One of the Survivors

One of the Survivors by Susan Shaw

This book is recommended for advanced readers in seventh grade and up
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Book Description:
Joey has already survived one fire when he encounters a second one at school. Unfortunately, not all of the students escape from the building, and Joey is left missing his friends and feeling guilty that he survived. To make things worse, his father has to build a fence around their house, since some people drive by and yell horrible things, blaming Joey for starting the fire.

Book Review:
This is not an easy book to read, but it does move quickly. The author begins the story with Joey's fog and confusion, and details about the past are revealed chapter by chapter as Joey tries to come to terms with what happened. Moving forward is an extra challenge: even a trip to a therapist would mean going out in public and risking community wrath. This is an interesting examination of a person inside his darkest moment, and how other people in his life offer and/or refuse support.

Book Advisory Information: Disturbing Incident, Death of Characters (including a parent), reference to student use of illegal substance