Parents' Guide to

Alive: The Generations Trilogy, Book 1

By Michael Berry, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Tricky amnesia thriller keeps you guessing to the end.

Book Scott Sigler Science Fiction 2015
Alive: The Generations Trilogy, Book 1 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 13+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Thankfulmom
Thankfulmom Parent of 14-year-old
March 23, 2022
age 14+

Kept Me at the Edge of My Seat

Alive is gripping from the very first page. I found the beginning exciting, the middle psychologically stressful, and the ending satisfying. If you are struggling with hopelessness in the middle, stick with it because hope is not lost. Please be cautious reading the kid reviews for this book. There is a major spoiler in one of them. There are so many twists in this book the author even has a full page at the end dedicated to requesting readers not to give out any specifics so everyone can enjoy the experience of finding out what is happening along with the main character. The next book in the trilogy is Alight followed by Alone.

This title has:

Too much violence
WAMS
WAMS Parent of 5, 13 and 18-year-old
October 25, 2021
age 12+

Give it a try!

Alive begins by living panic and fear through the eyes on a young woman. You are seeing the panic and horror through her eyes. You will discover who you are and where you are, but before you can figure anything out, you need to escape. You have many more puzzles to figure out. The story is one of discovery. Everything is unknown. Alive is a well written firsthand account of M. Savage. She is the person you see, and the story unfolds from her point of view. You get to know her as she gets to know herself, since she has no idea who she is, where she is, or why she is there. There are more people, but they are as lost as she is. The story is their story of discovery. I enjoyed this book. It’s a very quick read, partially because it’s a short book, but also because the book is very tough to put down. It is the first book in a series, but since there is some plot resolution, I’m not labeling it a serial, even though you will be anticipating book two. I hope it comes out soon. I give Alive 4 out of 5! I would recommend reading Alive, you won’t be sorry. I really like this series by Scott Sigler.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Too much swearing
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

A 12-year-old girl wakes up inside a coffin. After she frees herself, she learns her name is M. Savage and that she's physically more mature than she expected. There are few other clues that will fill in her missing memories. Seemingly trapped in a series of featureless hallways, she gathers around her other teen survivors who want to solve the deadly mystery that surrounds them.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (2):

From its claustrophobic opening to its crackerjack action climax, this thriller will keep readers guessing right to the end. Author Scott Sigler creates a puzzle whose solution is both ingenious and plausible. Savage and her fellow survivors are complex, believable characters, and their antagonists are scary and formidable. The ending has enough of a sense of resolution to be satisfying, but most readers will be eagerly awaiting the next installment in this ingenious science-fiction saga.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what makes someone a good leader. Should a leader make every decision, or should he or she delegate?

  • To what extremes do people go if they want to look younger than they really are? Why is youth revered by the media and pop culture?

  • How important is memory to everyday life? What challenges would you face if you couldn't remember parts of your childhood?

Book Details

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