I am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall
Submitted by Rachel B., Youth Services Assistant at Middlefield Branch
Working in the Youth Services department allows me the privilege of checking out new books as they enter the library. When this young adult book came across my desk, the cover and title immediately caught my attention. I was just finishing the book The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah and this seemed like a good choice for my next read.
I am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall is a story with two parts: the before and the after. Before: Jess has to move to remote Canada to be with her estranged father after a car accident leaves her injured and her mother dead. After: Her cabin is burned to the ground. She is alone. Her father is dead and the only company she has is her fathers’ dog Bo. Winter is coming, she must find shelter and food before the cold kills her. The men who killed her father will be back soon and she needs to be ready.
This was a thrilling story that seemed to go from bad to worse. Jess never gave up and I found myself hopeful in her abilities and resilience. Even with her injuries, she managed to overcome this unforgiving wilderness. A lesson her father taught her, “smart not strong” kept her going.
If you enjoy a good survivalist story with some girl power, this is the book for you! I loved watching this injured teenager learn to survive on her inner strength with all odds against her. This book is shelved as a young adult read, but I would recommend it to teens and adults who like a strong female character willing to do whatever it takes to survive.
Rachel is currently reading Unbelievable: My Front-Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History by Katy Tur. 