It's time to shout-out another birthday! This read is a partner book to the popular Alone by the same author. It's a book in verse about a girl who finds herself alone on the planet as everyone else has been evacuated. Both books are written in verse. I did enjoy the first one, although I found it a bit drawn on some of the logic. But the writer does a beautiful job, so I'm excited to see where she takes this next book.
AWAY
by Megan E. Freeman
Aladdin
Middle Grade Dystopian / Poetry
480 pages
ages 8 to 12
A group of children investigate the threat that prompted large-scale evacuations in this powerful and dramatic companion novel to the New York Times bestselling Alone told in multiple POVs.
After an imminent yet unnamed danger forces people across Colorado to leave their homes, a group of kids including an aspiring filmmaker and a budding journalist find themselves in the same evacuation camp. As they cope with the aftermath of having their world upended, they grow curious about the mysterious threat.
And as they begin to investigate, they start to discover that there’s less truth and more cover-up to what they’re being told. Can they get to the root of the conspiracy, expose the bad actors, and bring an end to the upheaval before it’s too late?
After an imminent yet unnamed danger forces people across Colorado to leave their homes, a group of kids including an aspiring filmmaker and a budding journalist find themselves in the same evacuation camp. As they cope with the aftermath of having their world upended, they grow curious about the mysterious threat.
And as they begin to investigate, they start to discover that there’s less truth and more cover-up to what they’re being told. Can they get to the root of the conspiracy, expose the bad actors, and bring an end to the upheaval before it’s too late?
MY TIDBITS
Fear, uncertainty, and friendship come through loud and clear on every page.
Four kids enjoy their normal lives unaware that everything is about to be turned upside-down. When agents appear at their doors and evacuate everyone to camps, angst is high. Thanks to toxins, the world is dying around them...or so they are told. They are shipped around and moved from camp to camp until they finally all come together. The four become friends and realize that there's more to what's happening than anyone is telling them. And it isn't good.
This book is written from the four characters' points of view: two in verse, one in script form (to match the movie desires), and one in letters and news reports. The voices are very distinct, which makes it easy to keep them apart and enjoy each personality, since each character gets a chance to hit the reader on a more personal level. While a little confusing, at first, they pacing soon settles into a grabbing rhythm and pulls into the world and circumstances.
The camp isn't instantly there, and the social life develops over time. This gives it a more believable flow and allows things to gain depth and sink in. The tensions are understandable and keep the pages turning as the mystery and danger grow. It's easy to root for the characters as they come together and take on the 'evil', and there's enough realistic aspects to keep it grounded...and make the characters easier to fever for. Several logic holes still sneak in, but nothing which breaks the tension.
Dystopian and adventure fans will enjoy the conspiracy, dangers, and inspiring friendship bonds.
And here she is...
Megan E. Freeman attended an elementary school where poets visited her classroom every week, and she has been a writer ever since. She writes middle grade and young adult fiction. Megan is also a Pushcart Prize–nominated poet. An award-winning teacher with decades of classroom experience, Megan taught multiple subjects across the arts and humanities to students of all ages. She lives near Boulder, Colorado. Visit her online at MeganEFreeman.com.
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