This is the companion book to Life As We Know It, which had absolutely blown me away. I had read the description for The Dead and the Gone and wasn't sure I really wanted to read it. It sounded grittier and I did not honestly believe it could have lived up to the first. And I was right -- it was grittier in that because Alex lived in the New York City, death was more prevalent and much more personal. For some reason, I did not feel as compelled by this book as I had the first -- whether this was due to the fact I had read Life so I had an idea of what would happen, or because I just didn't feel as connected to Alex, I can't say. I did enjoy the book, though, and sped through it. ( )

When the asteroid hits the moon and knocks it out of its orbit, Alex Morales of New York City is working at the pizza place and worrying about the future. He’s not worried about the asteroid and the moon, he doesn’t know about that yet. He’s worried about where he’ll go to college (he wants Georgetown) and whether his record a St. Vincent de Paul boys high school is good enough to get in. His father is the super of their apartment building and Alex wants a better life. As the days, weeks, and then months pass, Alex realizes how insignificant his worries were. Since that May night, seventeen-year-old Alex has been taking care of his younger sisters, Briana and Julie because his parents probably lost their lives during the immediate aftermath of the disaster but they never find out for sure. That is the first horror in a series of progressively horrible events that take place after the moon moves closer to the earth. First come tidal waves, then earthquakes and volcanoes, the climate begins to change, the dead bodies begin to pile up on the streets, and food becomes scarce. Alex tries valiantly to keep his sisters alive as life in New York becomes almost unlivable. This companion novel to Life as We Knew It provides the urban story of how such a disaster might affect life for everyone. This compelling novel has themes of family, personal growth, and faith and will keep students reading to the end. ( )

Urban view of events from Pfeffer's Life as We Knew It. More grim-NYC has a much different experience from those in the country. ( )

*3.75
Not quite as enjoyable as the first in the series, but I appreciated seeing what life was like in this same situation in a different part of the country. ( )

The Last Survivors series continues with Book 2 -- The Dead and The Gone. An asteroid strikes the moon, knocking it closer to Earth. Devastating climate changes and natural disasters immediately strike, ending modern society and starting humanity's downward spiral towards possible extinction. Alex Morales lives in New York City with his family. One day they are a happy, large Puerto Rican family....and the next Alex finds himself trying to survive with his two younger sisters. Alone. In a city filled with death and chaos. Can they survive, or will they join millions of others in death?

While the actual disaster scenario is pretty much scientifically impossible, this series does realistically portray the impact of a large scale extinction level disaster. Alex and his sisters have to grow up quickly when they find themselves without parents in a city almost completely shut down in an instant. Alex has to learn to scavenge from dead bodies and vacant apartments in order to have food, medicine and basic necessities. Thousands of people are searching for missing loved ones, even searching through unidentified corpses laid out in Yankee Stadium. Dead bodies pile up, leading to illness. Starvation causes acts of violence. The city rapidly disintegrates into a very dangerous place. Alex and his sisters lean on their Catholic faith and the last remnants of hope, as the world falls apart around them.

The Last Survivors series is written for YA readers, so there is no graphic violence, sex or bad language. The subject matter, however, is very dark and I wouldn't recommend the series for kids under 13. It might be a bit too much for younger children. As an adult, the series is very thought provoking, making me wonder how my town and my own family would react to a similar large scale disaster. In modern society, we rely heavily on technology for communication, basic necessities and safety....what if all that was removed in an instant? What if life as as we know it was suddenly, and permanently, very different? Where would I turn for hope when things seem hopeless?

Just like book 1, this book is in diary form. The story is very well-written and interesting, yet disturbing. Excellent series so far!

Susan Beth Pfeffer is the author of several YA books. Check out her blog: http://susanbethpfeffer.blogspot.com/ ( )