Absolutely thrilled to have spent time with this brilliant companion to one of my favorite middle-grade novels in verse. Completely stand-alone and gripping from the first page, it’s the kind of book that hooks you immediately and doesn’t let go. Perfect for near-dystopian book clubs or as a mentor text for mixed narrative writing styles, it offers so much to readers and educators alike.

The expert storytelling is like watching a great movie—just when you think you know what kind of book you’re reading, it pulls you deeper and deeper until you’re holding your breath, desperate to know what happens next. I loved every moment and cannot wait for its release in February. A must-read and a must-order!

Accessed through NetGalley for free; all opinions are my own.

Great companion book to Alone - one of THE most popular novels in verse in our middle school library. Loved the section intros and characters were really interesting. Highly recommend!

“Away” is a well-written story with good pacing and tension in all the right places. The variety of writing styles that Freeman uses, as well as the multiple perspectives, creates an engaging tale and sequel to “Alone.”

“Away” and “Alone” would make an excellent pairing in a book club, being read and discussed simultaneously by the readers. By reading together, the questions and gaps could be discussed and compared. “Away” could also be used as a stand-alone. The character study is appropriate for middle grade readers, as are the development of current issues including climate change and the significance of water and control of waterways.

Highly recommend this fast-paced, captivating tale!

This book is written in a mixture of verse, film script, news headlines, and letters, and, honestly, it felt too jagged to me and didn't seem to flow smooth enough. The story itself was interesting. Completely different than the first book in the series, "Alone" (which I loved). Overall though, any kid who read and loved "Alone" will probably enjoy this one as well; it answers some big questions that we're left with at the end of Maddie's story.

My students that read Alone enjoyed it very much and for my older readers, this is a great peek into the other side of the story. I’m not sure that it will appeal to my younger middle graders as much though. The storyline of Away requires a more mature understanding of society and obscure movie references.
While I enjoyed the different voices of the four main characters and how their narratives were presented, I wish the author had spent just a bit more time on the development of each character as the story began.
I did continue thinking about Away even when I had to put the book down to take part in real life though, so…

I loved the author’s first book, and was thrilled to read an advance copy of this one. It does not disappoint. In fact, it’s an ideal book for 6-9th graders. Especially those who have a passion for journalism, filmmaking, changing the world, or puppies that smell like popcorn. I thoroughly enjoyed reading something where teens have good friendships and try to make the best of a terrible situation, even when the truth is hard to find. Also, there’s a nice balance of male and female characters and plenty of connections to curriculum. Definitely a good addition to book talks and lit circles. And, it’s a multi-format read: prose, poetry, script, news articles. Excellent!

I was so glad to read this companion to Alone. I enjoyed Alone, and the survival aspect of the story, but I was so curious about what caused the disappearance of everyone else for so long. Away answers all of those questions. The story of the evacuation is told from multiple perspectives, allowing the reader to get a full picture of what was happening. Although the survival theme in Away is different from that of Alone, there is still surviving happening. The young people are trying to figure out what is happening, and they resist the complacency they see within the adults. Anyone who read and enjoyed Alone NEEDS to read Away - it tells the rest of the story!

This was a wonderful sequel to Alone. I really appreciated the different perspectives of the characters, the different types of text on the page, etc. I also appreciated that as the story continued on, characters' names started to fade in being explicitly stated, and instead characters were represented by their tone and style of text.

Away explores the why of its predecessor in a both realistic and engaging way. The multiple characters and diverse layout out storytelling make this a compelling story from start to finish. The question on everyone mind when Alone was finished was why did this happen and now we know. It's a story of friendship, disaster and society that could open up great conversation for all.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing this ARC for review. All opinions are my own.

After the government forces an evacuation of thousands of residents from their homes due to contamination, a group of children decide to investigate the government’s vague explanation for their evacuation. But can they convince the others when their investigation uncovers a conspiracy before it’s too late?

This a compelling companion to Author Megan E. Freeman’s novel-in-verse, Alone. It is told via multiple points of view using a unique method to showcase each individual kid. This novel-in-verse has my vote as a must-read!

Thank you for the ARC Simon & Schuster and NetGalley. Opinions are my own.

Away offers context to the events from its companion novel, Alone, through multiple POVs who share their stories through their unique methods of communication. Part mystery, part dystopian fiction, part friendship story, Away follows four kids who find themselves in the same shelter when an unknown imminent threat forces evacuations throughout Colorado. They find themselves growing closer as they work to adapt to their new circumstances and as they begin to question what they are being told about those circumstances.

There are plenty of opportunities for learning and teaching in Away, through both the variety of texts and through academic topics that include climate change, government, and credibility of sources among others. Where Alone shares the point of view of the narrator, Maddie, through poetry, Away is told through letters, newspaper articles, scripts and director notes, and, of course, poetry. This variety of texts offers many opportunities for students to consider how stories can be told and pushes them to think about the best way to share details purposefully. I often found myself thinking of connections I could explore in a classroom and I can easily see its value as a resource in schools.

Beyond its usefulness as a resource in the classroom, I think Away is an interesting, engaging, and well-told story that will keep middle grade readers on the edge of their seats. Recommended.

Away is a worthy companion to Megan Freeman's Alone. This installment delves deeper into the mysterious evacuation of Colorado, exploring the event from the perspectives of a diverse group of young evacuees.

The narrative alternates between the viewpoints of a budding journalist and an aspiring filmmaker, offering a rich tapestry of experiences and emotions. As they navigate the challenges of life in the evacuation camps, these two central characters embark on a thrilling investigation into the truth behind the sudden and unexplained exodus.

Like its predecessor, Away is a captivating read that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. The opportunity to witness the event from multiple angles adds depth and complexity to the story.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

It was so exciting to see what was happening with everyone else while Maddie was alone. You can also read Away as a standalone book. All of the different perspectives showed how people can react to the same situation in many ways. I think kids will enjoy the multiple points of view in Away.

Students who loved Alone will enjoy this book and its background information on what the disaster was. I liked the different characters and their unique takes on the disaster and how the kids were active in discovering the causes of the situation. Some students will need some scaffolding to understand the different text formats, especially the screenplay.

I don't think I've ever read a book quite like this and I loved it. Normally, I have a clear favorite narrator when it comes to multiple points of view in a novel, but the differences in format (screenplay, news article, prose, poems) made each voice so unique that I looked forward to every chapter. I know that kids are going to love this one!

This book is beautifully written. I loved the incredible story told in the first one, and this one clearly continues in that vein. However, in full transparency, I didn't have the emotional capacity to finish this one at this time. I read a third of this, and I loved the unique storytelling methods. I could see the hope amidst the "hard stuff" that was also there. I hope there is a day I can return to this one, but for right now, I'm offering my thoughts on what I could make it through. Thanks to NetGalley for the look at this February 2025 release.

As a huge fan of Alone, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read the companion novel Away. It is not a sequel, but did address some of the questions readers had about what was going on with the evacuees as Maddi was left behind. Away follows several children that are evacuated from their homes in Colorado due to an unnamed and unclear threat. The format of the writing, movie script and poems, will appeal greatly to middle grade readers. The characters are likable and realistic. There are a few glaring holes in the plot. In this day and digital age there is no way adults will agree to be held in evacuation centers for two plus years without communications with the outside world. That type of complacency does not exist! The kids realized there was an ongoing conspiracy, but not the adults? Despite this unbelievable premise, the story was interesting and will likely get my students thinking and even researching the references to the Watergate scandal and the many noted movies. It will also appeal to my students with interests in journalism and movie making. I am looking forward to other books that Freeman writes!

Away! I was so excited when I heard this book was coming, and it did not disappoint.

As a huge fan of the companion novel Alone, I jumped into this one full of anticipation for another wild ride in the dystopian Colorado setting. I can't help but compare it to Alone as I read that one first, but I'm sitting here thinking that it may be equally interesting to read this one first? I'll never know!

Some of the things I loved so much about Alone are also working very well in Away. To start, the amazing cover art by Pascal Campion. Shelf appeal is real. I see it hook readers every day. Both of these covers draw readers in with a hint of the story, and an image of a character that all ages can find intriguing.

I also have a deep appreciation for Megan E. Freeman's abilities as a poet. I've been lucky to sit in school visits and workshops with her to practice poetry, and she is a master at this craft. These novels in verse draw us in and it may seem surprising that one can finish a book this size in one sitting, but they are compulsively readable. I forced myself to take my time with this as I didn't want it to end! Away has a different feel poetically, with multiple voices this time.

The dystopian setting is a huge draw for me. I do believe Alone was the first verse novel I had read that was dystopian. I love the blend of poetry and dystopia! I appreciated Alone for the poetry about Maddie's story of solitude, and was curious about the strange things happening in her world that left her stranded by herself, but for me the focus was really on Maddie and her struggle to survive so I was okay without the backstory not answering everything. I know there are readers that absolutely craved those answers, and there will be a lot of excited readers ready to find out more about why the towns were evacuated when they read this book.

Away is not a continuation of Maddie's story, though she does get a few mentions. It is the story of people who were evacuated to relocation camps, told through the eyes of a few resourceful kids who uncover a conspiracy.

I am very grateful that I was given this ARC to read!

A great conclusion to Alone, which featured some secondary characters from the previous book. The verse and screenplay-style of the sections moved really quickly but still had plenty of meat to them. I liked the tenacity and cleverness of the kids as they tried to solve the mysteries surrounding them.

Loved reading the story of what happened while Maddie was on her own. My students will love this book! Would love to read the story of what was happening outside of the camps while this story took place, too.