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carpe_librarian's review against another edition
5.0
This book hurts my heart, like suffocating, crippling despair, when I think of what Ruby goes through in this book. I am pretty much speechless. With that said, I think this book will hold a place in my heart for a long time. It is gripping, heart-wrenching, and shows both tragedy and strength in a way that only those who live through this type of trauma can explain.
Ruby is living through the "big one" the earthquake that all Californians talk about- the one they all know is coming sometime. While being trapped under debris and collapsing walls, Ruby makes an unlikely friendship that will stay with her for the rest of her life. This book explores the trauma of natural disasters, triviality of everyday life even when you think you are prepared, and the strength of character to make it through such unthinkable situations.
This book made me bawl, which hasn't happened in some time. Tread lightly if you have experienced a trauma from natural disaster, as it can reawaken those feelings. This will be a great read- cathartic for some and traumatic for others, but important nonetheless.
Aftershocks by Marisa Reichardt will be coming out Sept. 29, 2020. http://kaitlynrcarpenter.weebly.com/blog/aftershocks-by-marisa-riechardt
Ruby is living through the "big one" the earthquake that all Californians talk about- the one they all know is coming sometime. While being trapped under debris and collapsing walls, Ruby makes an unlikely friendship that will stay with her for the rest of her life. This book explores the trauma of natural disasters, triviality of everyday life even when you think you are prepared, and the strength of character to make it through such unthinkable situations.
This book made me bawl, which hasn't happened in some time. Tread lightly if you have experienced a trauma from natural disaster, as it can reawaken those feelings. This will be a great read- cathartic for some and traumatic for others, but important nonetheless.
Aftershocks by Marisa Reichardt will be coming out Sept. 29, 2020. http://kaitlynrcarpenter.weebly.com/blog/aftershocks-by-marisa-riechardt
nerfherder86's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent realistic fiction story about surviving calamity and facing survivor's guilt. High school senior Ruby's trip to the local laundromat ends in literal disaster, when a 7.8 earthquake strikes and she is trapped in the rubble. Unable to free herself, she endures the many hours and days of waiting by talking to a young man she'd only just met who's also trapped near her. They share life stories and Ruby agonizes about her many worries, such as her inability to speak up about her best friend's evident alcoholism and her anger over her mom dating her water polo coach. Eventually, in a very difficult effort, she's able to free herself and get medical attention. But her worries are far from over, because she's unable to find her family, and she has to face her many losses from the quake and its aftershocks. She learns to really appreciate the important things in life and to let go of others. This is a book that you might think is just an action story but ends up being a very thoughtful, sad and emotional story. There are a few poems sprinkled throughout, that show crucial emotional points of Ruby's journey in a more intimate way. Excellent book for teens.
heykellyjensen's review against another edition
I sat down to start this and blew through it in a day. Ruby is angry at her mother when she learns her mother and water polo coach are dating. Rather than attend practice, Ruby makes her way to the local laundromat, where she knows she can get someone over 21 to buy her alcohol. But just as she's zoomed in on Charlie as the person she'll ask to do the deed for her, the big earthquake hits and everything about their lives changes.
Told primarily over the course of a week, this is a book about survival. What does it mean to survive? To get through something challenging? To allow the memory of another person to survive? Well-paced and engaging, the book offers the present interspersed with glimpses of the past and what caused Ruby's friendship with Mina to begin falling apart.
Readers who love stories of natural disasters, of triumph in the wake of tragedy (without ever dismissing the raw, real circumstances one is in), and contemporary YA that tangoes with the power of relationships, forgiveness, and what it means to love and care for someone, this is a winner.
Told primarily over the course of a week, this is a book about survival. What does it mean to survive? To get through something challenging? To allow the memory of another person to survive? Well-paced and engaging, the book offers the present interspersed with glimpses of the past and what caused Ruby's friendship with Mina to begin falling apart.
Readers who love stories of natural disasters, of triumph in the wake of tragedy (without ever dismissing the raw, real circumstances one is in), and contemporary YA that tangoes with the power of relationships, forgiveness, and what it means to love and care for someone, this is a winner.
navieangelli's review against another edition
3.0
I think my expectations for this book were set too high, since I absolutely loved this authors other book “underwater”. It wasn’t what I expected it to be when I originally read the description. I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters and I didn’t feel the connection between the characters themselves. But I did like the conversations that the main character, Ruby, and Charlie had while stuck underneath the rubble. Some of the conversations were light, while others took a dark turn. I appreciated and liked how the author decided to display the timeline too. It wasn’t complicated. My favorite part was how Charlie’s situation turned out because I didn’t expect it at all. I kept holding out to the end for a different outcome, but when I got to the final chapter, I accepted his fate. I recommend this book to people who are in a reading slump and need a quick and easy read to get them out of it!
britton's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Very intense, even though there was almost no real plot. But that's actually an interesting concept, how it took place in basically only one position most of the book, and how it was just two characters talking to each other and hoping to survive. It was great.
lvzreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Not my type of read but I actually ended up loving it
tonya_with_an_o's review against another edition
4.0
This book was nothing like I expected. In a good way, though. I thought I would be reading a book equivalent to a disaster film, like San Andreas starring The Rock. I.....ahem, admire The Rock. To be honest, I love a good disaster adventure. The regular Jane (or Joe) always triumphs, no matter how many obstacles. Aftershocks was about a devastating earthquake, but it was far from the popcorn action I had expected. It was introspective and quiet much of the time, but no less powerful for that. It's not just about Ruby in the aftermath of "The Big One", it's a journey of many strings woven together. And there are some deep issues tackled, which you wouldn't expect, but make so much sense. So, if you're just wanting an apocalyptic action story, Aftershocks may not be for you. If you let yourself be open to a bit of a more meandering path, you just might come away amazed all the same.
4 stars
I was provided a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to Amulet Books and Netgalley.
4 stars
I was provided a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to Amulet Books and Netgalley.
librarianmel's review against another edition
4.0
This was a wonderful YA survival and aftermath story.
Ruby reacts poorly to some news about her mother and they get in an argument. Ruby decides to skip the next day of school and hang out at a local laundromat to see if she can convince someone to buy her some...adult beverages. Unfortunately for her, this is when a very strong earthquake happens, and she is buried, injured, in rubble. For the most part, the story takes place in short snippets of her trying to survive as aftershocks continue to rumble and in short flashbacks to her life with her friends and family.
Will she be rescued? Will her family and friends be safe? You should read it and find out.
Ruby reacts poorly to some news about her mother and they get in an argument. Ruby decides to skip the next day of school and hang out at a local laundromat to see if she can convince someone to buy her some...adult beverages. Unfortunately for her, this is when a very strong earthquake happens, and she is buried, injured, in rubble. For the most part, the story takes place in short snippets of her trying to survive as aftershocks continue to rumble and in short flashbacks to her life with her friends and family.
Will she be rescued? Will her family and friends be safe? You should read it and find out.
jay_mack9712's review against another edition
5.0
This book was a ride!! To follow Ruby's struggle through surviving the earthquake was very emotional! The author did an amazing job describing it !! I deffs cried by the ending!
It is a really quick read and will lead you having to turn every page to find out what happened to Ruby and everyone that is important to her. I went into it expecting one thing and was pleasantly surprised by the outcome of the story !!!
It is a really quick read and will lead you having to turn every page to find out what happened to Ruby and everyone that is important to her. I went into it expecting one thing and was pleasantly surprised by the outcome of the story !!!
letsgohawks91's review against another edition
4.0
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ugh this book made me cry so many tears. What a good story.
I am going to recommend to my 8th grade team that we adopt this title as one of our book club options in the future. The writing style is simple without being uninteresting, which makes this a great choice for lower-level readers who need a straightforward storyline to follow. The content overall doesn’t get too heavy. One friend of our main character is struggling with alcoholism, but this is handled well and is a great conversation starter with teens about what to do when a friend is going through something serious. The main character and her other friends struggle with that logical teen reaction of covering up for their friend and keeping her out of trouble versus her increasingly self-destructive behaviors. This is also a great book for kids who are struggling to accept a new step parent or similar family changes in their lives. Most importantly, this is a story about redemption and regrets, and the way tragedy forces us to reflect on our lives.
Ugh this book made me cry so many tears. What a good story.
I am going to recommend to my 8th grade team that we adopt this title as one of our book club options in the future. The writing style is simple without being uninteresting, which makes this a great choice for lower-level readers who need a straightforward storyline to follow. The content overall doesn’t get too heavy. One friend of our main character is struggling with alcoholism, but this is handled well and is a great conversation starter with teens about what to do when a friend is going through something serious. The main character and her other friends struggle with that logical teen reaction of covering up for their friend and keeping her out of trouble versus her increasingly self-destructive behaviors. This is also a great book for kids who are struggling to accept a new step parent or similar family changes in their lives. Most importantly, this is a story about redemption and regrets, and the way tragedy forces us to reflect on our lives.