Common Sense Media Review
Grim sequel of survival grittier than first installment.
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Why Age 13+?
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Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Based on 16 kid reviews
Kids say the book presents a much darker and gorier narrative compared to its predecessor, with a focus on disturbing themes such as death and survival amid a disaster. While several reviewers appreciate the gripping storyline and perspective shifts, they also caution that its graphic content may not be suitable for younger readers, necessitating a mature audience to fully engage with its themes.
- graphic content
- suitable for teens
- dark themes
- gripping story
- disturbing imagery
- different perspective
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In Life as We Knew It, the moon was pushed closer to the earth by a meteor, causing complete disruption to Earth's tides, weather, and infrastructure. This sequel covers the same events from the point of view of three Puerto Rican teens living in New York City, who must survive after their parents disappear and are presumed dead, and lawlessness and disease sweep the darkened, isolated city.
Is It Any Good?
Profoundly disturbing, this book will make many readers want to put it down -- but the relentless story won't let them.
This is not really a sequel, but a stand-alone book covering the same worldwide events from a different point of view than the white, suburban family in Life as We Knew It. This one involves three working-class Puerto Rican teen siblings in Manhattan, whose parents disappear on the first day of the disaster. This change introduces both a grittier level of grimness (the first book didn't have rat-eaten bodies rotting in the streets or stadiums full of naked corpses) and some new issues, such as class differences, and the place of faith and the church community in the face of overwhelming disaster.
Like the first book, though, big, discussion-worthy themes of response to climate change, the collapse of the energy infrastructure, and the role of the individual within the community are carried by a taut, suspenseful, and realistic story of individual and family survival. This, of course, makes it ideal for middle and high school discussion groups.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about their own disaster plans, and what could be done to make them feel more ready. Also, what is the likelihood of these types of events taking place?
Another discussion idea: This is a fantasy novel about a possible future scenario. What other stories about the future have you read? What can be gained by reading stories that take place in a distant (or not so distant) time?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Harcourt Brace
- Publication date : June 1, 2008
- Number of pages : 321
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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