Ashfall by Mike Mullin

Book: Ashfall
Author: Mike Mullin
# of Pages: 456 (Hardcover)
Rating: 5 stars

Goodreads Summary
Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.
                                                                                              Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.
                                                                                                                               My Thoughts: I loved this book! It is an action-packed and incredibly realistic tale of survival that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The story sucks you in from the very first page. The description of the eruption is so vivid that I felt like I was actually there. Alex was a very likable protagonist and seemed mature for his age. He sets off to find his family and must deal with finding food and water as well as try to avoid looters and the desperately hungry. He meets Darla and discovers that she is a hard-working, innovative girl who does not let anything stand in her way. Alex could not have found a better traveling companion., and it turns out that they make a really good team. Together they forge through the ash and horrific weather determined to reach their destination.

So, three reasons why you should read this book: 1) the action 2) the awesome characters 3) the brilliant writing.