Alone
Recommended Ages: 10-12 —However, I would consider 13+
Page Count: 416
Alone by Megan E. Freeman is a quick, fast-paced novel to read as it is not only full of intrigue to see what will happen with Maddie, but it is a novel written in verse. Maddie lives in Millerville, Colorado and splits her time week-by-week between her mom’s and her dad’s. Her parents are divorced, and while this is central to the plot as Maddie travels between both homes throughout the book, the divorce is portrayed as an amiable arrangement with all of the adults (step-parents included) getting along and supporting one another.
Sick of the demands of life and family, Maddie has planned a secret sleepover with her friends at her grandparent’s local apartment that is currently empty. Maddie lies to her parents that she is with the other and goes to the apartment to await her friends. She says “Before middle school/ I was never even tempted to lie./ Lately though/ it seems to make things/ so much simpler” (6). Unfortunately, the lie concocted by the friends to escape for the night falls apart, and Maddie spends the evening alone. During the night, there is a “imminent threat” and the entire town (you later discover the whole state) is evacuated. Maddie, unsure of what is going on and not wanting to get in trouble, stays put hiding in the apartment. When she awakes the next morning, she discovers that she has been left and is entirely alone.
The story that unfolds is a story of Maddie’s survival for about three years as she stays put in her town hoping that her family will realize that she has been left behind and will return to save her. Survival is important, but the greatest challenge for Maddie is the isolation and loneliness she experiences. Fortunately, she has the neighbor’s dog, George, for company, but it still is not quite the same.
The catalyst for the story is the “imminent threat” that causes the people to be evacuated and as the story ends, her mother sort of abruptly returns with what appears to be military personnel to get her. Keep in mind it has been three years since Maddie was left behind. The “imminent threat” is said to “never existed/ a massive land grab/ unprecedented fraud/ elections/new government/ conditions returning to normal” (398). While it would have been nice for this aspect of the story to be a bit more developed, I’m not sure it would have actually added to the story, which was to focus on Maddie and how she deals with the isolation.
The recommended reading age for this book is 10 to 12. I would be cautious to have a child read this book who is prone to anxiety. The premise of this book being left behind, your family gone and no way to contact them, and the need to survive alone could generate further anxiety and worry in children. Additionally, there is a scene on 183-184 in which there are looters in town and the leader takes a found kitten, wraps it in a towel, and slams it against a truck killing it. Aside from this distinct killing, there are descriptions periodically to the stench emanating from places Maddie visits due to the decay of family pets that were left behind. Furthermore, upon entering one home for supplies, Maddie discovers it is the home of one of her classmates that died when a rock slide crushed the roof of their car during the summer between 5th grade and 6th grade. Depending on your reader, this may be upsetting.
There is a little profanity in this book and a few words your reader may not typically be exposed to. These include:
“The phrase “broken home” pisses me off.” (111)
The Angry man looter says “What the hell?” on page 183.
“Model Family my ass.” (206)
When Maddie sees a tornado touching down near here she responds “crap” (211). After the tornado experience, she says “Holy crap” in response to them being alive (221).
“Damn” appears on page 265. She realizes that she forgot the gun she has been using for protection after she observed cruel looters earlier in town.
“Those dogs could have killed me. / I am so damned lucky.” (271).
In a prayer to God, Maddie asks a few times “Why the hell haven’t you rescued me yet?????” (316)
There is religious/spiritual content in this book as well. In the beginning, Maddie’s mom attends “dharma talks” (7) and there are references periodically to meditation and breathing exercises. Maddie, as she considers praying, remembers a world religions class from school. She states “Imagine Jesus and Buddha and Muhammad/ sitting somewhere listening together/ to people’s prayers from around the world” (129). Maddie also mentions on page 285 how she never considered God and his existence but later goes on to attempt to pray on 315 and 316. On page 328 she states she feels “like God” after seeds she planted begin to grow. Those families with a Biblical worldview may want to follow up with their reader about some of these aspects of the novel and how Maddie is seeking for an answer in her suffering.
Lastly, there is a mention on page 198 about Maddie starting her period. Fortunately, she wasn’t afraid since her mom had prepared her. I’m just marking it as a mention in case your reader is a young boy who may have questions if he is unfamiliar.
Ultimately, I enjoyed this book and once I started it, I had to finish it right away to know what happened with Maddie. I think there are many readers who would enjoy the story, but I would certainly market it more toward 13 and up depending on your reader’s sensitivity.
