Ashfall is a 466 page long book by Mike Mullin. Overall, I liked this book. It was not amazing, but still a good read. This book is about what would happen if the supervolcano under Yellowstone National Park actually erupted. The story centers around Alex, whose family had gone on a trip without him that weekend. When the volcano erupts, his main goal becomes to go to Warren, Illinois and find his family. He runs into many obstacles along the way, and meets many new people. I think people should read this book as it shows resilience during disaster, realistic characters, and an interesting setting. I like the way the author shows the general population’s reaction to the volcano’s eruption. Many are scared and do not know what to do, …show more content…
so they panic. These initial reactions are common in the beginning of the book, especially when Alex is first driven out of his home by fire. His neighbors gladly take him in, but they are confused about the reasons behind the odd occurrences. Others, however, set up areas of refuge in schools, and organize efforts to help keep the town alive. For instance, while Alex is living with Darla and her mother after being badly injured, they visit the nearby town. The town's mayor had already set up a system that incorporated all of the townspeople, helping them to survive more than if they were on their own. This results in them having clean water to use. As shown here, “‘Mayor’s responsible for it. Got a crew to go around after the noise stopped made everyone promise to use less than five gallons a day. Anyone uses more, their water gets shut off they say the water in the tower might last a year’” (Mullin 189). Mullin is trying to show that even in times of trouble and distress, people can rise up and organize a working society, even begin to rebuild almost immediately after disaster. I think this shows true resilience and how some people would react during a natural disaster. I noticed throughout the book that the author made sure to have the characters act as regular people.
Often, many authors will make major characters seem as if they are superhuman beings without emotion, who will keep chugging on in times of difficulty. Other times, minor characters are either evil or good. This was not the case with Mullin’s novel. Characters speak how average everyday people would, and have feelings average everyday people would. For example, when Alex is badly injured and has to stay with Darla and her mother, Darla voices her annoyance. In other books I’ve read before, once the protagonist is injured and finds help, those people are usually kind and help in any way they can, which is just not completely realistic. Darla acts how a normal teenager would when a new person come into their life and invades their space. Others Alex meet are violent, or try to attack him for food. Mullin makes sure to give them a motive though, and many times, it is one that makes you question if they are really villainous or just desperate. For instance, Alex meets a family at a gas station. The man, Darryl, almost attacks Alex for food, even after being told he doesn't have any. However, Darryl’s actions are not because he wants to attack Alex, it is out of desperosity. As shown, “‘My family and I, we were on our way to Nebraska when it hit. We only had some snacks with us. We’ve barely had any food for a week’” (Mullin 112). It is interesting and likeable that the characters are not just one dimensional, and act as normal people
would. I think the setting of this book is important as it affects Alex’s entire journey to Illinois, as well as his outlook on the situation Most books are set in well known cities or states, such as California or New York, but this is not the case. Alex lives in Iowa, and he is close enough to the eruption that in the beginning of the book, a large rock, hurled from the volcano, crashes into his home and sets it on fire. If he had lived anywhere else he may have been too close or too far from the eruption, and his experience would have been different. This affects the entire rest of the book, as Alex journeys towards Illinois in the hopes of finding his family. His travels are greatly affected by the terrain of the midwest, forcing him to travel on skis to make it through the ash. Alex is determined to get to his family, and if he had lived farther away from Illinois, I do not think he would be as quick to pack up and leave as he is. For example, it was only a few days after his house had been on fire that he began to pack up to leave. At first, he tries to use a bike, but is not able to pedal through the ash on the ground. He becomes resourceful then, as shown, “I dragged everything down to the floor of the garage. Two skis, a pair of boots, two poles, and a pair of ski goggles. everything was covered in dust, but that was okay. It’d get a lot dustier the moment I stepped outside” (Mullin 62). If Alex lived anywhere else, it may have been too far to just try to ski to Illinois. The terrain and distance greatly affect the story, and the setting is a vital part of his journey. I would rate this book a 3 out of 5 as it was a good read, but not amazing. People who like disaster or dystopian YA books would possibly like this book as well.
To have a good story, there must be good characters. Characters help the reader relate to the plot and struggle of the story, as well as creating a picture of the scenes on each page. But what exactly makes a character? What defines their personalities and relatableness to the reader? The way a character thinks, acts, and views the world are influenced, much like in the real world, by the people and places around them. In essence, they are ideas that are forged and refined by the author and other supporting aspects of the story into the living, breathing lenses through which we view the story. In the case of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford, Henry is our window into the world of wartime Seattle. Through him, we can view
Although volcanoes are difficult to predict, geologists have made many efforts in order to caution the people of Orting and other surrounding towns of possible lahar slides. Residents have been made aware of emergency response plans and they know the proper precautions to take in the case of a volcanic activity emergency. Sirens have been put in place by the fire department and governing bodies of surrounding communities to detect volcanic activity and warn the community of possible slides.... ... middle of paper ...
Although each character is very different in their own way, O 'Connors uses each character to show a sense of kindness, struggle, and moment of clarity. Sometimes these characters are bizarre and eccentric, but each in their own individual way. A Good Man is Hard
He spends a considerable amount of time reflecting on what happened and how it has changed his life forever. Krakauer struggles with survivor's guilt and a redefined view on mortality and addresses questions about events on the mountain that perhaps don't have answers. Krakauer acknowledges and apologizes for any pain or anger his book might arose in the friends and families of victims, but is undeterred from detailing the events, be they heroic, selfish or tragic.
In this selection, author Mike Rose explains his experiences following his mistaken placement in a bottom tier classes. Through this mistake, Rose begins to realize the different attitudes that accompany this bottom level stigma.
Throughout almost the whole account the reader can perceive a tone of desperation as the main character
Rash portrays his characters with decency through their hardship to enable the reader to identify with these people who are thought to be so different, but in reality are just trying to survive through hardships like the rest of the
The article I have chosen is the one on how “massive Mega-Quake Could Destroy Pacific Northwest”. The author notes that massive quakes have a magnitude of up to 9.2. It could last four minutes, according to seismologists. It occurs and then a wall of water follows. However, it could take up to fifteen minutes later. Individuals need to be concerned about the risks associated with the massive mega quakes. However, it seems that the people in the potential inundation zone have very little knowledge on the risks involved with mega quakes. Individuals that would be given a chance to live in the Pacific Northwest say that they would think twice. There is the need to offer education and training for the residents of the Pacific Northwest on the need for emergency preparedness and the things that should be done in case of massive mega quakes.
Volcanoes have always been a mysterious wonder of the world. Volcanoes have shaped the landscape and the very ground that we all live on. People have written stories of their disastrous eruptions, and painted their marvelous shapes on canvas. The essay will outline some of the more famous volcanoes and how they have impacted are history. Mount Vesuvius that destroy the great city of Pompeii, Krakatoa they spewed deadly ash on small village town, and Mount St. Helen, the only volcano in my own country to every erupt during my own time period.
The first time I saw Mt. Rainier for myself, was last summer when my boyfriend and I drove to Washington. It was the most beautiful, peaceful looking mountain I have ever seen. However, underneath it's great beauty, it hides a deadly secret. Mt. Rainier is one of the most dangerous volcanoes that we have here in the United States. One of the reasons it is so dangerous is because of it's great beauty. People enjoy looking at it, and the area that surrounds it, so they have made their homes here. Mt Rainier is not the only volcano I am interested in, in fact this last summer I also went to Mt. St. Helens and Crater Lake. But it is the volcano I chose to research for this paper because it does have so much beauty and at the same time so much power. I already know the basics about volcanoes, how they form, the different types, etc., but I wanted to find out more about what would happen if this great volcano were to erupt, what type of eruption would it be, and how would it affect the people that live around it.
Firstly, I liked the way in which the author uses his experiences to relate ...
What does the author want readers to learn from this story? How does it help you understand this message?
Winchester takes the time to write multiple accounts of the eruption and writes a variety of perspectives on the event. For example, while sailor’s accounts of the situation started with “white smoke coming from the volcano,” other people such as families on the island felt “the earth shake” first, and then saw “enormous chunks of pumice fall from the sky, “ (213-218). Similar to a puzzle, these detailed accounts of the disaster chosen by Winchester creates a vivid picture of the event when put together. In addition to these accounts, Winchester’s attention to detail adds more depth to the book. Although some may consider the details excessive and overloaded, in my opinion it only adds clarity and is a necessary aspect in the nonfiction genre. Winchester’s attention to detail, such as the background history of the island to the Dutch early occupation of the island, only makes the book a richer reading experience and teaches the reader facts beyond the catastrophe
An Ember in the Ashes, written by Sabaa Tahir, is the first book in an up and coming dystopian series that follows the lives of two unlikely heroes who live in a cruel Empirical world. Laia is a simple lower class girl who loses what little family she has after her grandparents are killed and her brother is arrested. Elias is the finest student in a school that is training its students to become lethal killers, though he does not wish to take the same path as his comrades. Fate forces them together in an epic tale of bravery, betrayal and love that will change the face of the Empire forever. To carry out this tale, Tahir uses a mix of dualism and man versing his own inner demons to show how freedom comes when you take it, for both the soldier and the slave.
The three volcanoes represent our problems. The active volcano is our current problems; the extinct, our past trials, and the dormant, the problems that we don't know if they are through or there are still to come. But as the rain stops pouring down, rainbow starts to form. Joy and pleasure must be earned-- not given or received -- like the joy the water from well gives to the little prince and the pilot. Its sweetness comes from the journey under the stars and the work of the pilot's arms making the pulley sing.