Ashfall by Mike Mullin
Publisher: Tanglewood Press
Publish Date: October 11, 2011
Hardcover, 466 pages
Fiction, Young Adult, Post-Apocalyptic
ISBN: 978-1933718552
Fiction, Young Adult, Post-Apocalyptic
ISBN: 978-1933718552
My Review:
Wow what an rush of all different emotions. Imagine being an everyday teenager, being a little perturbed at your parents for a normal reason. They've gone off to visit family for the the weekend and left you at home alone. And the the calamity of all calamities hits. At first you think it's something small, but then you realize it's something on a much grander scale and as each day goes by you realize that it has much more far reaching effects than you ever thought. This is where Alex is at within the first few pages of the book. From there it moves on to him venturing out from his hometown to try and find his parents.
Mike Mullin has imagined a world that really could exist in a time like this, looting, attacks, murder, all just for a little food. It's all about survival and while Alex wants to believe in the best in people we know from other situations in our world that disaster situations do not always bring out the best in people. But while Alex does meet some bad people on his way to Warren, Illinois, he also meets some generous people like Darla and her mother. Taking the good and bad along the way, Alex never gives up and with Darla who's life on the farm makes her the best person to have along on the trek they just might make it to where they are going.
I found the landscape descriptions and the weather descriptions to be very haunting but realistic. I enjoyed the character development especially the "city boy" of Alex pitted against the "country girl" of Darla. I like that Alex never let his ego get to him so much as to not let Darla use her skills to the advantage to help them the best. Alex was a gentleman to the max but he was also a boy. I liked watching their sweet romance blossom after they worked through some animosity. They really made a great team.
Ashfall is a great "what if" post-apocalyptic book and one of the most realistic books I've read in awhile. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. The plot kept me turning pages and the characters kept me engaged in the story. It ended in a way that ties things up enough but I am hoping there will be another book because I really want to know how things continue in this post-apocalyptic society and how Alex and Darla continue to fare. I care about these two characters and they will stay in my mind for quite a while.
My Rating: 4.5/5.0
About the Book:
Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.
Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.
About the Author:
Website
Blog
Giveaway Information
Mike will be giving away a hardback of ASHFALL first editions during each week of the blog tour (that means 4 hardbacks) to a random commenter. Open to the US/Canada only and in addition to the weekly giveaway - Mike is offering 1 copy to be given away to an International commenter as long as The Book Depository ships to your country. So comment away to be entered in this week's drawing.
15 comments:
INTERNATIONAL
Reading through the list of jobs taken by Mike Mullin, I can only say that what does not kill you makes you stronger.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
This books sounds great! Thanks so much for the random giveaway! I'm on a book buying ban right now (my husband is making me) so hopefully I can win some books!
E(dot)baker219(at)gmail(dot)com
This sounds like such a fascinating and thrilling book!
I have a bit of an obsession with post-apocalyptic books/movies/shows so this book is exactly my kind of "thing" :D
Great review and insight into Ashfall. Thanks for the random giveaway.
:) Aeicha
wordspelunker(at)gmail(dot)com
I would love, love, love to win this!
Thanks so much.
adsanders77 at gmail dot com
I don't normally read this type of book - apocalyptic style. But this book sounds really good. Count me in - I can't wait to see what the world looks like through Alex's eyes.
clenna at aol dot com
Sounds like my type of book. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Findjessyhere at gmail dot com
I cannot wait to get this book. I've been excited for it for months!! Thank you for the giveaway!
jbronderblogs at aol dot com
Thanks for the chance to win this book!
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
I would love to read this book. Please enter me. Thanks!
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
please enter me too. i like the premise of the book ^^
witchvela at web dot de
Oo it makes me want to watch Dante's Peak. Haven't read this one! thanks new follower found you through twirps
tlabunski **((gmail))**
Pabkins @ Mission to Read
Ooh, this sounds good! I like that it's not just a dystopian survival novel, but one that has the MC actively searching for his parents. Thanks for the giveaway op to win a copy!
Smiles!
Lori
serena423[@]yahoo.com
@Pabkins I forgot about Dante's Peak. Great movie; I might have to go search it down and watch it again. Who doesn't love Pierce Brosnan? Thanks for the giveaway!
candicerjames [at] gmail [dot] com
Sounds like a great read. Definitely getting added to my to-read list
tommygirl828 (at) gmail (dot) com
Sounds awesome I'm so looking forward to reading this! And love the cover!
linaramz at yahoo dot com
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