Common Sense Media Review
Gripping, terrifying disaster tale will inspire discussions.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 13 parent reviews
Parents say that while some appreciate the book's strong storytelling and ability to provoke thought among young readers about family and survival, others find the content disturbing or inappropriate for younger children. Many reviews highlight that it may be more suitable for older teens due to the heavy themes and sometimes negative portrayals of relationships and morality, with recommendations frequently leaning towards ages 12 and up.
- thought-provoking themes
- age appropriateness
- strong storytelling
- content concerns
- emotional depth
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 66 kid reviews
What's the Story?
When a meteor crashes into the Moon, it knocks the Moon's orbit a bit closer to the Earth, causing tidal waves, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, which in turn wipe out coastal cities, disrupt infrastructure and weather patterns, and cause crop failure. Teenaged Miranda, who lives with her mother and brothers in Pennsylvania, doesn't directly witness most of this, but she feels the effects: Her family must try to survive on hoarded canned food and a woodstove when power and communications fail, there is no food in stores, temperatures plummet, the sun is blocked by volcanic ash, and disease ravages the surviving population.
Is It Any Good?
This is one terrifying book, more so because it's largely concerned with the mundane -- food, water, heat. The author is very clever here, though: She has chosen a possible but very unlikely event (disruption of the moon's orbit) as the catalyst for the story, providing a little distance for those who need it, but the results of the moon's change are all too similar to much more likely scenarios, such as global warming -- rising tides, weather and agricultural disruption, collapsing infrastructure, and energy failure -- and alert young readers won't fail to make the connection. Ultimately, this book's realism, combined with a gripping writing style, may scare younger kids, and won't be as easy for you to dismiss as just fantasy. But for middle-schoolers and up, it will be extremely compelling and thought-provoking.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about books about the future. Many books, like this one, make dark predictions about what will happen to our planet and our society. Why do you think that is?
Books like this may be somewhat scary -- but are they important to read? Why is it important to consider our possible futures?
This book has two sequels. Will you read any further into the
series? There is some hope at the end of this book -- what do you think
will happen next?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Harcourt Brace
- Publication date : October 1, 2006
- Number of pages : 337
- Award : ALA Best and Notable Books
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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