This World We Live In (Last Survivors, #3)

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This World We Live In (The Last Survivors #3)

3.8 of 5 stars 3.80 · rating details · 11,650 ratings · 1,557 reviews

It's been a year since a meteor collided with the moon, catastrophically altering the earth's climate. For Miranda Evans, life as she knew it no longer exists. Her friends and neighbors are dead, the landscape is frozen, and food is increasingly scarce. The struggle to survive intensifies when Miranda's father and stepmother arrive with a baby and three strangers in tow. O...more

ebook, 256 pages

Published April 1st 2010 by Harcourt Children's Books

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Jun 14, 2010 Valerie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi

You really could read the description or blurb of the book and basically get the whole story. Of course you don't get the same feel of it and this book gives the same message as the first two. The description gives you most of the plot except for the big decision that Miranda has to make.

The whole book was put in Miranda's point of view and I was somewhat disappointed about that. Out of the other Last Survivor books I liked Alex's point of view better than Miranda's.

As for the relationship bet...more You really could read the description or blurb of the book and basically get the whole story. Of course you don't get the same feel of it and this book gives the same message as the first two. The description gives you most of the plot except for the big decision that Miranda has to make.

The whole book was put in Miranda's point of view and I was somewhat disappointed about that. Out of the other Last Survivor books I liked Alex's point of view better than Miranda's.

As for the relationship between Alex and Miranda I could not enjoy as much because it wasn't really believable for me. Over a third of the book is over before Alex even comes into the picture. There first few encounters are alright. Miranda is excited to see someone around her age that isn't a realtive but then all of a sudden it seems they love each other. Miranda and Alex hardly know each other and haven't spent that much time together. Don't (view spoiler) if you haven't read the second book. After the twentieth kiss I just rolled my eyes. Never thought I would do that while reading this book.

The feel of the book is very similar to the first Life As We Knew It. Maybe because of this I wasn't as consumed as much by the dooming feel of it. It's hard to find food, the weather isn't cooperating, will there be a tomorrow, more people are dying, and all those things that where presented in the others are in this one. This is what I had expected but I also expected something more and it wasn't there.

Some of the other characters I was disappointed in like Matt who I had liked so well in the first book. He acts like a jerk now. I will grant that all the characters are realistic/desperate. The ending had the same feel as the first two -it left you hanging. Now I didn't expect the moon to be put back in place but I would've like some sort of finality to it. Actually it might even have less hope than the other two. And it looks like there is not going to be a fourth.(less)

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Jun 20, 2010 karen rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: the-end, why-yes-i-ya

it's comin' to get ya!

so - this series is over, i reckon. and i'm not terribly sad to see it go. she had a golden shiny opportunity here, and she kinda blew it. you can't feel bad for her, it's like a celebrity sex scandal; the destruction was purely self-destruction.

this is why it could have been awesome:

the premise of this series is fantastic; it presents an opportunity for real scientific discussions of what the moon (if you believe in the moon) controls,and speculations on what would happen...more

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Jan 06, 2012 Kris Irvin rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, re-read

Edit 5/2011: Apparently Pfeffer is hoping to publish a companion to this series ("The Shade of the Moon"), which will take a look at this world they live in 16 years after this book ends. This gives me a bit of hope. My hopes are dashed - there will be no 4th book.

If nothing else, Pfeffer's stories get you thinking. They force you to consider what you would do if you were in her characters' shoes - would you have stockpiled food up in case of an emergency? Or would you basically be at the merc...more Edit 5/2011: Apparently Pfeffer is hoping to publish a companion to this series ("The Shade of the Moon"), which will take a look at this world they live in 16 years after this book ends. This gives me a bit of hope. My hopes are dashed - there will be no 4th book.

If nothing else, Pfeffer's stories get you thinking. They force you to consider what you would do if you were in her characters' shoes - would you have stockpiled food up in case of an emergency? Or would you basically be at the mercy of this new world you live in?

Miranda is back as the narrator in this book, which I was excited about since I didn't really like Alex or Julie from The Dead and Gone. The book reads about as I expected it to - intense, gripping, and at times just chilling. It's graphic without being too graphic, and it really does make you think about what would happen to you in the same situation. I know I'll be stocking up emergency supplies a little more diligently from now on.

But that said, I didn't particularly like this book. Life As We Knew It, I couldn't put down, but I LIKED it. I couldn't put down This World either, but it was more because I wanted to finish it before I had to leave the bookstore than anything else. Miranda devolves from being a sympathetic character to basically being a whiny brat. She is still fighting with her mom? After all that's happened? I found that unbelievable and stupid. Matt's random relationship with Syl came out of nowhere and was totally out of character. And Syl was never really explored - she has no background story, and even admits to having a fake name, which why would you write about if you had no intention of exploring it?

I also found Lisa irritating and her obsession with Julie weird and frightening. There was no real point to Charlie's character, unless Pfeffer just wanted to make a point about the weight-loss surgery.

Where Alex was somewhat likable in The Dead, he was a total arrogant jerk throughout the entire book. Miranda's attraction to him seemed contrived and forced.

I waited a long time for this book, and I am so disappointed that it turned out like it did. If you can't make it a happy ending, that's totally fine - just don't flake out with a crappy, vague one.

I liked it better than The Dead, but much, much less than Life. This is one I might buy if I find it at a library sale, but it's really not worth normal book prices - especially not hardcover. What a shame.

Re-read August 2011. (less)

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Mar 01, 2010 April rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-review, ereader, netgalley, ya, dystopian

You ever read a book that makes you want to run to the grocery store and stock up on batteries, canned food, and eye the moon with suspiscion? No? Well, friends, I think you need to check out the Moon trilogy by Susan Beth Pfeffer. The first book, Life As We Knew It, set my heart racing, as I read about Miranda's seemingly ordinary life, and the mundane things she struggled with when her life changes after an asteroid hits the moon, thus knocking it out of orbit. I never got around to reading th...more

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Jan 25, 2011 Cecilia Solis-sublette rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi-dystopia

The third in the trilogy, I felt this final chapter was well-done and brings closure to the series - in a post-apocalyptic way. I had mentioned in my last review that a miraculous ending would only serve to insult the young adult audience. Well, Pfeffer seemed to understand that and ended the book on adult terms - which I think is good for the adolscent audience it was written for; heck, it's good for any audience because it was believable. The characters each found a natural conclusion - accord...more

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Nov 24, 2010 Flannery rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kcls, read-in-2010, young-adult-teen

If you could hear me now, you'd be hearing a loud a dramatic *sigh*. I liked this series, and I kind of want to give this one two stars but...I can't. Reading this series is like eating french fries--even when it's not that great, it's still pretty good.

FROM THIS POINT ON, IT IS BASICALLY ONE LONG SPOILER. YOU WERE WARNED.

Now, we all know I wanted to murder Alex in the last book for not breaking down walls and stealing *&^% from other apartments. I believe other reviewers have mentioned the...more If you could hear me now, you'd be hearing a loud a dramatic *sigh*. I liked this series, and I kind of want to give this one two stars but...I can't. Reading this series is like eating french fries--even when it's not that great, it's still pretty good.

FROM THIS POINT ON, IT IS BASICALLY ONE LONG SPOILER. YOU WERE WARNED.

Now, we all know I wanted to murder Alex in the last book for not breaking down walls and stealing *&^% from other apartments. I believe other reviewers have mentioned the same flaw in this book. I get Miranda's family not ransacking in the first book because people were still alive and around the neighborhood. At this point, pretty much everyone is, as the second book title alludes to, DEAD and/or GONE (The Dead and the Gone). Anyway, EARTH TO IDIOTS: If you are not eating very much, living in a post-catastrophe world, and planning to stay where you are indefinitely, get your ass on a bike and go through every frakking house in your town. I mean, seriously? SERIOUSLY? Also, I have the same problem in this book that I did with Alex's book--namely, if you're house isn't working for you, MOVE. Everywhere is empty! It's like the lottery--find the best house for your purposes and MOVE THERE. Sure, it would be tough and hard work to move your family but listen-->Their house is flooding, it is freezing, etc. Here's an idea: move closer to a stream with fish. Or to a farm with a windmill for power. Or a house that is more updated and airtight. Or to a house with no basement to flood. Or to a house with more supplies. Or to a house that allows for easier fortification.

I'd also like to know how the heck all these people that are traveling are finding food. Nice ending, SBP. They have hardly any food while they are sitting still. We are supposed to just accept that they are going to wing it on the road and make it to Tennessee whenever they just had hail and tornadoes in Pennsylvania? Welp, I guess the entire cast of characters is dead. And I really don't think that's the point because she kept beating the dead horse about how important the damn baby in the book was. Speaking of the baby, let me give it to you straight: Say you are a family who almost died. You scrapped it together after almost freezing to death, dying of illness, and starving. You've finally obtained some sense of order with food deliveries. You've sort of come to accept that everyone you've ever known and/or loved is dead or gone forever. Then BAM! Your dad shows up with SIX more mouths to feed (I'm counting Lisa as two because she did eat for two people). Um, thanks? No way. I'd be looking through the peephole and pretending I'm not home like we all do when see Jehovah's Witnesses or the census takers at our door. (let's be honest here)Alright, maybe I'd let my dad in.

And don't even get me started on Alex's religion or the ridiculous romances in this book. I guess I'd take what I can get in a post-apocalyptic world but, let's all call it what it is: settling. Stop telling people you love them when you just met them yesterday. Especially if they are cat killers or people that want to drop their sister at a convent and are constantly weeping like a little schoolgirl.

The sad truth of the matter is this: If SBP wrote another book, I'd still read it. I'm such a sucker.
(less)

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May 04, 2010 Beth G. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, dystopian, fiction, library-books, books-for-teens, series-fiction

I kind of wish I hadn't read the jacket flap on this one, since it gives away THE ENTIRE PLOT. Sheesh.

This is the third book set in Pfeffer's version of the future United States, after an asteroid knocks the moon into a lower orbit, causing all kinds of disasters down on Earth. Both the Evans and Morales families appear in this volume, as their paths finally cross.

Miranda is refreshingly believable as a teen trying to survive in this post-apocalyptic scenario. She reflects on big issues and tiny...more

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Apr 09, 2010 Jessica rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: disappointing, yawn

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 22, 2010 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, arc, sci-fi, dystopia

Once I started reading, I couldn't stop. Miranda's voice is so compelling, and my need to know what happened just kept me turning pages. There is heartbreak here, more so than in Life As We Knew It. I paused at one point to mourn, and now at the end I am just weeping quietly. I can't decide if this is four or five stars, but at the moment, I loved it even while the story broke my heart.

Susan Beth Pfeffer stays true to Miranda's character. At times I wanted to shake her, but her honesty, her desi...more

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Apr 06, 2010 Breanne rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi

This was really disappointing. All the wonderful progress Miranda's character went through in the first book is completely gone here. Matt is completely different as well, he is such an admirable character in the first book, and he changes into a whiny selfish brat here. Not only are the characters lacking, but the plot and the setting are disappointingly low on detail and quality. I think a lot of people read these books to experience the cool apocalyptic setting and events, but it's so much in...more

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Jun 01, 2010 The Loft added it · review of another edition

May 27

It’s May 27, just nine days after May 18. If you’ve read my diary (Life As We Knew It), you know what that means. Exactly one year and nine days ago, life as I had known it was gone forever. On that fateful evening, an asteroid sucker-punched the moon with such force that it must have doubly and triply smashed in the already-smashed-in craters. The moon is now closer to me on this earth, and I honestly don’t know how bad off the craters are, but this I know — this one cataclysmic event wre...more May 27

It’s May 27, just nine days after May 18. If you’ve read my diary (Life As We Knew It), you know what that means. Exactly one year and nine days ago, life as I had known it was gone forever. On that fateful evening, an asteroid sucker-punched the moon with such force that it must have doubly and triply smashed in the already-smashed-in craters. The moon is now closer to me on this earth, and I honestly don’t know how bad off the craters are, but this I know — this one cataclysmic event wreaked havoc the world over, unleashing tsunamis, volcanos, earthquakes, essentially stripping the world I knew of many people I loved, and — of color. I now live in ash-filled gray days, always wondering where the next meal will come from.

Apparently, there’s another story out there about some kids my age (high school) and my younger brother’s age (middle school) who were living in New York City on that disastrous day (The Dead & The Gone). I’ve heard that “body-shopping” is the operative word in that story. Don’t ask how I know that. I can, however, tell you about house-scavenging and LLBA.

I can’t tell you much more than what I’ve already said right here or it would totally ruin what comes next. You don’t have to have read both books mentioned above to read this latest story. One or the other would be a good idea though. And I have no idea how you are getting by, and if my story has any means to reach you wherever you are. Do you even have any electricity? Maybe you’ve rigged up some alternate energy? What’s the state of your supplies? Are you in a secret safe town? How many of you are still out there?

That’s all I have the energy to ask now, except that if you are able to get a hold of This World We Live In and join me for however long you can, that would be great. I long for company, even if it’s across the ashy, hazy miles. And if you have enough light from whatever source to finish this story, count yourself as one very lucky person. If possible, come find me, that is if I’m still around and if you have any means of transportation. If not, hang in there, there’s still a tomorrow.

Sincerely yours,

-Miranda Evans(less)

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Apr 01, 2010 khcpl teen scene added it · review of another edition

My expectations were VERY high when I went to read this book. I truly loved the first book in this series, which centered around a girl named Miranda and her family dealing with the aftermath of a natural disaster involving a meteor hitting the moon. I liked the second book as well, which was about a young man named Alex and his family dealing with the same situation. In this book, the two families meet and form relationships. Miranda and Alex end up liking each other as well.

While I really lik...more

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May 02, 2013 Life Between Coffee Spoons rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The first thing I would say to anyone thinking about reading this is don't read the back of the book! Thankfully I forget book descriptions almost immediately, so it wasn't a big deal that I did, but re-reading it made me wonder who thought it was a good idea to give the entire book away. Whoever it was, bad decision.

Biggest complaint: this book is impossible. I know it's fiction, and it's up for debate how scientific the first two books would be, but this one took it too far. If the sun honestl...more The first thing I would say to anyone thinking about reading this is don't read the back of the book! Thankfully I forget book descriptions almost immediately, so it wasn't a big deal that I did, but re-reading it made me wonder who thought it was a good idea to give the entire book away. Whoever it was, bad decision.

Biggest complaint: this book is impossible. I know it's fiction, and it's up for debate how scientific the first two books would be, but this one took it too far. If the sun honestly went away because the ash from the volcanoes was so thick, there would be no crops. I know it was addressed that everybody has had everything wither, but let's look at the bigger picture. No veggies in my backyard, means no veggies for anyone. No veggies growing, means nothing else can grow. Nothing growing at all, means absolutely no food production. Even the fakest food you can think of involves, at its base, something that was grown. Nothing growing also means no grass, which means no animals as well. After a year of no sun, there would literally be no food except what existed beforehand, which I would imagine would be gone. Even if greenhouses were used to substitute for the sun, it would produce so little that only a select group of people would be able to eat.

This brings me to my second complaint about impossibilities: electricity. I don't know about where you live, but where I live the power goes out at least once a year. When I lived in Ohio, our power company was bad enough that the power would go out several dozen times annually, usually for no reason. Most of these outages require crews to come fix them. Unless the saints working for the power company have decided to continue working for the sake of humanity, there would be no one around to fix the broken lines required to keep the flow up. Even if they did stick around to keep these repairs up, I don't think they did it for free. In fact, the rates would be so astronomical that you would dread having anything accidentally running when it came on. Mostly, though, there is no way it would have still been coming on, and I would say I'm just nitpicking, but it was a completely unnecessary plot point. Is it that hard to imagine life totally without electricity?

What else to say about this book. It was definitely my least favorite of the three, especially after getting to know Alex so closely in book 2 and having to view him entirely from Miranda's point of view this go around. This was only compounded by the fact that Miranda learns absolutely nothing about him, making him seem like the first zombie to appear in the series. He's always been an aloof character, and I recognize that it's in line with his character to keep to himself. But if he was really feeling the things he said he was feeling, there would have been a little something more there. Sure, their love was absolutely forced. I also recognize that when the world is falling apart, your standards for boyfriend/husband material drop at least a little. His absolute insistence on abandoning his sister with some nuns was one of the more ridiculous points.

The entire inclusion of Syl was frustrating, childish, and bordering on unbelievable as well. Matt was cool and levelheaded in the first book, and seemed off in this one. I reference my earlier statements about our relationship standards falling, throwing in a statement about a hormonal 20-something, but still thought it seemed silly.

Another silly thing was their scavenging skills. Oh, wait, I mean it seems like they found it silly. I agree with the other reviewers who have said they would have been out there methodically searching every inch of the area for food and supplies in an orderly fashion. I then would have started over again, assuming more people had died. It was far too convenient that they happened to stumble (view spoiler)

And what to do with the end. Spoilers, obviously, even though the dang book jacket gives it away. (view spoiler) I did like the way the author worked in a reason for the series ending.

After all of this, even I can't explain why my rating is still three stars and not two. I think it's mostly propped up by the first two, and the fact that despite my annoyances, I did find enough of this one that I enjoyed(less)

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Feb 19, 2013 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ever read "The Road" and wish it could be made into a young adult series? You get your wish right here. While the violence and threats of cannibalism aren't quite as strong as Cormac McCarthy's book, the premise is similar: an act of God has rendered much of the world uninhabitable and society slowly but surely breaks down. It's bleak and people find themselves doing things they'd never thought possible. Family is all that is important but people start challenging how we define family. My recomm...more

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Dec 05, 2012 Ella Bishop rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In Miranda’s world nothing is normal anymore, not since the asteroid hit the moon a year ago. Ever since that happened her and her family have been struggling to get by. But since theres no longer grocery stores to go to, or shopping malls to get new clothes at they’ve had to scavenge and hunt for what they need most. But when six other people including her dad, his new wife and their newly born baby come to them for everything they don’t have well things get difficult. There is one bright thing...more

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Nov 18, 2012 Shonna Froebel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the third book in the series that started with the book Life as we Knew It and continued with The Dead & The Gone.
This book brings the character featured in the two earlier books together, a year after a meteor collided with the moon and caused all the catastrophic changes. We start with Miranda Evans, who began her diary in the first book. She and her two brother cut wood and scavenge for food and household needs in the neighbourhood around their home in Pennsylvania. Miranda's mom...more

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Nov 08, 2012 Rae rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I didn't love this book the way I loved the previous two in the series, but would definitely still recommend it if you've gotten this far. The third book doesn't stand alone the way the first two can, so you definitely shouldn't read it if you haven't at least read "Life As We Knew It."

Pfeffer goes back into diary format, but I felt a little more disbelief compare to the first book. The dialogue, the retelling of minute events leading up to huge, terrifying monstrosities was a little unbelievabl...more

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Nov 07, 2012 Sinn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Wow, what a difference it makes going back to Miranda being the narrator through diary entries. Honestly, it was hard to tell the difference between this book and Life As We Knew It. Aside from adding Alex and Julie to the story, I felt as though the transition between the first book and this one was pretty seamless.

According to Miranda's first diary entry, this book picks up about a month after the first one ended. The family is still getting weekly food deliveries; however, survival is extrem...more Wow, what a difference it makes going back to Miranda being the narrator through diary entries. Honestly, it was hard to tell the difference between this book and Life As We Knew It. Aside from adding Alex and Julie to the story, I felt as though the transition between the first book and this one was pretty seamless.

According to Miranda's first diary entry, this book picks up about a month after the first one ended. The family is still getting weekly food deliveries; however, survival is extremely hard. In some ways, I didn't feel that the characters developed too much beyond the end of the first book. Even though he is now 15, I found Jon to still be extremely juvenile and babyish. Matt continues to be a asshole, and he still tries to exert control over the family. As time goes on, I think he is more hell bent on running the family. It was obvious that he tried to step into his father's role when he left; however, he just ends up being an ass. That being said, their mom isn't always the most logical thinker. And, on top of that, Miranda is still struggling with her new life and identity. She can no longer be a kid, but she is desperately trying to keep some sense of normal. While I might be able to see the argument that all the characters are seen from Miranda's view point, I felt that the character development was either stunted or non-existent.

It seemed that the author was trying to throw a few things into the mix and spice the story up a little; however, she didn't really have good follow through. The addition of Syl seemed extremely frivolous. Near the end, it becomes apparent why she was there; however, it almost would have been better if she had just been someone passing through. Unless it dealt with things like Horton and the catalyst for the occasional fight, she lived in her bedroom. As one review pointed out, it almost appeared as though she was meant as a sinister element; however, nothing came of that. In addition, her rapid religious conversion had me extremely confused from quite some time. It wasn't until Miranda mentioned it several chapters into the book that it was marginally explained. Even then I wondered why she would so quickly change from worshiping Diana to being a born again Christian. It was rather odd.

Aside from the weather changes, the inconvenience of biking into town for the food, and the addition of new people, there really was no danger. In a post-apocalyptic world, I would think there might be bands of roaming maniacs, disease popping up when the weather got warmer, etc. There was nothing. It was rather anti-climatic. Honestly, I think the tornado was the only big event in the book, and that lasted only about a page.

In some ways, I found Alex to be far more anal and unbelievable in this book. Granted, I understand holding onto his religious upbringing—especially living in a post apocalypse world—but his insane goal to bring Julie to the convent was a little out there. Even though Carlos was adamant about Julie going to the convent, I think he might have agreed that Julie was better off with Miranda's family. At least there she was guaranteed some measure of safety, she had a family, and she was looked after. There was no way to even be sure the convent would take her. Further, for someone who is supposed to care of the well being of his sister, Alex was a major ass.

Even though I had some issues with this book, I did end up enjoying it. Had life not happened in abundance, I would have tore through it in about a day. It was nice that Pfeffer was able to return to the same mood of the first book. After the horrible disappointment of the second, I was extremely reluctant to read this one. And, despite my issues, I was pleasantly surprised.(less)

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Oct 20, 2012 Shoshana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ambient-sensory-immersion-syndrome, apocalyptic, ya

HOW COMPLETELY UNSATISFYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Although I think it did exactly what Pfeffer meant it to do.

BUT THANK GOODNESS SHE DECIDED TO WRITE ANOTHER AND IT COMES OUT SOONISH!!!!!!!!

My only legitimate quibble is the way the Julie situation was handled at the end. I decided to accept, I guess, that Miranda's decision was based on an accurate analysis of the situation, but we don't actually see that accuracy in Pfeffer's presentation of the problem. I wanted a little more thought process to really j...more

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Aug 13, 2012 Erin rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the rather rushed and disappointing third installment in Susan Beth Pfeffer's apocolypse. It brings together Miranda and Alex so that we can tie up some ends neatly. After a year, Miranda's family is still surviving on government food rations..they still haven't figured out how to get a rifle and go deer or rabbit hunting, even though there are two sons and they live in rural Pennsylvania...the two boys eventually do go fishing however and the oldest brings home a wife on this trip....Mi...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A lot of people didn't like this book as much as the previous two in the series. I also felt that way, but I did think it was a decent enough conclusion to the series. Since I didn't like Alex very much, I was glad it was told from Miranda's perspective and he only made an appearance in the latter part. I'm not giving anything away by saying that Miranda and Alex end up together, but I really never did buy her falling for him. I suppose it was because he was the only male around her age not rela...more

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Aug 01, 2012 Kristy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian, i-think-you-should-read-this

It's the end of the world as we know it, it's the end of the world as we know it, it's the end of the world as we know it........... and I feel fine.

Well, I have to admit I liked this one much better than The Dead and the Gone. I know I am in the minority with this, but I feel like this one got some of the magic back. I picked this book up and you couldn't have gotten it out my hands today.... even to go to the beach (ask my hubs). Seriously, this one hooked me in. I am also in the minority with...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Megan rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: terrible, disappointing, kinda-lame

Easily the greatest disappointment of my life, up there above Mockingjay. With the first came an awesome story that left the audience excited for more, but much to be desired and improved upon; with the second came an absolutely breathtaking knockout of a book, with a notably incredible main character. With this third one comes the unholy offspring of the two previous books together.

It was sloppy. It was unrealistic. It was stupid.

EVERYTHING I loved about the previous two was gone in this one. E...more

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Jun 16, 2012 Lori L (She Treads Softly) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This World We Live In by Susan Beth Pfeffer is the third book in the young adult trilogy that began with Life as We Knew It and was followed by The Dead and the Gone. This World We Live In continues the story of the characters from the first two books, Miranda and Alex. In this third book protagonists Miranda and Alex meet when Alex and his sister are traveling companions who are accompanying her returning father and stepmother. In This World We Live In, Pfeffer returns to the narrative being to...more

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Jun 10, 2012 Lindsay Ejoh rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

THIS ENTIRE REVIEW IS FULL OF SPOILERS

First of all I'd like to point out the few good parts of this book.

1. Alex found his way to Miranda. I always assumed they would because the first book was about her, and the second book was about him, and naturally, they'd have to meet, but it was still awesome that they found each other :)

2. They didn't starve. I was actually surprised no one starved during the whole book, since that seemed like the main theme in the first two. But it was god that nobody,...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Ronya rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: post-apocalyptic, young-adult

The third installment catches up with Miranda and her family--the characters from the first book. Miranda and her brothers and mother still live in their small house in their small town and their survival depends on weekly food deliveries from the town government and from scavenging abandoned homes for anything they can use. Their day-by-day monotony is broken up by two events: Miranda's oldest brother comes back from a fishing trip with a wife, and their father returns home with Miranda's stepm...more

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May 24, 2012 Famin rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Depressing but impossible to forget

I just finished reading this trilogy. I'd read the first book (Life As We Knew It) last year, but only got around to the second and third books this week.

The books are set in a post-apocalyptic world in which an asteroid hits the moon and knocks it off its orbit so that it's closer to Earth. Consequently, this change leads to a list of climactic changes on Earth--higher tides, tsunamis, floods, earthquakes, volcanoes, volcanic ash blocking out the sun and, ult...more

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May 22, 2012 Kate Edmondson rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian

Book 3 of the Last Survivors series, and back to Miranda's first-person diary entries. Reading this book made me realize that a big reason I preferred book 2 to book 1 was that Pfeffer simply writes better in 3rd person, in my opinion.

Interestingly, Pfeffer merges the storylines of Miranda's family and the Morales family in this book, which picks up a couple of months after books 1 and 2 let off. There are several inconsistencies, which bother me - Miranda's mom goes overnight from being obsess...more

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May 15, 2012 Sara rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: futuristic-fiction, ya-fiction

This companion novel to “Life as We Knew It” and “The Dead and Gone” is narrated by Miranda Evans. One year after the catastrophic meteor collision with the moon which threw off the earth’s climate, weather patterns, and ocean tides, Miranda and her family have survived the winter, and are trying to make preparations for the coming year. This includes raiding the abandoned houses nearby and attempting to catch fish at the river fifteen miles away. And then Miranda’s father shows up — with his wi...more

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Apr 07, 2012 Noreen rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopian-and-postapocalyptic, y-a-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Are you kidding me?

The novel started strong for me. I liked that we were back in Miranda's point of view (although maybe bouncing between Miranda and Alex would have been more believable and helped make Alex's return to the East Coast more plausible). But then the novel slowly spiraled out of control and made me want to poke my eyes out. I better just list the things that annoyed me.

1. Um, Miranda almost died in book 1. She had this transcendent moment, where she realized that her death would h...more

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About Susan Beth Pfeffer

Susan Beth Pfeffer was born in New York City in 1948. She grew up in the city and its nearby suburbs and spent summers in the Catskill Mountains. When she was six her father wrote and published a book on constitutional law, and Pfeffer decided that she, too, wanted to be a writer. That year she wrote her first story, about the love between an Oreo cookie and a pair of scissors. However, it wasn't...more

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The Dead and the Gone (Last Survivors, #2)

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“Back in the time when life was easy, the Internet would have told me what I needed to know. The great thing about the Internet was it didn't care why you were asking.” — 25 people liked it

“He taught me to trust in tomorrow.” — 24 people liked it

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This World We Live In (The Last Survivors #3)

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