Alone by Megan E. Freeman was a phenomenal middle grade read. It gave me major Hatchet vibes which I so loved. The story focuses on Maddie. Wanting a night alone, she and her friends scheme to have a sleepover at her grandparents abandoned home. When her friends aren't able to go, Maddie decides to spend the night relaxing solo. However, overnight, there is anevacuation of the area, and Maddie wakes up literally alone. Her family and friends have left. There are signs of the evacuation, but no way to get in touch with anyone. With no other choice, Maddie must figure out how to fend for herself in a world where she is truly and utterly by herself. This was a story written in verse that was so emotional and captivating and beautiful. It is a story of determination and hope and even despair that is just outstanding. As a kid, I loved survival reads, and I loved that this was an updated version of that realm that is truly wonderful for readers of all ages. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this January 2021 release that y'all are going to need to experience.

Loved this modern take on Island of the Blue Dolphins where 12yo Maddie wakes up one morning to find her entire Colorado town abandoned. In beautiful verse it explores the depths of what it means to be human and how we each spend our "one wild and precious life" while we watch the main character face tornadoes, wildfires and more as she struggles to survive. It's a quick read that will sweep you along all the way to the end!

Alone follows the story of 12 year old Maddie who wakes up the day after a failed secret sleep over to discover that her town has been evacuated and she has been left behind. After searching her Mom and Dad’s neighborhood she discovers finds George, her neighbors Rottweiler, who keeps her company and becomes he companion through her long 3 year journey of survival. Maddie faces the fear of running out of supplies, looters, insane weather. All while struggling with with all these emotions she us feeling from being alone and not knowing what happened to her family.

This story was written in verse and the whole book was beautifully written. The book kinda compares itself to The Island of the Blue Dolphins…which is mentioned several times and Maddie relates to the main character. This book is fast past and I believe that anyone who reads it will quickly breeze through it. I love that it’s written in verse and I don’t feel like I was missing out on any of the story. One small complaint is I wish that there was a little more information on the evacuation that takes place in the book or maybe a little more info on what was going on in the country that would lead to having to have an evacuation. Other then that this book was such a great read and I would highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance digital copy of this book!

*I received a advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Rating 5

I enjoyed the book "Alone" by Megan E. Freeman so very much! First I want to say the cover is beautiful and fits the story perfectly. It makes you immediately want to find out why this girl is alone with just a dog. The main character Maddie acted, thought, and felt how a normal child in that situation would. Her mind cycled through all of these different emotions but she learned to grow and overcome all on her own. What Maddie had to do did not seem far fetched and what she had to deal with did not seem over the top. All of this added to her character being relatable as well as being likable. When Maddie did not know something she was smart and used the resources around her to learn in order to better her odds. I loved how much the library impacted her stay. She was able to use it to learn but also for enjoyment. I loved George so much, what a great companion to have! I liked the nod to the book "Island of the Blue Dolphins" especially in the beginning of the story when both kids gave their answer. Throughout the book we can see how Maddie's views change as she has to deal with isolation. I loved how the story was written, it had great pacing and a nice flow. Honestly, I don't have anything negative to say about this book. I really enjoyed it and I think there is a lot to be learned from Maddie and how she dealt with what happened to her.

Should you read "Alone"?
YES! Such an enjoyable and lovely survival story. Be warned, this story will make you feel so many different emotions which just adds to it being a perfect book. I read this book in one sitting because I had to find out what happened to Maddie. I hope other readers feel this same way. 

**Received an advanced copy through NetGalley in return for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **

An absolutely stunning debut from Megan Freeman! This beautiful novel-in-verse tells the story of Maddie, a twelve-year-old girl who gets left behind when her entire town is mysteriously evacuated overnight. Reminiscent of Hatchet (but with a semi-dystopian spin), this survival tale is both packed with both action and intimate snapshots of Maddie's missing family. Also, there's a loyal Rotweiller named George, which is a truly excellent name for a dog. The fast pace and unconventional prose make this a great choice for reluctant readers as well.

A captivating story of survival! This verse novel keeps the reader on edge, urging you to turn the page all while weaving in endearing moments of reflection. A great debut!

I kept hearing about this one on Twitter--a novel written in verse about a tween girl’s survival with only a dog as a companion in Colorado. Survival stories are one of my favorites and anything with a dog elevates it. NetGalley provided me an e-ARC yesterday and I started reading it last night. Within 20 minutes, I was completely hooked! I put on my pajamas and went straight to bed to spend the evening cuddled up with this touching story. What a treat!

Maddie plans a sleepover with some friends, but they are all keeping their plans secret from their parents. In the end, Maddie ends up by herself and in the middle of the night her entire town is hastily evacuated. Each of Maddie’s parents think that she was evacuated with the other parent. Communications are non-existent with no cell service. At first she has electricity and water, but they are soon shut off. Luckily, Maddie discovers her neighbor’s dog, George, and they become close companions.

Maddie tries to follow her dad’s advice about staying put and prepares to survive the winter on her own with George. Her bravery is inspirational, but there were a couple of disturbing parts--looters, the brutal killing of a kitten, and the wrath of Mother Nature. These make me cautious about having students below the fifth grade read this one. However, I will highly recommend this to students that want fast-paced adventure/survival stories. The only criticism I have was I wanted a little more detail/information about the mass evacuation which left Maddie behind and even the ending really didn’t provide answers.