YA Book Tour- Iowa

Rolling on with the United States of YA book tour, and the next stop is Iowa with Mike Mullin's Ashfall.

Alex was your typical teenage boy.  More interested in his video games than hanging out with his family.  He rebels just enough that he does not have to go with parents and sister to his uncle's place in Illinois. Super excited about having the weekend alone, too bad the world goes to hell.

The super volcano under Yellowstone erupts, sending ash blanketing places thousands of miles away.  There is no electricity, no running water, and food supplies are quickly running out.  Alex decides the best plan is to make his way to his uncle's to find his family.

Along the way Alex meets Darla, who saves his life more than once.  She is a self-sufficient farm girl with a knack for all things mechanical.

I do quite enjoy a good post apocalyptic novel, and this one was an excellent.  Part of what made it so great was that while not probable, it is possible for the super volcano under Yellowstone erupt. It is fascinating to watch the break down of society, and how everyone copes with it.  The novel beautifully expresses how disasters bring the best and the worst in people.

Alex was wonderfully brave and kind.  He has no idea if his family is alive or not, but he knows he has to find out.  More than once you see his kindness when he meets others less fortunate than him alone his journey.

Overall, I liked Darla, but there was a part in the middle where she was really annoying me.  When she first meets Alex, she is constantly telling him what a dummy he is because he doesn't know the basics of farming.  I was like give the kid a break, he is from the city.  But when something horrible happens, she pretty much shuts down for several days.  It was up to Alex to keep her going then, and that is where I really thought that the author showed Alex as the strong character.

If you are like me and love a good post apocalyptic novel, this one is a must.

Currently Reading:
If I Stay
by Gayle Forman