Book Review: Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari

Title: Ashes, Ashes
Author: Jo Treggiari
Details: Hardcover, 352 pgs.
Published: June 1st, 2011by Scholastic
isbn: 0545255635 (ISBN13: 9780545255639)

Reading Level: Young Adult

Source: Scholastic, for review

Description:

A thrilling tale of adventure, romance, and one girl's unyielding courage through the darkest of nightmares.
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.

This book was one of those books that really gets you thinking and planning for a disaster.  But that's definitely not a bad thing.  As a matter of fact this book was really fantastic and it felt very real to me.  One thing that made it more real feeling is the main character, Lucy, has lived a normal life.  She talked about living in the suburbs and how the natural disasters first hit and then later the plague goes through.  In the end only 1% of the population has survived.

We watch Lucy from when she's afraid and pretty close minded about things and lives all alone to avoid conflict, and because she doesn't trust people.  Once she's forced to move on and lives with people again she really finds her true self within herself and we watch her grow into a wonderful person.

I really liked all the characters in this book, especially Aiden.  There's something about him that you can't help but love.  There are other characters that play their roles perfectly, as people we love and hate or love to hate.  I felt like the things people went through, and the way they reacted to things felt realistic.

The romance is light, it's there but doesn't get a real chance to get real far.  However we feel the attraction between the two and the tension is fantastic.

This was a clean read but I think that it's not a book that everyone would have an easy time with.  Keep in mind what it's about and I think that should give you a good enough idea whether the subject matter is for you.  I loved this book but I found myself needing to take some breaks from it.  Even though I did take breaks and read something else I still cruised through the book in no time at all.

The book ended with a conclusion, but there's definitely room for a sequel and I really hope that the author is writing one.  I think Lucy's journey has only just begun and I would like to see her travel a bit and see how the rest of the country is faring.  So my fingers are crossed!

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Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.  All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid or influenced in any way.