Life as we Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Pfeffer, S. (2008). Life As We Knew It. MA: Graphia. ISBN: 0152061541

Plot Summary

  This is a gut wrenching and thought provoking novel about the possible end of the world. When a meteor hits the moon, it launches it so close to the Earth that it sets off disaster after disaster. Miranda is at the end of her junior year, and it should be a time full of fun, typical arguments with her family, and formation of young love, unfortunately the universe has other plans. Miranda must now fight for food, boil water to drink, endure volcanoes and devastating floods just to survive. Readers will be hooked from the beginning and celebrate along with the rest of the world the phenomenon of the meteor and pray to whatever is above to save them from the horrible catastrophes that come from it. 

Critical Evaluation

  This is an amazing yet gut wrenching story of a family's fight for survival and the possibility of the end of the world. Miranda is the typical teen but is thrown into a world where she must grow up and save her family from disaster. Through boiling water to drink and cutting trees for heat, she also forms unforgettable relationships, that she hopes can continue. My heart broke every time a new death occurred, or disaster struck and you wanted the story to end but continue all at the same time. Readers see a family reconnecting yet growing further apart as internal struggles happen and death knocks on every door. It is hard to think that this can possibly happen, but with Pfeffer's writing, you begin to think about the future and have to stop yourself from stocking up on supplies and writing escape plans. I cannot wait for the third book in this series. 

Readers Annotation

  The man in the moon never looked so scary. 

Information about the Author

  Susan Beth Pfeffer was born February 17, 1948 in New York, New York. Susan wrote her first published novel while in her last semester at New York University when she was just 20 years old. She wrote five pages a day for five days until she finished her book in one semester. Ever since that first book she has published at least one book a year. 

  Susan grew up in the city and nearby suburbs and she spent her summers in the Catskill Mountains. Her father was a published author who encouraged her to write. Her first book as a child was about the relationship between a pair of scissors and an Oreo cookie. Susan has won numerous awards and citations for her work that ranges from picture books to books about writing for adults. She enjoys watching movies, collecting movie memorabilia, reading biographies and eating foods that are bad for her. She still lives in New York with her two adopted cats. 

Genre

  Fiction

Curriculum Ties

  English courses or after school writing workshops

Booktalking Ideas

  - What would be the first thing you would do if disaster struck?

  - Are you prepared for a disaster?

  - What do you think are the possibilities that this could actually happen?

  - Would such a disaster bring you closer to your family, or farther apart?

  - What was your feeling when Miranda discovered that there was supplies coming in?

  - What do you think is going to happen now that help is coming in?

Reading Level/Interest Age

  9-12th grade/ Young Adult

Challenge Issues

  Violence
   I would offer my library's Collection Development Policy which highlights how challenges and reconsideration's are handled. I would ask the challenger and the professional reviewing it to familiarize themselves with the book.

Reason for Selection

  The YA librarian at the library where I work recommended this book, and I am so glad that she did.