Alone by Megan Freeman

Title: Alone by Megan Freeman

Reviewer: Louisa, grade 8

Rating: 4 stars

What would you do if everyone suddenly disappeared? How would you survive if everything you took for granted, like the heater, stopped working? Could you handle the psychological effects of being alone? In the book Alone by Megan E. Freeman, you can live this reality through Maddie, the relatable main character. Through poetry, you read Maddie’s incredible journey, both mentally and physically. When all the people in her small Coloradan town disappear, she has to fight to survive and learns about gratitude and resourcefulness along the way.

I enjoyed reading this book a lot because it never got boring. I always wanted to turn another page or read another poem, and I was worried for Maddie, the main character. Her character was convincing and so was how she survives and what challenges she faces. It was clear that the author did her research about natural disasters and what would happen if everything stopped working, and that made it more compelling. Putting the story into verse added a lot to it too, because it made it significantly different from other survival stories like Hatchet and Island of the Blue Dolphins. The poem format also helped the writing focus on some of the emotional and psychological effects that come from being alone for years on end.

I would recommend this book to fans of survival or adventure stories and books written in verse. It’s very engaging and is exciting all the way to the end, while also letting you connect with the character, and it’s good if you’re looking for a quick, satisfying read.