Jo Treggiari adds ASHES, ASHES to the flood of post-
apocalyptic young adult fiction that has filled bookstore
shelves of late. Lucy Holloway survived the floods and the
plague and lives alone in the wilds of what's left of New
York's Central Park. She's got courage and is resourceful
and manages to keep food in her mouth, recognizing that
each day may be her last. Then she meets Aidan, a boy who
saved her from a pack of wild dogs. Lucy finally
recognizes that she might be safer in a group and seeks
out Aidan's band.
But Sweepers clean the streets of plague victims, and
Aidan's band may not be able to protect Lucy. There's
something special about her, and the Sweepers will stop at
nothing until they have her.
Lucy is a fairly complex heroine: she's brave but afraid;
likes to be alone, but is lonely; and trusts few. The plot
moves forward at a reasonable pace, but, for me, there
wasn't enough action or conflict. Also, while some of the
supporting cast had potential, the author didn't get as
much out of her characters as she could. Perhaps more
dialogue between characters could have delved more deeply
into what made them thick.
I also didn't understand the reason for some of the
relationships: why certain people were drawn to others
such as the love between Aidan and Lucy. I would have
loved to see more about Grammalie Rose, one of my favorite
characters, but the author left a lot unsaid about her.
Perhaps, we will hear more of her if there is a sequel.
Treggiari has a flowing prose style, and her vivid
descriptions brought the devastated former New York to
life, so to speak. Rickety makeshift bridges and tumbled
buildings like Lego structures smashed by a child in a
fury are just two examples. The realities of their plight
with such a lack of fresh food and medicine felt real.
Fans of post-apocalyptic fiction will likely want to check
it out.
A thrilling tale of adventure, romance, and one girl's
unyielding courage through the darkest of
nightmares.Epidemics, floods, droughts--for sixteen-year-old
Lucy, the end of the world came and went, taking 99% of the
population with it. As the weather continues to rage out of
control, and Sweepers clean the streets of plague victims,
Lucy survives alone in the wilds of Central Park. But when
she's rescued from a pack of hunting dogs by a mysterious
boy named Aidan, she reluctantly realizes she can't continue
on her own. She joins his band of survivors, yet, a new
danger awaits her: the Sweepers are looking for her. There's
something special about Lucy, and they will stop at nothing
to have her.
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