Life As We Knew It explores what happens to an ordinary family in a normal American town when their world changes forever. An asteroid hits the moon, knocking it into a closer orbit. This causes all kinds of disasters that bring the world to a halt.
What is life as we knew it about?
Life As We Knew It explores what happens to an ordinary family in a normal American town when their world changes forever. An asteroid hits the moon, knocking it into a closer orbit.
How do you track themes in life as we knew it?
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Life as We Knew It, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. June 11. Miranda hears from her father—apparently Hal has been trying to call them several times a day and hasn’t been able to get through.
How many pages are in life as we knew it?
Life as We Knew It Summary & Study Guide. This Study Guide consists of approximately 66 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Life as We Knew It.
What happens in the last survivors book series?
It is the first book in The Last Survivors series, 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 for Miranda and her family.
What happens in the end of life as we knew it?
The novel ends on Miranda's birthday, with her celebrating the fact that there's food in the pantry, her family is alive and together, and with the hopeful assertion that she's writing this journal not to chronicle her life for those who outlive her, but for herself, for a time when things look better than they are now ...
What is the main conflict in life as we knew it?
At the very beginning of Life as We Knew It, an asteroid hits the moon and knocks it closer to the Earth. The main conflict is that this event has disastrous effects worldwide, from tsunamis to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
What happened to the moon in life as we knew it?
Title. Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer; Arthur Howard (Illustrator) High school sophomore Miranda's disbelief turns to fear in a split second when an asteroid knocks the moon closer to Earth, like "one marble hits another." The result is catastrophic.
What happened to Peter in life as we knew it?
When Miranda ventures to the hospital to get help for her sick family, she finds it empty except for two nurses. The nurses tell her the magnitude of the flu epidemic—Peter, along with “just about everyone,” is dead. A classmate of Jonny's whose father is president of the school board.
What is the climax of life as we knew it?
Climax: A blizzard occurs, putting the family in a very hard position. All of the family gets sick from the flu, yet Miranda saves them. They were close to dying, but Miranda found the strength and love to pull them through.
Who died in life as we knew it?
She cross-country skis to the hospital, hoping to find a family friend and doctor named Peter. Instead, the two nurses on duty tell her that Peter died of the flu over the weekend. There's no medicine left, and there's nothing anyone can do to help Miranda's family.
How does Miranda change in Life As We Knew It?
While she realizes the inherent danger of her day-to-day life, she also reminisces about typical teenage priorities like school, dating, college, and prom. Miranda mourns the life that she lost, while simultaneously doing her best to record and endure life as she now knows it.
What does Miranda look like in Life As We Knew It?
Characters. Miranda Evans: She is the main character, or protagonist, in the story. This 16-year-old teenage girl is described as skinny due to the lack of food, with green eyes and brown hair. The young adult lives with her two brothers, Matt and Jonny Evans, and her mom.
What is the setting of Life As We Knew It?
PennsylvaniaThe book portrays 16-year-old Miranda, living a normal life in Pennsylvania with her mother, Laura, and her brothers Matt and Jon.
Who is the hero in life as we knew it?
Matt EvansMatt Evans Character Timeline in Life as We Knew It The timeline below shows where the character Matt Evans appears in Life as We Knew It. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance. Schmidt, Tiffany.
What happens in chapter 19 of life as we knew it?
Miranda vows to go get Peter, and she skis to the hospital. But once she gets there, she learns that it's deserted. The only people left are two nurses who are too scared to go home and learn what has happened to their own families. Every one else—including Peter—has died from the flu.
What are some symbols in life as we knew it?
Life as We Knew It SymbolsThe Moon. Traditionally the moon often symbolizes a natural rhythm or cycle, but the moon in Life As We Knew It has been knocked off course by a dense asteroid. ... The Ash Cloud. ... Miller's Pond. ... The Pantry. ... The Yellow Flyer.
How does Miranda change in life as we knew it?
While she realizes the inherent danger of her day-to-day life, she also reminisces about typical teenage priorities like school, dating, college, and prom. Miranda mourns the life that she lost, while simultaneously doing her best to record and endure life as she now knows it.
What does Miranda look like in life as we knew it?
Characters. Miranda Evans: She is the main character, or protagonist, in the story. This 16-year-old teenage girl is described as skinny due to the lack of food, with green eyes and brown hair. The young adult lives with her two brothers, Matt and Jonny Evans, and her mom.
Where is the setting in the book life as we knew it?
PennsylvaniaThe book portrays 16-year-old Miranda, living a normal life in Pennsylvania with her mother, Laura, and her brothers Matt and Jon.
How many chapters are in life as we knew it?
Susan Beth Pfeffer's YA science fiction novel Life as We Knew It is divided into 21 chapters. The novel takes place in Pennsylvania, following the catastrophic events after an asteroid hits the moon and pushes it closer to the Earth.
When was Life as We Knew It published?
Life as We Knew It. (novel) 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 series, followed by The Dead and the Gone.
How did the moon move closer to Earth?
The moon has been pushed closer to the Earth by the impact, which causes a change in the Earth's gravitational pull. Life on earth is shattered, as is Miranda's life. Tsunamis and earthquakes ravage the coasts of many countries, causing millions of deaths.
How old is Miranda from the book?
The book portrays 16-year-old Miranda, living a normal life in Pennsylvania with her mother and brothers. Her biggest worries are her grades and her conflicted feelings about becoming a godmother to her soon-to-be-born half-sibling, who is expected by her father and his second wife Lisa. Soon, the news becomes focused on one subject: an asteroid predicted to hit the moon. People are excited about the opportunity to witness the event, and on the night of the impact, Miranda and her family go outside to witness it. However, the asteroid was denser than expected by scientists, and immediately after impact, it becomes apparent that something is wrong. The moon has been pushed closer to the Earth by the impact, which causes a change in the Earth's gravitational pull.
What is the hardest time in Miranda's life?
Winter is an especially hard time. With little food, the family must also deal with snow, a lack of running water, and no natural gas or electricity. A serious influenza infection spreads through town, killing hundreds of people, including Peter; Miranda is spared, and nurses her mother and brothers back to health.
What happens when an asteroid hits the moon?
When an asteroid hits the moon and brings it closer to Earth, life in Northeastern Pennsylvania will never be the same again for Miranda and her family. The lack of food and extreme cold provides major threats to their survival.
Who is Miranda's pregnant stepmother?
Lisa: Miranda's pregnant stepmother, whose child Miranda will be godmother to.
What happens to Miranda and her family in Life as we knew it?
Life As We Knew It explores what happens to an ordinary family in a normal American town when their world changes forever. An asteroid hits the moon, knocking it into a closer orbit. This causes all kinds of disasters that bring the world to a halt. Without shops, food, electricity, heat and water, Miranda and her family face problems together and struggle to survive.
How many pages are there in the Life as We Knew It study guide?
This Study Guide consists of approximately 66 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Life as We Knew It.
Why does Miranda sacrifice herself?
They are recovering, but food is still running out. Eventually Miranda decides to sacrifice herself so that Jonny can have more food and so have a hope of surviving.
What are the problems in Miranda and Jonny?
He helps them to chop wood for the winter and gives them some more food, then leaves. More problems begin to emerge, such as the huge grey ash cloud blocking out the sun, caused by volcanic eruptions. This means they cannot grow food, and things will soon get very cold. Miranda begins to realize that town is not safe anymore on her own, and has to give up high school because it is in town. She brings home textbooks for her and Jonny to home school. When the gas runs out they use the oil furnace to make sure the pipes do not freeze, and shut off the top floor of the house, moving the mattresses downstairs. Miranda's mother hurts her ankle and is forced to stay in the sunroom with the wood stove on. When it snows, they work to clear the snow from the sunroom roof so it doesn't collapse, and Matt gets the skis out so they can learn to cross-country ski in case they have to travel in the snow.
How is Miranda's life told?
She is a normal sixteen-year-old girl who attends high school and thinks about friends and boys. The story is told in the form of her diary, allowing the reader to see her private thoughts and feelings. Everyone at her school is excited about the asteroid that will hit the moon, but when it happens it is not the exciting event they all thought it would be. Instead, the asteroid knocks the moon closer to the earth, causing tsunamis, storms and earthquakes all over the world. Miranda's mother begins to worry about the future, and takes Miranda and her younger brother Jonny out of school to help her shop for supplies. They each take a cart at the supermarket and keep going back for more until their car is full. They buy canned food, dry food, medicine, water and other supplies. Miranda thinks her mother is a little crazy for buying so much, but they will later come to be very thankful for it. Later, Miranda's older brother Matt comes home from college.
Why does Miranda have to give up high school?
Miranda begins to realize that town is not safe anymore on her own, and has to give up high school because it is in town .
What do Miranda and her mother buy?
They each take a cart at the supermarket and keep going back for more until their car is full. They buy canned food, dry food, medicine, water and other supplies. Miranda thinks her mother is a little crazy for buying so much, but they will later come to be very thankful for it.
Why does Peter come to visit?
Peter comes to visit and brings canned nuts as well news of the spread of West Nile virus. He says people are also dying from food allergies because they’re so desperately hungry. Peter’s arrival always heralds bad news. Miranda recognizes this is because he spends his day with the ill and dying, but still dreads it.
What is Miranda's conversation with Matt about?
Miranda’s conversation with Matt is all about trying to see other people’s perspective. Miranda hadn’t considered all of the fears Laura is juggling, and also hadn’t realized that she no longer thinks about the friends who filled her mind and journal entries before the moon’s collision with the asteroid. Matt is repeating some of the things Laura has said, but because Miranda so values his opinion, she’s able to better hear them when Matt says them.
What is the clash between Miranda and Laura?
This moment is a clash of the rules Miranda used to live by versus her new normal. While she’s always had the autonomy to go out and enjoy her summer, Laura is now terrified by the idea of letting her children out of her sight. Miranda isn’t able to understand this until Laura offers a hypothetical where she reverses their positions. Miranda is then able to understand Laura’s perspective and her struggle to let them live while also keeping them safe.
Why did Laura allow Jonny to attend baseball camp?
Laura’s decision to allow Jonny to attend baseball camp seems at odds with her current extreme protectiveness. Since mail and phone service is erratic, if he’s at camp she won’t be able to contact him if something were to happen. Laura’s rationale demonstrates her real concern: supplies. If Jonny’s away it will allow them to conserve more of the food in their pantry, helping with long term survival.
What does Miranda feel about Hal?
Miranda rationalizes her guilt about Hal with the thought that he’s about to have a new baby—one he’ll get to see and care for on a daily basis. Rather than feel upset about being replaced, she feels relief.
Why does Miranda have mixed feelings about Dan?
She has mixed feelings about their other friends showing up, however, because it means she and Dan can’t kiss.
Why does Miranda hear the trooper shut down the line?
As Dan and Miranda leave with their bags, they hear the trooper shut down the line because there are no more supplies to distribute. Miranda approaches this day as a smitten sixteen year old.
What happened to Miranda in the aftermath of the asteroid?
May 18. In the aftermath of the asteroid’s impact with the moon, Miranda struggles to organize her thoughts to write in her journal. She compares this to the way her mother organizes her thoughts when preparing to write a new book. It is clear from Miranda’s first lines that things did not go as planned. Miranda wants to talk to Hal to make sure he’s okay, but the phone lines have been giving nothing but busy signals for hours.
Why does Miranda want to talk to Hal?
Miranda wants to talk to Hal to make sure he’s okay, but the phone lines have been giving nothing but busy signals for hours. It is immediately clear in this entry that all is not well following the asteroid’s collision (which at the time of Miranda’s writing, has already occurred).
What is Miranda's first instinct?
Miranda’s first instinct is to personalize what has happened, throwing a possessive pronoun in front of ‘moon’ and describing how its changed appearance scares her. Laura’s immediate actions then foreshadow how she will deal with the aftermath: she attempts to contact Matt and checks the news. Prioritizing family and news will be Laura’s dual priorities for the rest of the story. But news, something that they had previously been able to take for granted, is now a precious commodity—its value increased as its access becomes erratic.
What is Miranda's mood in the neighborhood?
Miranda emphasizes that the mood in her neighborhood was festive ; she is creating a clear sense of before and after, with the asteroid’s appearance being the boundary between the two. And though she describes people as being outside, they don’t really join together or socialize. Miranda cares about her neighbors in the abstract collective, but except for Mrs. Nesbitt, who is “family,” she has no real bonds with them as individuals.
What does Peter do to Laura?
At their house, Peter diagnoses Laura with a bad sprain and wraps her ankle. Since she can’t climb stairs, they move her mattress to the sunroom. Peter gives everyone surgical masks to wear outside, since the air quality is causing lots of asthma. Laura invites him to stay for supper, but he has to go back to the hospital, where he’s working 18-hour days to make up for the lack of staff. He promises to come back and check on Laura’s ankle.
What do Miranda and her brothers talk about?
Miranda and her brothers talk about how they’ll divide up the extra work while Laura is recuperating. Miranda realizes that she needs to step up her behavior, and no more whining or arguing—but she also feels really scared and helpless about how fragile they are and how tenuous their situation is. She slips away to record her feelings in her journal and cry—thinking of Hal and Lisa, the baby, and Grandma —how they might be hurt and she might never know. Then she dries her eyes and goes downstairs to pretend everything is fine.
Why does Laura ask Miranda to cut her hair?
They have a tender moment, and then Laura asks Miranda to cut off her hair because she hates that she can’t wash it often. Miranda hacks it off, and Laura offers to return the favor or braid Miranda’s hair in cornrows, but Miranda declines. They laugh together and Miranda remembers just how much she loves her mom.
How does Miranda demonstrate her maturity?
Miranda’s growing maturity is demonstrated in the way she chooses to shoulder Laura’s chores without complaint. Her conscientious decision to not argue or let others know how scared and upset she feels are all signs that she recognizes how tasked her family is and her desire to not be a further burden.
Why does Matt bring down a typewriter for Laura?
Matt brings down a typewriter for her because she wants to record old family stories of a time before electricity. Miranda is amused by the thought that their current life harkens back to that time—and states that family is more important than electricity.
