Alex had expected a normal weekend after his parents and sister left Cedar Falls, Iowa for Warren, Illinois, but what he got was anything but normal. How do you survive the fallout of the Yellowstone Caldera exploding? Fifteen-year-old Alex finds the strength and skills to survive and make the 140-mile trek from his home to his Uncle’s home in Illinois. Along the way he fights the volcanic ash that sucks at his shoes, meets eighteen-year-old Darla, survives the early winter, lack of food, and civilization that is no longer civil.

The author of this post apocalyptic novel skillfully intertwines science fact in a gripping story, which examines how a major volcanic eruption might affect life as we currently know it. No electricity, no cell phones, no motorized vehicles, no normal life.

This was a wonderful read. I kept reading and reading and was sorry when I reached the end at page 456. It will be hard to wait until October 2012 for the sequel Ashen Winter. It is on my reminder list. For the teachers – there is a curriculum guide at curriculum guide

Recommended by Barbara Fiehn, Library Media Education

Western KY University, Kentucky, USA