Moonstruck

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Orlando, Fla. : Harcourt, c2006,
1st ed. 337 p. ; 22 cm.

After an implausible start - the moon getting kicked into a dramatically lower orbit by rather unspectacular asteroid impact - this book becomes a very satisfying catastrophe-survival novel. The moon's new orbit creates apocalyptic changes on earth - monster tsunamis, extreme volcanism, earthquakes, climate change, and the general collapse of civilization as we know it.

The story is told in journal entries - also a bit unrealistic due to the level of detail and quoted dialogue - that work well to push the narrative forward chronologically and reveal the thoughts and feelings of the protagonist, Miranda, 16. She and her family in rural Pennsylvania try to survive on the food, water and wood supplies that they have stocked up on while losing electricity, and dealing with a harsh, extended winter brought about by volcanic cooling of the atmosphere.

The novel resonates with the current zeitgeist of unease regarding energy woes, climate disaster, and the way in which disaster can reduce our advanced civilization to a primitive state in short order. Parts of the novel were surprisingly moving - as we follow Miranda and her Mom, college age brother and little brother fight the challenges and each other as they struggle for survival.

There's lots for students and teachers to reflect on. Would be a great supplement to an earth science class that could look at the accuracies and inaccuracies of the events in the novel.

I'd definitely recommend this book, especially for someone who likes apocalyptic fiction. Now I just have to read Cormac McCarthy's The Road and see how I like that one.