Ashfall

By Mike Mullin

466 Pages

Published by Tanglewood Press

★★★★★

By Em

 

So, this is one of those books where when you first look at it, it sounds like a lot of fiction with a little bit of fact. But, this book is actually crazy realistic. Mike Mullin has spun a great story backed up by tons of scientific stuff. There are at least five, maybe six, pages at the end of the book where Mike talks about all of the facts he has to back up what he has happen to our hero and to the rest of the world. And as I read that end section, it got me thinking even more about that lovely little volcano under Yellowstone.

So, to clarify a bit. Yellowstone National Park gets its lovely geysers and boiling hot springs thanks to a gigantic super volcano underneath it. It's so large that you can only see the caldera from a plane or satellite photos. And in the beginning of this book, right after Alex Haprin's parents and younger sister leave for Illinois, this super volcano erupts. Soon, the world Alex knew is shrouded by darkness, blanketed in ash, and ridden with violence. Alex quickly begins a long and dangerous trip to find his family in Illinois. But even from Iowa, that is a long dangerous journey with many perils. Alex meets many people along the way, finding both friends and enemies, and he soon realizes it is going to be along journey to his family.

Now, the library at my school has recently had a spotlight on a bunch of Survival Guide books. Now, one we have enjoyed reading as a group is The Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook. So far I have learned how to survive falling through the floor, how to properly avoid being attacked by a bear, and how to tell if my boyfriend is secretly an ax-murderer. But, that book has nothing about possible super volcano eruptions. That get's me nervous. What if a super volcano were to actually erupt? I think I might hang on to this book, just in case. There is tons of information in this book that could help if Yellowstone actually does erupt. The characters go through many different problems, and there are some good solutions that anyone might want to know. Like, how to build a greenhouse, how to make a cornpone grinder with a bike (though it may be difficult), and how to properly skin animals for their meat. Anyone else seeing the appeal in holding on to this?

MAY BE SPOLIERS!
Now, as I really do doubt Yellowstone is going to erupt anytime soon, I think I should get along with the actually story. I thought this book was great. It was completely realistic, and made you think. I mean, you wouldn't think that a two hour drive would take someone a couple months to complete on skis. Well, when you throw in ash, snow, murderers, wild pigs, and an evil FEMA camp, I guess it may take up some of your time. But I think the realism of all of these problems made the story rich and dangerous. 

I thought that Darla was, excuse the pun, a darling character! I loved her quirk and smarts when it comes to just about anything. She know mechanics and farming, and is able to solve nearly any problems if she really thinks about it. When Alex first sees her, he thinks she's an angel. Though a strange one, since apperantly angels aren't supposed to being wearing overalls. But then again, when her first see's her, he probably isn't quite right in his head. But I think they have a cute relationship and they become great traveling companions. 

I already have the sequal to this book on hold. I can't wait to find out what sorts of new problems they are going to run into in this apocalyptic world. I think this book was great, though maybe creepy and disturbing as well, and would definitely recommend it to people with strong stomachs. Now, I have a promise, from both me and Melanie. (Or at least, I promise.) With break only a week away, we will try to post more reviews. School has been a madhouse recently, what with tests, orchestra concerts, and reading Spider-Girl comics (yeah, you heard me right). But once break starts up, we'll have a lot more time, and promise to keep on posting reviews! 'Till then, have a nice pre-break week!