Alone by Megan E Freeman
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Web ID: 16528520Couldn't put it down!
A gripping survival story told with deep emotion. Plus, I loved the dog!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
A gripping read!
Great survival dystopian novel. Maddie finds she’s alone after the town has an emergency evacuation. She has to learn to survive on her own through wild weather, looters, and animals. Can she do it?
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Equal parts thrilling and hopeful
I loved this! I tend to love survival stories (humans against the elements), I love dogs, and I'm really intrigued by novels told in verse (though I wish this had an audio, I really like to hear poetry). In middle grade, there tends to be some suspension of disbelief as an adult that kids would really be doing stuff like this on their own, that I am positive I didn't notice as a kid myself - like what kind of situation led to all the adults and teens abandoning their cell phones en masse? I could see why they left suitcases and stuff in an attempt, probably, to get more people onto transport and less stuff, but cell phones are small and HUGE lifelines to those being split up into different transports, and there was clearly still services/towers. After that it was very thrilling as our protagonist finds the neighbor's dog, goes searching for food and supplies, raids the library to learn some survival tricks, and finds out that some humans are worse than being alone.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Harrowing "never say die" tale!
What happens when a seemingly simple lie between friends turns into a real question of life or death? Haunting and richly layered, this story will leave you turning page after page as Maddie struggles to survive... alone.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Gripping MG survival story!
I read ALONE by Megan E. Freeman in a single day. As a verse novel, it’s definitely a quick read anyway, but even more, I just had to get to the end and find out whether Maddie was reunited with her family. The setup is this: 12-year-old Maddie plans a sleepover with her friends at her grandparents’ empty apartment, telling each of her parents she’s staying at the other’s house. But her friends cancel, and in the middle of the night, everyone in the town is evacuated. The power goes out, there’s no internet, and her only companion is George, the Rottweiler from next door. Like I said, I could not stop reading this book because the stakes just kept raising. What would Maddie have to survive next? Because it kept getting worse—winter, natural disasters, and perhaps worst of all, loneliness. Honestly, if it were me, I wouldn’t even know how to start a fire (despite the fact we have a woodpile and fireplace). If you pick this book up and are able to stop reading, I’ll be shocked.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
a gripping, middle-grade survival novel
I never thought a middle-grade novel would be gripping, but “Alone” had me at the edge of my seat. Firstly, I love the style of writing! The author narrates the story in free-verse, which makes it so entertaining to read. Similarly, I loved how Maddie matures as she survives. She goes through so much, and you can slowly see her perception changing of the world, her family, and her friends. Maddie goes through a multitude of emotions from fear, anxiety, survival, and hope. Similarly, George is also a fantastic companion for Maddie, and I was rooting for them throughout the story. Moreover, the story is never boring at any point. Initially, you would feel that there would not be much for Maddie to experience. But the author tells the story in such a dynamic manner that tests the character’s determination. When you feel things cannot get any worse, a new dilemma encounters Maddie. The author paced it beautifully! Many moments stood out in the story for me. For instance, I loved when Maddie finds a paradox between facing the nightmare or the reality, or when she prays to God to connect her to her family. Some moments were also eerie and suspenseful, like when she goes to Emma’s house or when the animals attack her. Perhaps the only minor criticism I have of the tale is the rushed ending. While I enjoyed the end, I was a bit disappointed for not getting a detailed explanation of the events. I won’t spoil the ending, but I would have liked it had the author drawn out the last few scenes. Apart from that, “Alone” is a gripping, middle-grade survival novel that I feel a reader of any age would enjoy.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Beautifully written and touching
Thank you to NetGalley and Aladdin, Simon & Schuster Children's for a free digital copy for my review. What a happy coincidence that I just reread Island of Blue Dolphins before diving into this one, because this is a modern version of that story. Both are about young girls who through some random circumstances get left behind in a place to fend for themselves. Alone is written in verse and a bit futuristic in it's premise, but there is no world building and you get sucked straight into the story. Everyone will understand Maddie's fear and determination to survive. I am not normally a fan of books in verse but this one was packed so well and the impact of it's cadence benefited the story in many ways. I really enjoyed this one and would really suggest pairing this book with island of Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell for an extra special reading experience for both.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Captivating!
A captivating story of survival! This verse novel keeps the reader on edge, urging you to turn the page all while weaving in endearing moments of reflection. A great debut!
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com