Written as a diary, Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer (Harcourt 2006) tells the survival story of sixteen year old Miranda and her family.  When a meteor collides with the moon, everything on Earth changes.  The moon is pushed closer to the Earth and the change in gravitational pull causes massive worldwide destruction– tides rise, magma surfaces, tectonic plates shift, and soon the earth is enveloped by natural disasters–tsunamis, volcanoes, earthquakes.  Volcanic ash darkens the sky, temperatures plummet, crops fail. 

Evacuations, power outages, food and fuel shortages close school.  Lines of communication shut down–no radio, internet, cell phones, tv.  Sixteen year old Miranda and her family aren’t sure who is alive, who is dead, who has evacuated.  Their Pennsylvania town becomes a lawless wasteland where looters and black market thugs abound.  Suddenly life is all about survival, and Miranda’s typical teen concerns–prom, guys, driving–don’t much matter. 

 What is essential?  What is important?  If life all changed tomorrow,  what would really matter?  Life as We Knew It is a gripping read that makes you think about what your priorities are–and what they should be.