the sky) and so does Miranda’s life. Immediately the ocean tides rage out of control flooding the coastal regions of the world. Volcanoes spring up where none existed before. It could quite possibly be the end of humankind. Fortunately, Miranda’s mother has the foresight to stock up on supplies (food, water, winter clothing). Miranda’s family decide to hole up at their house at the edge of town instead of migrating south like a large majority of people. But with four people in the house and chaotic weather patterns will they have enough to make it through winter? And even if they do, will civilization be waiting there for them? Or will they truly be alone and just forestalling their own extinction?

If you can’t tell I really enjoyed this book. It took me a while to get into the diary format but once I did the story became a real page turner. There is a lot of suspense, and heartfelt drama as this family struggle with surviving and surviving each other. It reminded me a lot of Hollywood disaster movies but better, since this story has real characters and situations that anyone could relate to. The book is appropriate for all ages, but would especially appeal to girls or anyone who is into disaster yarns.

Life As We Knew It has a sequel, The Dead and the Gone, about a boy surviving the same event, but in New York. I really can’t wait to read it and it has a lot to live up to!

Posted under a librarian reads, review