From the Bookshelf of Apocalypse Whenever…

Life As We Knew It (Last Survivors, #1)

Susan Beth Pfeffer

Start date: November 15, 2011

Finish date: December 1, 2011

Discussion: AW BOOK CLUB (spoilers)

Why we're reading this: Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth. Ho…more
[close] Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove.

Told in journal entries, this is the heart-pounding story of Miranda’s struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all--hope--in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world.

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Group Discussions About This Book

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AW BOOK CLUB (spoilers)

* What is a good book for AW discussion? (Nominations pool)
By Gertie · 65 posts · 218 views

last updated Oct 18, 2025 05:31PM

* AW Book Club: what we've read
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last updated Dec 10, 2019 09:01AM

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What Members Thought

Apr 13, 2011 Christine Verstraete rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2021-paranormal-sci-fi

I last read this in 2011 and felt like reading something apocalyptic again. Fiction beats reality. ha! Still gripping and a fast two-day read, addictive. Now off to book 2 and I didn't realize there was a book 4 which I think I missed... Like watching a car crash, terrible events, but couldn't stop reading. Riveting, thought-provoking.... ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 04, 2009 Fiona rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, adored-and-re-read, ya-books

I really enjoyed this.

Very claustraphobic reading.

I love this sort of story.

Now reading the next one. The Dead and the Gone...

Enjoy if you decide to pick this one up.

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Jul 13, 2012 Lauren rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sci-fi, post-apocalyptic

I wasn't sure at the beginning what would come of this book but I absolutely loved it. The writing style was engaging and the attention to detail had me envisioning everything. My favorite descriptive piece in a long time was Miranda's imagination, to avoid a spoiler, her entry from
February 18. ...more

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Nov 10, 2010 Jeannie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own, my-keep-collection

This book just truly scared the shit out of me! The characters were clearly drawn and easy to relate to. I just kept thinking of what I would do if something as catastrophic as this really did happen. Hard to put down, in fact, I read it in one evening because I have the sequels already in hand and couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review