Why I Picked It Up:
A lot of my “reading” is done via audiobook. I’m a multi-tasker and I like to have something to listen to when I’m doing housework or driving somewhere. Lately, I’ve been working through the 2014 Lone Star Reading List, and this was the first one I found that was available for immediate download from our library’s online collection. I’m really coming to love the Lone Star List as my starting point for book selection because it’s like a box of chocolates – you REALLY never know what you’re going to get! In case you’re not familiar with the list, it is developed by the Texas Library Association to encourage students in grades 6, 7 and 8 to expand their reading repertoire. In many cases, it’s worked to expand my repertoire as well!
The list itself is just an alphabetical (by author list) with no book cover images. I could look them up if I really wanted to see and choose that way, but I know I will read them all eventually, so I go with what’s available. And I’m often surprised! If I’d seen this in a book store, I would not have picked it up. But thanks to the Lone Star List, I did, and I’m so glad!
Why I Finished It:
I am intrigued by the post-apocalyptic genre. Slightly frightened as I think about my own chances for survival, but mostly intrigued. This is the story of 16-year-old Nadia and her younger brother Rabbit (real name Robert) as they try to survive a world ravaged by the BluStar virus that claimed their mother and reach their uncle on the other side of the continent. One thing I really loved about this book, and a thing that I think sets it apart from other post-apocalyptic novels, is the primary focus on the sibling relationship. Even when Nadia and Rabbit do meet an eligible young man who also survived, the romance is more implicit and distract from the main goal of survival.
This was definitely a page-turner! As Nadia and Rabbit loaded up their Jeep with supplies sent by their Uncle Bean (who they thought was crazy when he had cases of water and food delivered to their house), I was hooked. I kept wondering how I would handle the situations that the kids faced. They had a survivalist uncle who prepped them well, but there were so many things that wouldn’t have crossed my mind!
Some of my favorite parts are what the author refers to in the author’s note at the end as “what ifs”. What if you were stuck in mall with no power? What if you had to hole up in an abandoned hotel? The novelty of those situations and the resourcefulness of the kids reminded me a lot of From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and the idea of camping out in a museum.
I loved the characters that Kizer shares with us in this book. As an older sister, I really connected with Nadia and her protector instincts. The depth of the characters is really what drew me to the end. I had to know – did they make it to the mine? Is their uncle going to be there waiting for them? Who can they trust?
Who I Would Give It To:
The possibilities are endless here! Fans of the distopian/post-apocalyptic genre will love it, though it is a change of pace from the rest of the genre (in my opinion). Fans of realistic fiction will enjoy the story because it is so realistic and doesn’t really require any suspension of disbelief. Fans of survival and adventure stories will also enjoy it because it is such an exciting and well-researched story (there is a detailed author’s note at the end with lots of opportunities to find out even more about pandemics and survival). It also reminded me a great deal of the TV show Revolution, so it would appeal to those fans as well.
Integration Ideas
Writing
Throughout the story, Nadia is haunted by her dad’s voice urging her to “be the cockroach” and to “survive the effect.” The sayings aren’t necessarily spelled out in the book, though the reader can pick on their meaning. Using text evidence from the book and any other examples, explain what it means to “be the cockroach” or “survive the effect.”
OR
“What if” you were… Think about a place like the mall or a national park or an event like aliens invading the earth and play the “what if” game. How would you survive? What resources would you use?
Creative Thinking
What would you take? What kinds of supplies would you need? What difference would geographic location make in what you decided to take? Use an online packing list tool like http://www.packwhiz.com/ to make a list and then justify the items on your list in a paragraph or two.
Technology/Geography
In one interview with the author, I read about how diligently she planned Nadia and Rabbit’s cross-country route. Using the locations stated explicitly in the story as well as the context clues and your own imagination, create a map showing the route they took and their stops along the way.
Example: http://goo.gl/zd8MEY
Use the Google Map tools to plot distance and pick specific routes based on info you read.
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