The Inside

June 1, 2012

Gr 7 Up-In The Aftermath, Cecilia and her boyfriend, Ryan, struggle to find shelter, food, and water in the aftermath of apocalyptic disaster. After surviving the cataclysmic event that destroyed their town (and essentially the country), she describes how they make their way to the Denver Snow Shelter, an underground bunker outfitted with canned food, running water, and heat. Ryan narrates The Inside. Several other survivors have found their way to the shelter, including a shady character named Jason. Cecilia becomes ill and Ryan suspects that the bunker has been contaminated. After finding Jason lurking in her room, he regrets inviting him in. In The Others, Ryan kicks Jason out into the harsh landscape when he catches him prowling around with a butcher knife. Jason leaves but threatens to return. Shelter life drags on, food supplies dwindle, and boredom sets in. Tensions rise when Cecilia imagines that Ryan is going to break up with her while Ryan shoulders the burden of caring for so many people. While the voices are riddled with teen angst and melodramatic descriptions, readers will see themselves in the characters. Additional fare for hi/lo audiences, particularly fans of dystopian literature.-H. H. Henderson, Heritage Middle School, Deltona, FL

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