Book Title:  How to Pack for the End of the World| Author: Michelle Falkoff  Category: YA (Ages 13-17) | Publisher: HarperCollins (HarperTeen) Release date:  November 2020

Book Description: If you knew the world was going to end tomorrow, what would you do? This is the question that haunts Amina as she watches new and horrible stories of discord and crisis flash across the news every day. But when she starts at prestigious Gardner Academy, Amina finds a group of like-minded peers to join forces with—fast friends who dedicate their year to learning survival skills from each other, before it’s too late. Still, as their prepper knowledge multiplies, so do their regular high school problems, from relationship drama to family issues to friend blow-ups. Juggling the two parts of their lives forces Amina to ask another vital question: Is it worth living in the hypothetical future if it’s at the expense of your actual present?

My Thoughts: This realistic fictional YA novel follows five high school sophomores as they attend their first year at Gardner Academy — all from various backgrounds, but all with fears of what the future holds. Starting a club called Eucalyptus, the group meets to play survival games and readers slowly find out their secrets and pasts. In parallel, the new friends form bonds and crushes, friendships and romantic relationships as they adjust to life away from home. When they each become victims of various pranks, they confront the person responsible to uncover the truth.

Navigating a new school after a traumatic event takes her freshman year of course, Amina embarks on a new life at a boarding school. Her fear centers on survival so she focuses on planning for whatever disaster could end the world. But the subtleties of what it means to “survive” become apparent when those closest to her betray her and those she thought she knew are not who they seem.

This contemporary story follows a group of young survivalists through their high school trials and tribulations. While I found some of the characters seemed much older than high schoolers (and, as such, I would recommend the book for a slightly older age group than the 13-17 range stated), it was fun to follow relatable school antics and overblown dramas that often occur in this setting. It was refreshing to see a flawed protagonist whose negative traits actually come back to bite her, not just become quirks that we grow to love. Liberal politics takes center stage where everything from environmentalism, abortion, classism and homelessness are addressed by these young activists as they try to figure out what they believe in and why. At times there are quite heavy concepts for these characters to consider, but this could prompt discussions of timely topics within this age group. While there were a few loose ends that I wish had been addressed, the story buzzes along in a quick pace that makes for an enjoyable, compelling read.

Order the Book:
Amazon ~ Audible
Bookshop.org ~  IndieBound

Tour Schedule:

Nov 3 – Deborah-Zenha Adams – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Nov 3 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 3 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 4 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 5 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book review / author interview / giveaway
Nov 5 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review / giveaway
Nov 6 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 9 –Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Nov 10 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 10 – Corinne Rodrigues – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 11 – Pick a Good Book – book review / author interview
Nov 12 – Books, Tea, Healthy Me – book review / author interview / giveaway
Nov 12 – Instagram:. All Booked Up Reviews – book review
Nov 13 – Viviana MacKade – book spotlight / guest post
Nov 16 – She Just Loves Books – book review / giveaway
Nov 17 –Westveil Publishing  – book review / giveaway
Nov 18 – JulzReads – book review
Nov 18 – 411 ON BOOKS, AUTHORS, AND PUBLISHING NEWS – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Nov 19 –100 Pages A Day – book review / giveaway
Nov 20 –Books and Zebras @jypsylynn – book review
Nov 20 – Lamon Reviews – book spotlight / guest post / giveaway
Nov 23 – Writer with Wanderlust – book review / guest post / giveaway
Nov 23 – My Fictional Oasis – book review / giveaway
Nov 23 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book review / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway: Click here to enter a Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to WIN an autographed copy of HOW TO PACK FOR THE END OF THE WORLD, swag and $50 Amazon Gift Card. (USA only)