Ashes, Ashes... we all fall DEAD!

     Lately I have been reading end of the world type books. Is this because there is a new supply of them, is it because the world is going to end in 2012 according to the Aztecs or Mayans, is it because boys love end of the world books and boys are harder to motivate to read? I don't know- but Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari was a good read. In this world, smallpox has wiped out most of the population and Lucy finds herself alone in New York amidst the rubble of the natural disasters that have been striking the what is left of the world. As she is out hunting for something to eat, a pack of feral dogs chases her, eager to catch and kill her. Lucky for her, Aidan is watching from up a tree and reaches out his hand to her in the nick of time. She hasn't spoken to another human in a long time and she has a hard time trusting this brave, infuriating boy. When her camp is destroyed by a tidal wave, she goes off in search of his settlement and reluctantly joins them. When Seekers come and kidnap some members of the settlement, Lucy and Aidan set out to save them. What they don't know is that the Doctors who kidnapped the kids really want Lucy- because her blood may be the cure to smallpox. There is lots of great description of the destroyed city and of course a love triangle emerges. Love conquers all, right? Even an apocalyptic world of smallpox. I give this a thumbs up. Happy reading my friends.