Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer was published in 2006 and has languished in my to be read pile. I listened to the audio version of this book and the narration was excellent. This is the first book in a series of four.

The premise of this book is interesting. A meteor has hit the moon and knocked it closer to earth causing catastrophic weather conditions: tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions that cause ash to cover the earth and block the sun.

The main character, Miranda, tells the story in journal entries that reminded me of Anne Frank's diary as they seem realistic and cover the fact that food is running out. Miranda and her family try to survive in a world where food is scarce, communication has broken down, and the government has crumbled.

I was reminded many times of the starvation of those who existed during the Holocaust. The science of this book was also interesting. I liked that the catastrophe was not caused by a war or government, but by a natural disaster. What would happen to our world if the moon was knocked out of its orbit? This book makes the reader think about such a scenario. What would you do if something like this happened? Would your family be prepared to cook, heat, have water and food?

Read to a child today even if that child is you. 

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