Book Review: This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer

It’s been almost a year since the events of Life as We Knew It, the first book in this series by Susan Beth Pfeffer. Back then, a meteor struck the Moon and caused a cataclysm on Earth. Miranda Evans and her family continue to eke out an existence in rural Pennsylvania. Between scrounging for food, getting used to a new sister-in-law, and working to stay warm, Miranda writes in her journal and tries to keep up her spirits.

Change suddenly comes when Miranda’s father, stepmother, and their extended “road family” show up at the door. Among the newcomers are Alex and Julie Morales, last seen in book two, The Dead and the Gone. The adjustment is difficult for everyone, as already meager resources have to be shared, sleeping quarters are a challenge, and frayed emotions easily come to the surface. Death continues to haunt these survivors; Pfeffer pulls few punches in describing the horror and despair that threatens to overwhelm every one of them. Alex, haunted by his experiences in New York City, turns to Miranda for comfort. She responds, but it’s a rough process for each of them.

This World We Live In moves at a quick pace, yet Pfeffer takes the time to explore what life might really be like in America if volcanic ash blocked out most sunlight, if electricity only worked part of the time, and if weather behaved differently than it ever has before. What also is clear in this book is the importance of staying together and maintaining hope even in the most devastating of circumstances.

Although Miranda claims to be wrapping up her story in the last pages, I suppose there is some chance that there might be a fourth book from Alex’s point of view. We’ll have to wait and see.

Kifflie (Now starting The Last Summer of the Death Warriors by Francisco X. Stork)

Teen Summer Reading Program

“Make Waves @ Your Library” this summer! The Teen Summer Reading Program starts on Friday, June 11th and will run through Saturday, August 14th.

You can register for the program on the second floor of the library. Read one book per week and enter your name to win prizes such as flash drives, iTunes cards, and restaurant gift cards. Bonus: for the first book you finish, you’ll receive one coupon for a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. A grand prize will be drawn on Saturday, August 14th. Questions? Call Kifflie at 532-8910.

Welcome to the MFPL Teen Zone!

Welcome to the Menomonee Falls Public Library Teen Zone! At the suggestion of our Teen Advisory Board, we have started this blog to communicate with the teens who use our library as well as anyone else who has an interest in books and programs for teens. You can expect to find book reviews, program announcements, information on when new books are scheduled to be released, and whatever else we can find that might be of interest to teens.

My name is Kifflie Scott, and I have worked at the Menomonee Falls Public Library since 2000. I became the Teen Librarian in 2004. I am the parent of two teens and an avid reader. Lately I have become a fan of the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins and the Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness (Both of those authors will be concluding their trilogies later this year, and you can look forward to my reviews when that happens). I also enjoy reading adult fiction by authors such as Diana Gabaldon, Stephen King, and Michael Connelly.

I am always looking for suggestions from teens about new items to get for our collection, program ideas, or anything else you can think of to improve our teen area. Please feel free to drop me an email at kscott@mf.lib.wi.us, or come to one of our Teen Advisory Board meetings (these will be announced on the blog and on the library’s main webpage).

Comments to this blog are also welcome. These will be moderated, so please keep them appropriate for a public forum.

We’re looking forward to a great summer! Our Teen Summer Reading Program starts on Friday, June 11. More details to follow in a few days.

See you @ the library!

-- Kifflie (Currently reading This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer)