Extinction

This World We Live In
by Susan Beth Pfeffer


It's been a year since a meteor hit the moon. Miranda's friends and neighbors are dead. She and her brothers spend their days scavenging for food and other household items while their mother tries to keep some semblance of their previous lives. Their situation becomes even more perilous when Miranda's father suddenly shows up, with his wife, baby, and 3 other strangers in tow. Two of them are Alex and Julie Morales, whom we met in the previous book. Their presence means less food for everyone and lessens their chances at survival. 

The tension is not as palpable in this book. Miranda's growing attraction to Alex seems to dominate the narrative. Their relationship is bound to be rocky; Miranda is a little less whiny, but Alex has gotten even more controlling and his religious fervor is bordering on masochistic. Yet he's afraid to act. It's exasperating. When a tornado destroys the town and everyone is forced to leave, it's Miranda who makes the difficult decision, proving that she's stronger, realistic, and heartless. 

Despair is evident throughout the novel, but it ends with a slight bit of hope. Even though this book is not the best in the trilogy, it is still worth reading.