Summary:
This sequel to Alone brings more explanation to Freeman’s dystopian world where cities across Colorado evacuation from an impending threat. Alone follows Maddie who has been mistakenly left behind after evacuations. Away follows a cast of four middle school age children who have been moved with their families to the same evacuation camp. Each teen brings their own perspective: an aspiring journalist, filmmaker, doctor, and rancher. What begins as a project to create a documentary of the camp turns into the group questioning how authentic the threat really is.

Review:
I loved revisiting the world Freeman created. I feel like there was more world building and explaining in this book, so it felt more like a true dystopian story. I also liked that the format includes movie script and feature article formatting in addition to the novel in verse formatting. Everything felt very clever and intentional. Much like the first book, though, there’s a lot of implausible plot points and the ending doesn’t feel fully resolved. This is the kind of book that students will devour. I know several students who are eagerly awaiting the release of this one!

Absolutely LOVED seeing the other side of the story from Alone. This was an interesting approach being from the viewpoint of multiple characters and while it started off a bit slow, I got wrapped up in their stories and could not stop turning the pages. The outcome was definitely not what I was expecting but it was nice to get some closure.

I was so excited to see this book coming out, and it did not disappoint. I co-lead a Mock Newberry Book Club for 4th graders at our school, and Alone was the winner a few years ago. This companion novel to Alone is a quick, suspenseful read that enhances the story and world of Alone. While I would recommend reading them in publishing order to keep the surprise reveal of Alone, they definitely can be read in either order. I loved the different formats each of the four narrators use to tell their story, and the friendship they develop.

I absolutely LOVED this book! This is a companion novel to 'Alone', and when I heard there was going to be another one, I had to read it immediately. This book is from the perspective of a group of kids who are evacuated and live in a relocation camp. The kids start to question the information they are being told about why they were evacuated. They start quietly investigating and stumble upon something bigger than they could even imagine.

"Away" is an excellent companion to the first book in the series, "Alone". This book runs concurrent with the first one, except you are following kids who have made it into the relocated areas after an imminent threat is announced and Coloroda is unexpectedly evacuated. The kids lose internet service, family members, and life as they know it. My favorite quote in the book talks about how adults often underestimate kids, which resonates throughout this novel as they work together to try and figure out what is happening.

I was so excited to see a sequel for one of my most recommended middle grade books! However, the narration was immediately confusing to me. Some characters were similar from Alone, but they weren’t the main focus. I was a bit bummed. Then you have new characters and different forms of narration (scripts, video footage, etc.) eventually I caught on, but took awhile so I can imagine my sixth graders will struggle a bit. The storyline captured my attention, but in the end it was so far fetched and ended way too soon after the truth was revealed. The ending mentioned Maddie from book 1, but barely and just that she was still missing. I was hoping for more about her story and what happened to her. Overall, not a bad story, but not what I expected from a sequel.

Away is an inspirational story of not letting your age stop you from searching and shouting the truth. “The absence of truth means the presence of suffering.” In a world of fake news and technology that can be used to deceive, Freeman has crafted a terrifying relatable story where political greed and conspiracy can change lives. In the middle of the night, Coloradans are suddenly evacuated from their homes and their lives, moved into camps and told virtually nothing. Their phones are taken away and they are left in the dark. A group of kids are documenting the story with a camera and their words. But not everything is as it seems. Why were they forced from their homes? A unique read with formats from narrative, verse, script, storyboard, and letter, the readers get a diverse look at a mysterious situation. Freeman also incorporates clever parallels to greek mythology, literature, and movies. Freeman writes from children’s perspective in a way that feels authentic and relatable. This science fiction read hits close to home in a world where young people have grown up surrounded by smart technologies and a war on false information. With beautiful themes for young people, reminding them to never let their age stand in the way of sharing truth—our brave main characters use their artistic abilities to uncover the truth and share it with the world.

“Anyone who says art can’t change the world never studied history.”

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.