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zkendall's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad. Pretty simple. Good job making a moderately cruel antagonist; he's no Ramsay Bolton, and she's no Arya Stark.
mrsfligs's review against another edition
3.0
2 Words that describe the book: Post-apocalyptic survival
3 Settings where it took place or characters you met:
* Setting: After a nuclear war in the United States, somewhere on the Eastern Seaboard
* Ann Burden—a 16-year-old girl who appears to be the sole survivor after a nuclear war; she manages to survive on her family's farm, which has been spared nuclear fallout due to its geographic location
* Mr. Loomis—a scientist in a special protection suit who shows up in Ann's valley unexpectedly
4 Things you liked and/or disliked about it:
* I liked Ann's smarts, gutsiness and practicality—a great role model for young girls or boys.
* I liked the "cat and mouse" game between Ann and Loomis.
* I liked how the author kept you guessing how things would turn out until the end.
* I liked how the book felt fairly timeless, even though it was written in the 1970s. It holds up today and doesn't feel that dated.
5 Stars or less for your rating?
I'm giving the book 4 stars. I guess this would qualify as a young adult book, but I think anyone who enjoys a good post-apocalyptic tale—and really, who doesn't?—would find this to be an absorbing story. It was very readable and built tension and suspense very effectively.
Side Note: The book was an ALA Notable Book and was received the Edgar Allan Poe Award. The author won the Newbery Medal for Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH.
3 Settings where it took place or characters you met:
* Setting: After a nuclear war in the United States, somewhere on the Eastern Seaboard
* Ann Burden—a 16-year-old girl who appears to be the sole survivor after a nuclear war; she manages to survive on her family's farm, which has been spared nuclear fallout due to its geographic location
* Mr. Loomis—a scientist in a special protection suit who shows up in Ann's valley unexpectedly
4 Things you liked and/or disliked about it:
* I liked Ann's smarts, gutsiness and practicality—a great role model for young girls or boys.
* I liked the "cat and mouse" game between Ann and Loomis.
* I liked how the author kept you guessing how things would turn out until the end.
* I liked how the book felt fairly timeless, even though it was written in the 1970s. It holds up today and doesn't feel that dated.
5 Stars or less for your rating?
I'm giving the book 4 stars. I guess this would qualify as a young adult book, but I think anyone who enjoys a good post-apocalyptic tale—and really, who doesn't?—would find this to be an absorbing story. It was very readable and built tension and suspense very effectively.
Side Note: The book was an ALA Notable Book and was received the Edgar Allan Poe Award. The author won the Newbery Medal for Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH.
thatweirdlibrarian's review against another edition
2.0
The topic was kinda interesting but I just didn't like the book.
melanied01's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
n00bfairy's review against another edition
3.0
Man, this was... sad. Also discovered a trope I am not a fan of, but in the setting of dystopia and desperation... I can't really blame the characters.
kshertz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
3.0
What. Did. I read. I picked it because I’m doing the A-Z challenge and needed z
It’s basically, what if there’s a huge radiation event and you’re the only human to survive?
But wait there’s a scientist who also survived but he’s the literal worst human that ever lived.
What?
Lots of writing that made it clear this male author maybe should have chosen a small boy to narrate and not a small girl.
It was just weird 🙃
It’s basically, what if there’s a huge radiation event and you’re the only human to survive?
But wait there’s a scientist who also survived but he’s the literal worst human that ever lived.
What?
Lots of writing that made it clear this male author maybe should have chosen a small boy to narrate and not a small girl.
It was just weird 🙃
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Violence, Abandonment, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Animal cruelty, and Sexual violence
_niva_'s review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
vvvinthestars's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
kimberly_b's review against another edition
4.0
This book drew me in immediately, and I had a tough time putting it down. The story is really just a snapshot of a short period of time in a young girl's post-war life, so don't expect much backstory. If taken for what it is, it works. My only real complaint about the story is that the girl comes across as so young! I didn't buy that she was 15 in the beginning--more like 9.
Overall, it was a compelling, interesting story. It's a solid 4 stars for me.
Overall, it was a compelling, interesting story. It's a solid 4 stars for me.
magnetgrrl's review against another edition
4.0
I realized recently in conversation that I don't remember this book at all! I know I loved it as a kid though.