Review: Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Read from September 1, 2012
to September 4, 2012

Book: Life As We Knew It (The Last Survivors #1) by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Publisher: Graphia
Number of Pages: 337
Genre/s: Young Adult, Apocalyptic

I guess I always felt even if the world came to an end, McDonald’s still would be open. 

High school sophomore Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when an asteroid knocks the moon closer to Earth, the way “one marble hits another.” The result is catastrophic. How can her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis are wiping out the coasts, earthquakes are rocking the continents, and volcanic ash is blocking out the sun? As August turns dark and wintry in northeastern Pennsylvania, 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 a year’s worth of journal entries, this heart-pounding story chronicles Miranda’s struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all—hope—in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world. - From Goodreads

Here's the funny thing about the world coming to an end. Once it gets going, it doesn't seem to stop.

I wish I've read Life As We Knew It sooner. 

It is so refreshing to read something like this. An apocalyptic novel who focused on just being an end-of-the-world story. The characters encountered harrowing experiences and their lives were complicated because of what's happening around them, a completely plausible scenario that could happen anytime from now or in the near future. It wasn't fascinating because of the love story, or because there are zombies or robots out there, or because the government is acting all crazy to have power and control over society. It was just because the asteroid hit the moon, the moon got closer to Earth, then all hell broke loose. 

I'm the one not caring. I'm the one pretending the earth isn't shattering all around me because I don't want it to be...I don't want to have anything more to be afraid of...I didn't start this diary for it be a record of death. 

I was pleasantly surprised when I found out Life As We Know It was written like a journal. It made the book all the more gripping, realistic and I get to know and care for the characters. I kept reading everywhere. At the Mcdonald's for about 2 1/2 hours (No kidding!), at our field trip, at class, at lunch. I just couldn't get enough of it. I might sound heartless but I almost wish I hadn't finish it so soon because I enjoyed reading Miranda's POV and the thrill of the unexpected was indeed riveting.

The atmosphere of the book was splendidly done, too. You almost feel claustrophobic as well because the setting is just in one place. You are cut off from the civilization and the only form of connection from others are late letters, static radios and dwindling neighbors. 

The feeling of living day by day with no certain future to look forward to scares me. You don't know if dying the instant the world went wrong was better than living in the aftermath of it. Of making do with what little you have and finding the most happiness in things you wouldn't even appreciate before. If anything, Life As We Know It made me think.   

I've yet to process the whole religion thing. Not that I thought it was badly handled. It's just that I felt like it was glossed over or shoved in the corner. Or maybe I just thought I would have gotten something out of it.

Life As We Knew It portrayed survival, sacrifices, and realizing that life is full of uncertainty. But Life As We Knew It also represented the true of being a family. That you could get through the toughest of times with them. That with family you would do anything just to survive. That being with each other builds hope. I am positive they would not survive if they weren't part of each others lives. 

What am I doing with my life last 2008 that I haven't even heard of this book? I do not know. I am so lucky the world didn't end back then or else I would've missed this solid apocalyptic novel.

Cupid's Verdict:

4 Cupids