| Life As We Knew It | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Susan Beth Pfeffer |
| Series | The Last Survivors |
| Genre(s) | Young adult novel, Science fiction |
| Publisher | Harcourt Children's Books |
| Publication date | October 1, 2006 |
| Media type | Print (Hardcover and Paperback) |
| Pages | 337 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0152058265 (first edition, hardcover) |
| OCLC Number | 63705625 |
| LC Classification | PZ7.P44855 Lif 2004 |
| Followed by | The Dead and the Gone, and This World We Live In |
Life As We Knew It is a young adult science fiction novel by American author Susan Beth Pfeffer, first published in 2006 by Harcourt Books. It is the first book in the "Last Survivors Trilogy", followed by The Dead and the Gone. When an asteroid hits the moon and brings it closer to Earth, life in Northeastern Pennsylvania will never be the same again.
In 2007 it was named as one of the Best Books For Young Adults by the American Library Association and placed seventh in the Teens' Top Ten vote, also run by the ALA.[1][2] In addition, Life As We Knew It was a finalist for the Andre Norton Award,[3] the Quill Awards and the Hal Clement Award.[4][5]
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Pfeffer was inspired to write her novel by the movie Meteor. She notes that "it got [her] thinking about how the people who have the most to lose if the world comes to an end are kids," and wanted to see how her characters would cope with a situation that was out of their control.[6]
Kirkus Reviews said that "death is a constant threat, and Pfeffer instills despair right to the end but is cognizant to provide a ray of hope with a promising conclusion. Plausible science fiction with a frighteningly realistic reminder of recent tragedies here and abroad."[7] Ilene Cooper said in her review for Booklist that "each page is filled with events both wearying and terrifying and infused with honest emotions. Pfeffer bring's cataclysmic tragedy very close."[8]
Pfeffer's book was named Young Adult Library Services Association's Best Books for Young Adults in 2007, and shortlisted for the Andre Norton Award for Outstanding Science Fiction or Fantasy Book of 2007. In addition, it won the Booklist Editor's Choice Award for Books for Youth (Older Reader's Category) in 2006.[9] It was nominated for the 2009 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award and the Truman Readers Award of 2008-2009.[10] It is also a Black eye Susan book for the state of Maryland.