Synopsis:
Many visitors to Yellowstone National Park don’t realize that the boiling hot springs and spraying geysers are caused by an underlying supervolcano, so large that the caldera can only be seen by plane or satellite. And by some scientific measurements, it could be overdue for an eruption.
For Alex, being left alone for the weekend means having the freedom to play computer games and hang out with his friends without hassle from his mother. Then the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts, plunging his hometown into a nightmare of darkness, ash, and violence. Alex begins a harrowing trek to seach for his family and finds help in Darla, a travel partner he meets along the way. Together they must find the strength and skills to survive and outlast an epic disaster.
Awards & Honors:
- 2016 YALSA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults
- Nominee for readers’ choice awards in 9 states
- Entertainment Weekly, 10 Teen Reads You Can’t Miss
- Center for the Book, Best Children/YA Books of Indiana 2011 Winner
- International Reading Association, 2012 Young Adults’ Choices List
- National Public Radio, 2011’s Top 5 YA Novels
- Kirkus Reviews, Best Teen Books of 2011
- Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
- 2011 New Voices Selection, American Booksellers Association
- Top Choice Award, Flamingnet.com
Praise:
“Mike Mullin’s Ashfall glows and throbs with everyday life and the business of survival in a dystopic future, after an unthinkable disaster.” —Richard Peck, Newbery Medal winning author of A Year Down Yonder and Three Quarters Dead.
“The scariest apocalypse is one that could really happen. Mike Mullin’s Ashfall is way too real for comfort: you’ll live the panic and despair and know that all of this could really happen. It will be a long time before you get the taste of volcanic ash out of your mouth. This isn’t fantasy, this is real.” —Michael Grant, NYT bestselling author of the Gone and BZRK series
“This is riveting. Fans of post-apocalyptic thrillers like The Hunger Games will love Ashfall.” —Cinda Williams Chima, Author of The Exiled Queen and The Warrior Heir.
“You won’t want to put this fast-paced book down. Teen readers will connect with the characters and wonder – could they do what Alex has to do to survive? Ashfall has it all—adventure, science, and even a little romance—woven together to tell a most compelling story!” —Carl Harvey, School Librarian, Noblesville, Indiana.
“Ashfall is smokin’ hot. The story races like a wildfire with enough plot twists and action for two books. Mullin puts his hero through hell–and we get a front row seat. The scariest part? It could really happen.” —Charles Benoit, Author of You.
“I found it hard to stop reading Ashfall. Common sense told me to quit at midnight, but I soon turned the light on again and read two more hours. . . . This is a book we will sell decently in hardcover and regularly for many years in paperback.” —Carol Chittenden, Owner, Eight Cousins Children’s Books.
“I stayed up late reading Ashfall. I woke up early worrying about Alex’s fate. Days later, I’m still thinking about the novel. This is a gripping debut.” —Christine Johnson, Author of Nocturne and Claire de Lune.
“Mike Mullin hits one out of the park with his first novel. The fast-paced action and well developed characters, with a little romance thrown in, will prove to be a hit with young adults. I will definitely buy multiple copies for our media center.” —Kathy Hicks-Brooks, Media Specialist at Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis.
“Ashfall is a post-apocalyptic gem with a terrifying twist. Get ready to sleep with the lights on because this one’s not about what could happen. It’s about what will happen– and possibly very soon. Riveting!” — Saundra Mitchell, Author of The Vespertine and Shadowed Summer
