Review: Ashfall by Mike Mullin

Oct 252011

Ashfall by Mike Mullin

Received from Netgalley

Synopsis from Goodreads: Yellowstone National Park is a super volcano. Most people don’t know it’s there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet. Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives.

When the Yellowstone super volcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.

AH’s Review -

A or 5 Stars

There was a time when I used to watch all those Discovery Channel science shows. Shark Week, Storm Chasers, I watched them all. My all-time favorites were the volcano shows. Then I learned about the Yellowstone Super Volcano. The sheer size of this volcano boggles the mind and should it decide to blow, life on earth (especially North America) would undergo some drastic changes.

Ashfall begins on an ordinary Friday afternoon in late August. Alex Halprin, almost 16 years old, is being left home alone for the weekend as his parents and sister go visit relatives about 140 miles east of Alex’s home town in Iowa. Alex is a normal teenager, self-absorbed in his own things, and he is excited to spend time on his own.

Rumblings, tremors, earthquakes, noise….a huge boulder hits Alex’s home and sets it on fire. Incessant ashfall blankets everything, causing buildings to buckle under its weight. Alex’s world changes drastically. After taking temporary shelter next door at his neighbors, Alex is forced to embark on a journey to find his parents.

This is a compelling read. Alex’s town is about 900 miles east of the volcano and the devastation is catastrophic. Resources such as food, water, and communications are non-existent. Society devolves quickly. Lawlessness, violence, volcanic ash, and poor air quality make traveling dangerous.

I loved Alex’s character. When we are first introduced to Alex, he is just an ordinary teen, nothing special. Alex matures remarkably fast and becomes strong, resourceful, and dependable throughout the novel. When slogging through volcanic ash on foot, Alex realizes that perhaps the going would be quicker on skis. Alex’s taekwondo skills are most useful when dealing with some of the dangerous characters he meets up with.

I also loved Darla, Alex’s traveling companion. Darla was smart, imaginative, and extremely handy with mechanics. Alex and Darla were perfect for each other and I enjoyed how they learned to depend on each other.

I devoured this book. I could not put it down. I’ve even revised our family’s emergency kit to include some Vitamin C tablets (never thought of that!). Maybe I’ll even register the kids in some martial arts classes.

A sequel is planned for Fall 2012. Ashen Winter – I can’t wait to read it.

Rating: ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠ ☠

Thank you to Netgalley for a review copy of this book.

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AH

Hi all! Bonjour! I’m AH and I am obsessed with reading. I read all kinds of books, but my favorites are paranormal romance and urban fantasy. What is it about those vampires and shape-shifters? Lately, I seem to be reading a lot of dystopian books as well. Are zombies the new vampire? I hope not. I have 3 boys – all reluctant readers so I tend to read a lot of young adult books aimed at boys. I want them to catch the reading bug too! I’m looking forward to sharing my thoughts about books with you. Hope we can discover some great reads together.

8 Responses to “Review: Ashfall by Mike Mullin”

Comments (6) Pingbacks (2)

BJ says:

October 25, 2011 at 7:04 am

Sounds like a compelling and scarily realistic story! I'm giggling a little bit over you revising your emergency preparedness kit, though…while I commend you for being so organized, I can't help but picture you explaining to a group of survivors, "I got this idea from a novel!" when you hand over the vitamin C!

And they say we can't learn from fiction…

Great review! Will definitely be tracking this one down.
My recent post Review: Flash Gold (Flash Gold Chronicles #1) by Lindsay Buroker

Reply
- AH1 says:
  
  October 25, 2011 at 11:45 am
  
  Thanks, BJ! Scary and compelling for sure. You know, you usually don't give much thought to vitamins in a survival kit. Food, water, a candle, some matches – but if you can't grow any food and you are eating only grains, you don't get much Vitamin C which leads to scurvy. I guess I should get to Costco and buy one of those 2 year supply of Vitamins,
  
  Reply
@Giselleco says:

October 25, 2011 at 7:47 am

Yay! I felt the same way I was completely fascinated by this book I couldn't stop reading at all. Really glad you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Giselle
Xpresso Reads

Reply
- AH1 says:
  
  October 25, 2011 at 11:46 am
  
  Thanks, Giselle. Completely fascinating. I did stop watching all those Discovery Channel specials – they gave me nightmares!
  
  Reply
Erika Badass says:

October 25, 2011 at 7:56 am

This book sounds awesome, maybe I'll go read it Great review AH. I can't imagine what would happen if the Super Volcano did blow >.<

Reply
- AH1 says:
  
  October 25, 2011 at 11:47 am
  
  Thanks, Erika. Scary thought that something so far away can affect so many people. Hope it never happens in our lifetime!
  
  Reply