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This World We Live In

Book 3 in the series:Last Survivors

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'This World We Live In' is the third and final book in the Survivors trilogy by Susan Beth Pfeffer. The story follows Miranda as she navigates through a world drastically changed by an asteroid hitting the moon, causing global catastrophe. The book combines characters from the previous two books, focusing on Miranda's encounters with Alex and his sister Julie as they struggle to survive in a world where food scarcity and the fear of death loom over them. Despite the hardships, Miranda and Alex find love and hope amidst the chaos, leading readers through a rollercoaster of emotions to a surprising conclusion.

The book delves into themes of survival, love, and hope as the characters face incredible hardships and must overcome obstacles to stay alive. Pfeffer's writing style is described as captivating, emotional, and believable, drawing readers into a post-apocalyptic world where the characters' struggles and emotions are vividly portrayed. The narrative follows Miranda's diaries, offering a frank and compelling perspective on the challenges and experiences of a teenager living through the end of the world.

Characters:

The characters are complex, with Miranda showing significant growth, while others, particularly Alex, evoke mixed feelings among readers.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is diary-style, immersing readers in Miranda's personal experiences and emotional struggles.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers around survival in a drastically changed world due to an asteroid hitting the moon, and the merging lives of familiar characters as they cope with new challenges.

Setting:

The story is set in a bleak, post-apocalyptic version of Pennsylvania, exploring the harsh realities of survival.

Pacing:

The pacing varies, starting strong but slowing during emotional developments, ultimately feeling rushed toward the end.
I'm shivering, and I can't tell if it's because something strange is going on or because of the dream I had or just because I'm in the kitchen, away from the warmth of the woodstove. It's 1:15 am , th...

Notes:

This is the third book in The Last Survivors series.
The story follows the aftermath of an asteroid collision with the moon, causing severe environmental disasters.
The main character, Miranda, is now 17 years old and is trying to survive with her family in Pennsylvania.
Miranda's family struggles with food shortages and the harsh conditions of their new reality.
The book introduces new characters, including Miranda's father and his new family, creating a larger household that complicates survival.
Alex and Julie Morales, characters from the previous book, join Miranda's community, merging the two storylines together.
Miranda develops feelings for Alex, leading to a teenage romance amidst the chaos.
The story explores themes of love, survival, and familial bonds in a post-apocalyptic world.
Miranda's perspective is presented through diary entries, providing an intimate look at her thoughts and emotions.
The book ends ambiguously, leaving readers questioning the fate of the characters and the world they inhabit.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of loss, death, starvation, mental health struggles, and the challenges of survival in a post-apocalyptic scenario.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance in the book, primarily revolving around the relationship between Miranda and Alex.

From The Publisher:

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. One of the newcomers is Alex Morales, and as Miranda's complicated feelings for him turn to love, his plans for his future thwart their relationship. Then a devastating tornado hits the town of Howell, and Miranda makes a decision that will change their lives forever.

Ratings (11)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (1)
Liked It (1)
It Was OK (7)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (13):

Read It (11)
Want To Read (1)
Did Not Finish (1)

4 comment(s)

Did Not Like
3 days

The first 2 books were decent, but this third one just drags. I couldn’t finish— way too much religious nonsense to try and slog through.

 
It Was OK
2 weeks

My review on the whole trilogy can be read here.

 
Liked It
3 weeks

Unlike the other two books in the series, this book did not make want to hoard canned foods in my cupboard. I liked the characters and I liked the writing style but the ending was just meh. I think the story could have been fleshed out much more.

 
It Was OK
2 months

As much as I looked forward to this book, I have to say it didn't live up to the first two. At times I thought it should have been called

It's the End of the World: Let's Make Some Stupid Decisions. Characters behave for inscrutable reasons, and they all seem to be in a constant state of sulking and fighting. It makes sense that people wouldn't be getting along in this situation, but it also doesn't make a very good story. Alex and Miranda come together for no other reason than they are the protagonists of the first two books. I saw no real connection between the two of them.

I would have liked to have seen Miranda thinking more about the role of women in her new world. Pfeffer touches on it in a few scenes, particularly when Miranda's father calls Miranda and Julie the future. The subtext is that Miranda and Julie will give birth to the future. Syl, Matt's new wife, alludes to the sexual politics of the new world order when she tells Miranda that girls have to make soldiers feel "special" in order to get extra food and blankets in the camps. Alongside Miranda's growing feelings for Alex, this could have been an opportunity for Miranda to wrestle with real questions about her place in the world.

However, the book is still highly readable and the diary format makes the pages fly by.

 

About the Author:

Susan Beth Pfeffer is the author of many books for teens, including the New York Times best-selling novel Life As We Knew It, which was nominated for several state awards, and its companion books, The Dead and the Gone, This World We Live In, and The Shade of the Moon. She lives in Middletown, New York.

 
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