Review Detail

Based on recommendations from my Facebook page, The YA Gal, I checked out Ashfall by Mike Mullin–and then spent the next 24 hours being scared out of my mind. Ashfall is cli-fi at its best.

The hook is that a super-volcano underneath Yellowstone explodes causing apocalyptic conditions across America. Two teenagers, Alex and Darla, do whatever it takes to survive–even if that means murder.

The protagonist of the book is Alex, and the novel is told from his point of view. But the real hero of the story is Darla, who’s part MacGyver, part 4H genius. If you ever need to butcher an animal, you want Darla by your side.

I don’t normally like books that stress me out with every page turn, but the relationship between Alex and Darla was so well written that I can see why my Facebook friends love this book. I’d also like to point out the #WeNeedDiverseBooks opening, where a neighborly gay couple shelters Alex from doom.

Kudos to Tanglewood Books for recognizing the power of Ashfall. This is exactly why small publishing houses are so important.