Release: January 12th, 2021
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Aladdin
Source: Amazon
Find it at Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N
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Perfect for fans of Hatchet and the I Survived series, this harrowing middle-grade debut novel-in-verse from a Pushcart Prize–nominated poet tells the story of a young girl who wakes up one day to find herself utterly alone in her small Colorado town.
When twelve-year-old Maddie hatches a scheme for a secret sleepover with her two best friends, she ends up waking up to a nightmare. She’s alone—left behind in a town that has been mysteriously evacuated and abandoned.
With no one to rely on, no power, and no working phone lines or internet access, Maddie slowly learns to survive independently. Her only companions are a Rottweiler named George and all the books she can read. After a rough start, Maddie learns to trust her own ingenuity and invents creative ways to survive in a place that has been deserted and forgotten.
As the month’s pass, she escapes natural disasters, looters, and wild animals. But Maddie’s most formidable enemy is the crushing loneliness she faces every day. Can Maddie’s stubborn will to survive to carry her through the most frightening experience of her life?
About the Author:
Megan E. Freeman attended an elementary school where poets visited her classroom every week, and she has been a writer ever since. She writes middle grade and young adult fiction. Megan is also a Pushcart Prize–nominated poet. An award-winning teacher with decades of classroom experience, Megan taught multiple subjects across the arts and humanities to students of all ages. She lives near Boulder, Colorado. Visit her online at MeganEFreeman.com.
Alone Review:
I never thought a middle-grade novel would be gripping, but “Alone” had me at the edge of my seat.
Firstly, I love the style of writing! The author narrates the story in free-verse, which makes it so entertaining to read. Similarly, I loved how Maddie matures as she survives. She goes through so much, and you can slowly see her perception changing of the world, her family, and her friends. Maddie goes through a multitude of emotions from fear, anxiety, survival, and hope. Similarly, George is also a fantastic companion for Maddie, and I was rooting for them throughout the story.
Moreover, the story is never boring at any point. Initially, you would feel that there would not be much for Maddie to experience. But the author tells the story in such a dynamic manner that tests the character’s determination. When you feel things cannot get any worse, a new dilemma encounters Maddie. The author paced it beautifully! Many moments stood out in the story for me. For instance, I loved when Maddie finds a paradox between facing the nightmare or the reality, or when she prays to God to connect her to her family. Some moments were also eerie and suspenseful, like when she goes to Emma’s house or when the animals attack her.
Perhaps the only minor criticism I have of the tale is the rushed ending. While I enjoyed the end, I was a bit disappointed for not getting a detailed explanation of the events. I won’t spoil the ending, but I would have liked it had the author drawn out the last few scenes.
Apart from that, “Alone” is a gripping, middle-grade survival novel that I feel a reader of any age would enjoy.
