by Susan Beth Pfeffer
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| List Price: | $17.00 |
| Average Rating: |  |
| Lowest New Price: | $22.78 |
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Product Description
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.
Amazon.com Review
It's almost the end of Miranda's sophomore year in high school, and her journal reflects the busy life of a typical teenager: conversations with friends, fights with mom, and fervent hopes for a driver's license. When Miranda first begins hearing the reports of a meteor on a collision course with the moon, it hardly seems worth a mention in her diary. But after the meteor hits, pushing the moon off its axis and causing worldwide earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanoes, all the things Miranda used to take for granted begin to disappear. Food and gas shortages, along with extreme weather changes, come to her small Pennsylvania town; and Miranda's voice is by turns petulant, angry, and finally resigned, as her family is forced to make tough choices while they consider their increasingly limited options. Yet even as suspicious neighbors stockpile food in anticipation of a looming winter without heat or electricity, Miranda knows that that her future is still hers to decide even if life as she knew it is over. Veteran author Susan Beth Pfeffer, who penned the young adult classic The Year Without Michael over twenty years ago, makes a stunning comeback with this haunting book that documents one adolescent's journey from self-absorbed child to selfless young woman. Teen readers won't soon forget this intimate story of survival and its subtle message about the treasuring the things that matter most—-family, friendship, and hope.--Jennifer Hubert
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Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 Amazing Book!, 2008-11-16
Wow! I finished this last night and it is truly amazing.
Its about a girl named Miranda and her family struggling to survive when a meteor knocks the moon out of orbit causing many things to happen. Those things aren't good.
This book is heart-pounding, sad, and it got me thinking alot about if I was in the same situation. You want to just keep reading and reading to see what happens to Miranda, her family, and everything around them. Its a fast start too. It starts and it never slows down! Susan Pfeffer has such an imagination!
One of my favorite books!
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
This One Will Stay With You!, 2008-10-31
What an amazing book! And heart-pounding! And sad! And terrifying! And disturbing! I could go on and on but I think you get the picture! Life as we Knew it by Susan Beth Pfeffer tells the horrifying story of Miranda and her family after a meteor knocks the moon closer to earth. The horror is unimaginable. It was very difficult to read this book. At times I would be crying and other times I would be so hopeful. It was a rollercoaster of emotions. I had to force myself to put the book down even though I didn't want to. I actually had a few bad dreams because of this book. But don't let that put you off. It was an amazing story. Miranda and her family go through ordeals that I wouldn't wish on anyone! The best thing about the book is how they are able to hope and try to live life in the midst of chaos! The ending had me on the edge of my seat! Find out what happens for yourself!
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
 A pleasant and painful read, 2008-10-14
"Life As We Knew It" is exciting, thought-provoking, and unique in this genre for its realism. By using Miranda's diary as the method to tell the story, the reader really does get a chance to participate in the events as they unfold.
The reviews posted so far on Amazon are sufficient in summarizing the plot and commenting on the quality of the writing. It's obvious that a few issues stand out to many readers, and that those of us who have read this book are interested in what others think about them, so for that reason I'll offer my own opinions.
First, I'm not a scientist, and I can't comment on the feasibility of the asteroid/moon event. To me, it's just a device to set up the story - the author needed a worldwide cataclysm, and invented a cosmic event. If your fiction choices have to line up with hard science and you won't be able to get past this scenario, you probably shouldn't try reading this book.
Yes, I thought the jabs at the President, Fox News, etc., were unnecessary to the story, and only served to alienate part of the audience. Aside from that, I found Miranda's Mom to be a very interesting character. I cheered for her when she took quick, decisive action in buying supplies (even thinking of cat food, tampons, and baby clothes) and growing food. Many readers have accused her of cruelty or inconsistency; but I think her struggles were entirely realistic. She had to make the choice to provide for her family; to her, this meant shutting off her compassion for the outside world - and she's clearly tormented by it. But she still is able to open her heart to enfold her ex-husband and his new wife and unborn child, as well as an elderly family friend; and she does everything she can to provide some sense of normalcy for her family (like sending Johnny to baseball camp).
The biggest turn-off to many readers seems to be Ms. Pfeffer's evident anti-Christian bias, and I agree that it's discouraging to see how many recent teen novels portray people of faith as only brazen hypocrites or deluded fanatics. I understand that in the sequel, she presents the main characters as devout believers who hold to their faith while facing doubts and asking honest questions - but would it have been so difficult to show some balance, instead of reaching for two extremes? The only examples of religious belief the author could show us in "Life As We Knew It" are bit characters who naively hope for God's protection as the world falls apart around them, and poor Megan, who belongs to a sect whose members point fingers of judgment at others and punish themselves even more severely. When disaster strikes in this country, the local churches are the first to provide food, clothing, shelter, and comfort. For every highly publicized group placing blame, there are a dozen organizations and countless volunteers helping to save lives and reclaim what was lost. For all its realism in other areas, it's surprising that you can't find a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, medical clinic, or school sponsored by churches in Miranda's town. They all seem to be too busy berating people and starving themselves to death.
Though the armed gangs were mentioned briefly, they did not seem to be much of a threat. With the shortages of food and other supplies, I think there would have been constant danger from raiders invading private homes. Maybe this was conveniently avoided, since it would have led to the question of the necessity of having a gun to protect one's home and family.
Regardless of its weaknesses, this novel will make you think, and your mind will place you in Miranda's blighted world for quite some time to come as you consider how you and your family would survive there.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Great Book!, 2008-09-19
This book is so interesting. I am reading it aloud to my middle school grandchildren. We are all enjoying it. What a page turner!
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
The perfect diet book, 2008-09-18
Miranda and her mother and brother are staying up late to witness an asteroid that is supposed to be hitting the moon. They have taken their lawn chairs and a plate of cookies out and are making a family party of it. But when the asteroid strikes the moon, the moon is pushed out of its orbit towards the earth. They go inside to watch CNN report that tsunamis are destroying all coastal cities. Miranda's brother Jonny offhandedly asks, "Is the world going to end?"
There won't be any more chocolate chip cookies in their lives for a very long time. Pfeffer creates a compelling network of characters, people we really identify and care about, and then makes us watch them try to survive a Pennsylvania winter on the food and water they purchased in one desperate rushed trip to a grocery store right after the crash.
After you read this book - in one sitting, trust me - you will never look at a can of green beans again in the same way again. This is one of those rare books that reminds us just what we have, how much we can lose, and how we can still be grateful for what we have left. Tired of shopping and daily chores? Bored with the selection on TV? Read this book. It's not often a book can make you look at your life in a whole new light.
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