
Written by Megan E. Freeman
Alone in an evacuated town, a girl must survive against all odds.
Twelve-year-old Maddie wakes to find her Colorado town mysteriously abandoned. With only a loyal Rottweiler and books for company, she must navigate natural disasters, looters, and wild animals. As loneliness looms, can Maddie's resilience help her endure this eerie solitude? Discover her journey of survival and self-discovery in a world left behind.
Perfect for fans of Hatchet and the I Survived series, this harrowing middle grade debut novel-in-verse from a Pushcart Prize-nominated poet tells the story of a young girl who wakes up one day to find herself utterly alone in her small Colorado town. When twelve-year-old Maddie hatches a scheme for a secret sleepover with her two best friends, she ends up waking up to a nightmare. She’s alone–left behind in a town that has been mysteriously evacuated and abandoned. With no one to rely on, no power, and no working phone lines or internet access, Maddie slowly learns to survive on her own. Her only companions are a Rottweiler named George and all the books she can read. After a rough start, Maddie learns to trust her own ingenuity and invents clever ways to survive in a place that has been deserted and forgotten. As months pass, she escapes natural disasters, looters, and wild animals. But Maddie’s most formidable enemy is the crushing loneliness she faces every day. Can Maddie’s stubborn will to survive carry her through the most frightening experience of her life?
What families may want to know
Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.
Language
Some cursing
Serious Subject Matter
Intense storyline. Everyone has been transported to some secure location while a single young girl has been accidentally left behind. Teenager discusses interest in kissing someone
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Top contributors: Elaine R. · The Goodfather · Amy Lovseth