I am reading Ashfall by Mike Mullin. I bought this originally a year ago when it first came out. I read the first couple of pages and was scared out of my mind.
Not by the writing, that's great, but by the subject matter. It's about a supervolcano eruption that basically ruins the atmosphere, and how a teenage boy escapes to look for his family.
Post-apocalyptic fiction is eery but has never been this frightening to me before. See, I live very close to one of the most active volcanoes in the world. It spews ash about 3 times a day right now, and some of that lands on our house. I am extremely aware of how dangerous it would be if it erupted on a large scale. But I don't want to think about being separated from my kids and having to deal with the aftermath!
Once I got past my fear of the book being about my kids though, I really liked it. It's a really well-written YA novel with very likeable characters. The descriptions of the ash etc. seem really realistic too. Alex and Darla are complementary and strong teens who I am totally rooting for! Of course I know that I have an ARC of the second book, to be released in a couple weeks, so I know things don't completely end. That helps with the fear!
My son is reading an easy reader called I Like Bugs. So nice that he picks it up on his own to entertain his sister!
What are you and your family reading this week?
Just started Betsy Byars' The 2000 Pound Goldfish with my daughter (a favourite from my childhood), and Eric Wilson's The Inuk Mountie Adventure.
ReplyDeleteOh I loved Eric Wilson books, especially the one that took place at West Edmonton Mall.
DeleteI've never heard of the Betsy Byars book, off to check it out now!
Autumn books for my kids: The leaf Man, There was an old lady who swallowed some leaves and the very busy squirrel.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, I wonder what she swallowed after the leaves! Good idea for a fall theme. I always seem to skip ahead to Halloween and forget autumn!
DeleteI spent the weekend on the sofa with a dodgy tummy and no energy and amused myself by rereading the "Arrows of the Queen" series from Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar books. Favourites from my teenage years! And far far too easy to get on Kindle app for my phone...
ReplyDeleteI love The Cat In The Hat Know A Lot About That! series by Random House. We're reading the Cat In The Habitat flap book. It's all about different animal environments and the flaps reveal little tidbits about an animals biology. Sounds serious but the pictures are so fun! The flaps are sturdy and, even as an adult, you learn something.
ReplyDeleteI just received these, thanks for the recommendation, Helena!
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