Monday, April 14, 2014

Review: After the End by Amy Plum

First thanks to HarperTeen and Edelweiss for allowing me to read an e-galley of this book.  Now I've only read the first book in Amy Plum's other series, Die For Me, but I did really like it.  So, when I saw this available on Edelweiss, I decided to request it.  This wasn't too bad.  I must admit that at first I was really worried that it was going to be a major copy of a book by Margaret Peterson Haddix that totally had a movie by M. Night Shyamalan that copied it, but then there was a bit of a different twist to it that totally redeemed it for me.

The main character is Juneau, named for the Alaskan city, as are all the other kids in her clan.  They are a group of people who moved to Alaska right before the start of World War III in order to save themselves.  The live off the wilderness, supporting themselves as they are able.  And they also have a connection to the earth, one that helps them to be able to predict things, as well as read about where people they know might be.  They use their connections, or else some kind of tool, like a rock, or an animal, or fire, or water, to see things.  Juneau is set to take over from the main leader one day, as she has the most potential with this power.  One day she goes out hunting to help provide food for her clan, and when she comes back, they are all missing.  But it's like they were taken, their day to day belongings left as if they left them in the middle of making dinner, or whatever. But the worst thing is that all the dogs were killed, and that is how Juneau knows they were probably taken against their will.

The other main character is Miles. Miles is a spoiled rich boy, who has just been kicked out of high school because of getting caught cheating on a test.  And now his chances of going to Yale seem to be gone.  He overhears his father talking about a girl that must be found, and decides he will find her on his own, thus impressing his father, and winning back what he needs to go to Yale.

The two of them will end up together, both of them needing each other in their own way.  But will they become friends?  How will Juneau take finding out that she's been lied to her whole life?  And will Miles go ahead and turn her in to his dad, betraying what trust they may develop in each other.  Not only that, but there are now people after them, so they must figure out how to evade them, as well as try to find Juneau's clan.

Definitely a different type of story than a lot of what is out right now.  A good read for sure.