Life as we Knew It…Life as we Knew It…The first of three books to The first of three books to

follow the survivors….follow the survivors….

How it all begins….How it all begins….

““Do people ever realize how precious Do people ever realize how precious life is? I know I never did before. life is? I know I never did before. There was always time. There was There was always time. There was always a future.always a future. “ “

The narrator of this story is sixteen year-old The narrator of this story is sixteen year-old Miranda. She begins to keep a journal one Miranda. She begins to keep a journal one spring, and at first her life is like the life of many spring, and at first her life is like the life of many other teenagers. She writes about her family, other teenagers. She writes about her family, her friends, school, a boy she has a crush on, her friends, school, a boy she has a crush on, etc. She tells us that an asteroid is going to hit etc. She tells us that an asteroid is going to hit the moon on May 18th, but nobody is the moon on May 18th, but nobody is particularly concerned. The hit is supposed to be particularly concerned. The hit is supposed to be visible from Earth, so there’s an expectant, visible from Earth, so there’s an expectant, almost celebratory atmosphere in Miranda’s almost celebratory atmosphere in Miranda’s neighbourhood. But something goes wrong: the neighbourhood. But something goes wrong: the impact brings the moon closer to the earth, and impact brings the moon closer to the earth, and tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanic activity tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanic activity follow. Life will never be the same again.follow. Life will never be the same again.

Matt’s always been the one to explain things to Matt’s always been the one to explain things to me. Mom had her writing and Jonny, and Dad me. Mom had her writing and Jonny, and Dad was at work (for as long as he was here), so was at work (for as long as he was here), so Matt was the one I turned to. I don’t think he’s Matt was the one I turned to. I don’t think he’s psychic and maybe it’s just because he’s three psychic and maybe it’s just because he’s three years older than me, but whenever I’ve had a years older than me, but whenever I’ve had a question he’s seemed to know the answer. question he’s seemed to know the answer.

“You don’t think anything is going to go “You don’t think anything is going to go wrong?” I asked him. “It’s not like the meteor is wrong?” I asked him. “It’s not like the meteor is going to hit us. It’s just the moon.” going to hit us. It’s just the moon.”

“I know,” he said. “But things might get a little “I know,” he said. “But things might get a little crazy tomorrow night. Phone lines might get crazy tomorrow night. Phone lines might get tied up, people calling each other. Sometimes tied up, people calling each other. Sometimes people panic even if there’s no reason.” people panic even if there’s no reason.”

This moon thing is supposed to happen around 9:30 This moon thing is supposed to happen around 9:30 Wednesday night, and Mom was interested enough Wednesday night, and Mom was interested enough that we watched the news tonight. They said that we watched the news tonight. They said asteroids hit the moon pretty often, which is how the asteroids hit the moon pretty often, which is how the moon gets its craters, but this one is going to be the moon gets its craters, but this one is going to be the biggest asteroid ever to hit it and on a clear night you biggest asteroid ever to hit it and on a clear night you should be able to see the impact when it happens, should be able to see the impact when it happens, maybe even with the naked eye but certainly with maybe even with the naked eye but certainly with binoculars. They made it sound pretty dramatic, but I binoculars. They made it sound pretty dramatic, but I still don’t think it’s worth the three homework still don’t think it’s worth the three homework assignments about the moon due this week. assignments about the moon due this week.

Mom watched the local news, too, which she almost Mom watched the local news, too, which she almost never does because she says it’s too depressing, and never does because she says it’s too depressing, and they’re predicting a really nice night. Clear skies and they’re predicting a really nice night. Clear skies and temperatures in the low 60s. They said in New York temperatures in the low 60s. They said in New York people are organizing parties for Central Park and on people are organizing parties for Central Park and on apartment rooftops. I asked Mom if we could have a apartment rooftops. I asked Mom if we could have a party, and she said no, but people on our road will party, and she said no, but people on our road will probably be out watching and it’ll be like having a probably be out watching and it’ll be like having a block party. block party.

The Earth ReactsThe Earth Reacts Moon’s Moon’s

gravitational pull gravitational pull changeschanges

Tides changeTides change Earthquakes and Earthquakes and

tsunamistsunamis Electricity Electricity

becomes uncertainbecomes uncertain

The world, as we The world, as we know it, simply know it, simply ceases to be…ceases to be…

Miranda’s mother Miranda’s mother has a sense of has a sense of what may lie what may lie ahead…ahead…

The family The family begins to begins to prepare for prepare for hard times.hard times.

Supplies are Supplies are quickly quickly disappearing.disappearing.

Gas runs out… transportation ends….Gas runs out… transportation ends….The sun stops shining, the air is thick with The sun stops shining, the air is thick with

volcanic ash….volcanic ash….

Families are forced to survive on their own.Families are forced to survive on their own.

Miranda and her family struggle to Miranda and her family struggle to survive. Their life has become dark, and survive. Their life has become dark, and they face the daily reality of dwindling they face the daily reality of dwindling

supplies. supplies. Soon, the sickness begins….Soon, the sickness begins….

"I wonder if I'll ever have to "I wonder if I'll ever have to decide which is worse, life as decide which is worse, life as we're living or no life at all."we're living or no life at all."

Will Miranda and Will Miranda and her family survive her family survive the sickness?the sickness?

Will help come?Will help come? Can life ever return Can life ever return

to normal?to normal? Will the family be Will the family be

able to stand the able to stand the test of time, and test of time, and increasingly increasingly desperate living desperate living conditions?conditions?

http://www1.teachertube.com/viewVidhttp://www1.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=203136eo.php?video_id=203136

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