Ravings of a Book Junkie

This is my 1st time reading this long-time YA author, Susan Beth Pfeffer. The novel is set in a northern Pennsylvania town and is narrated from the diary entries of a 16 year old girl named Miranda. After an asteroid strikes the moon and shifts it out of orbit and much closer to Earth the planet undergoes catastrophic changes. earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions ensue month after month bringing about a modern ice age and all over the globe there is major loss of life. Survivors have to learn to live with gas shortages and no electricity. Through all of this Miranda chronicles her family's experiences. A high school sophomore, she was looking forward to things like prom, graduation and college, now she's happy to get a square of a chocolate bar. Luckier than most, she hasn't lost any family members, her two brothers, her mom, step-mom and dad have all survived these last few months, but food supplies are running dangerously low and someone might have to make the ultimate sacrifice. I am a big fan of dystopian novels and enjoyed this book despite an ending I found to be disappointing. This book is part of a 3 book series (The Dead and Gone and The World We Live In) and I definitely plan to pick up these as well. Miranda's voice is young, immature and sometimes annoying, a typical teenager, but it is also honest, brave, and at times, incredibly selfless. She grows up fast in the months after the asteroid strike and her diary entries reflect that very well. For fans of YA dystopia I highly recommend this book. Grade: B