Fifteen-year-old Alex is left home alone for the weekend while his parents and sister travel out of state to visit relatives. Little did Alex know that a catastrophe would hit and he may never see them again. After the Yellowstone supervolanco erupts, Alex is determined to leave the state and find his family. On his journey he encounters friends doing things he could never believe possible, townspeople who have resorted to desperate measures to stay alive, and even finds love in a time of distress. Fighting to surive is the name of the game, and Alex is deep within the battle to survive, but must find his family above all costs.
This is book #1, so expect more. I'm expecting a trilogy. I am giving credit to the author because this is his first book, and let's be honest...it's HARD to write a book. But, that said, personally I felt that this book, although an exciting page-turner, seemed to be all over the map. A majority of the scenes were incredibly long and drawn out, which had me skimming some chapters, but as the book progressed it became more violent. I don't mind violence, but sometimes it just seemed unneccesary.
I give Mullin credit for the romance w/ the unlikely characters. Alex is scrawny and helpless, and Darla is strong and independent. They both compliment each other and find something within each other they may not have otherwise seen if he hadn't passed out close to death in her barn.
I also was under the impression Mullin wasn't sure how to finish the story. The last few chapters dragged on, and it was then that I realized there must be another book after this one. Overall, I enjoy the idea. Books about the world seemingly ending are interesting and intense. I also don't believe I had read a book about a volcano either, so this was a new one for me. The character development of Darla and Alex was strong, but I still feel like some of the plot points just didn't work.
Similar Reads:
Life As We Knew It, by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Gone, by Michael Grant
Fire-Us Trilogy, by Jennifer Armstrong and Nancy Butcher
