Title: This World We Live In
Author: Susan Beth Pfeffer
Release date: April 1, 2010
Publisher: Harcourt Children’s Books
Pages: 256
Genre: Young adult fiction, Dystopian fiction
Source: Library
In case you are unfamiliar with this series, I’ll explain it a little bit for you: an asteroid has hit the moon, kicking it just a bit closer to earth and causing all kinds of damage. Tides are all messed up, causing tsunamis and hurricanes. A coat of ash has blanketed the entire earth, blocking out the sunlight completely. Entire countries and states have disappeared completely. And as you can imagine, resources are scarce. Miranda lives with her mother and two brothers in their home, and their goal in life is simply to survive. When Miranda’s father turns up with his wife, new baby, and new friends Alex and his sister Julie (from the second book), her little world is turned upside down.
I don’t quite know how to review this one because if you haven’t read the first two books in the series I certainly don’t want to spoil them for you with this review. I will say that This World We Live In was a fantastic addition to the series, and I think things came together quite well. I wasn’t sure if the whole Miranda and Alex meeting thing would be realistic based on their two completely separate lives, but Pfeffer made sure that their meeting made complete sense based on the context for how they got to know each other.
I have to admit that while reading this book, I was relieved to find us back with Miranda’s family instead of in New York with Alex. The second book in the series was just so bleak, I personally enjoyed reading the series from Miranda’s point of view more. So that was good. And I think that Pfeffer tied everything together quite nicely. Yes, the relationships in the book moved too fast, but hey – this is an unnatural situation. Relationships are bound to be a little abnormal given the circumstances, I think. And if the last guy on the planet who you are not related to who is your age (for all you know) shows up at your house and moves in, you’d fall in love with him too, right? So I sorta got the Miranda/Alex relationship. What else were they supposed to do?
I am absolutely sad to see this series end, because I really enjoyed it and I think Pfeffer did such a fantastic job creating these realistic, true-to-life characters in such a dystopian type story. I HIGHLY recommend reading these books if you haven’t already.
I’m beginning to think I’m the only person in the world who hasn’t read these books! Everyone seems to love them, but I’m not sure they’re for me.
You definitely should read them, Kathy! They are super easy to read, and if you don’t love the first one, you don’t have to continue with the rest of the series. 🙂
You’re a creeper…
I have to get to the second book soon!! I have 1 and 2 in my middle school library but they never stay on the shelves!!!
LOL I can see why they never stay on the shelves – this is such an excellent series for middle schoolers!
I read the first one awhile back after you read & reviewed it, but then I never got my hands on the 2nd one. Maybe I’ll have to look for it so I can jump to this one next!
I hope you get to the second one… but yes, you definitely want to read the middle book before reading the last one, as the characters from both the first and the second come together in the third. It’s pretty fantastic.
I heard this book didn’t really come to a conclusive conclusion – did you feel that way too? That Pfeffer left it open for potentially writing more books set in that world?
Yeah I would say that to be the case. I don’t *think* she’s planning on writing another one, but there’s definitely an openness at the end that suggests more to come…
This is already out? How did I not know? *runs to the library*
i love the first book #2 here i come!