REVIEW: Ashes, Ashes

Title: Ashes, Ashes

Author: Jo Treggiari

Source: Library

Grade: A-

Summery from Amazon:

Epidemics, floods, droughts--for sixteen-year-old Lucy, the end of the world came and went, taking 99% of the population with it. As the weather continues to rage out of control, and Sweepers clean the streets of plague victims, Lucy survives alone in the wilds of Central Park. But when she's rescued from a pack of hunting dogs by a mysterious boy named Aidan, she reluctantly realizes she can't continue on her own. She joins his band of survivors, yet, a new danger awaits her: the Sweepers are looking for her. There's something special about Lucy, and they will stop at nothing to have her.

Review:

Ashes, Ashes begins with Lucy trying to survive in the wilds of destroyed New York City. The population has been destroyed by a massive plague, and there are few that have survived. Lucy is one of the "lucky" ones. All is going well (as can be expected when you are surviving on your own), until wild dogs begin to chase Lucy. She is saved by a boy named Aidan, who is also a "lucky" survivor. He tells her about a commune of other survivors that he is living with. After some very unfortunate situations, Lucy decides to find the commune. When she arrives, things start to go down hill. The commune is attacked and it is found that they are searching for Lucy because some doctors and researchers want her blood. She is the only person alive that was not vaccinated against the plague, but has survived. The race to keep Lucy safe falls on the other survivors, whether they like it or not.

My very favorite genre is dystopian books and Ashes, Ashes, is a very typical dystopian novel-the world is destroyed and there are few people that have to fight to survive. I really loved this book but I can see why people would be bored with it. Amazon had mixed reviews for this book. Many of the reviews see it as a a small book in a huge dystopian fish pond. It just doesn't stand out to others, such as The Maze Runner, or The Hunger Games, and is predictable along the lines of a dystopian novel. I really, really enjoyed reading the book and it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading it, but I can see why some avid readers would not be completely taken with it. I suggest it to all readers out there! But, if you are a dystopian book fan, this could be a book that you could skip. You won't be missing anything outstanding.

Happy Reading!

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