Not Alone - The Library of the Uncommons

Paperback, 422 pages

english language

Published April 3, 2023 by Picador.

ISBN:: 978-1-5290-8959-2

(1 review)

In a dying world, how far will a mother go to save her child? Five years ago, a toxic microplastics storm killed most of the population. Now Katie, a young mother, must forage and hunt the few surviving animals for meat as she attempts to feed her little boy, Harry.

At a time when stepping outside could kill you, Harry is kept indoors at all costs, never venturing beyond the door to their one-bedroom flat. The bodies begin to build up around them and layers of poisonous dust hang heavily in the air, seeping into the soil and slowly killing anything attempting to cling onto the natural world.

Then, after years without human contact, Katie and Harry are terrified by the unwelcome arrival of another survivor. Katie realises she must undertake a previously unthinkable journey in search of the man she was supposed to marry and a new life for …

In a dying world, how far will a mother go to save her child? Five years ago, a toxic microplastics storm killed most of the population. Now Katie, a young mother, must forage and hunt the few surviving animals for meat as she attempts to feed her little boy, Harry.

At a time when stepping outside could kill you, Harry is kept indoors at all costs, never venturing beyond the door to their one-bedroom flat. The bodies begin to build up around them and layers of poisonous dust hang heavily in the air, seeping into the soil and slowly killing anything attempting to cling onto the natural world.

Then, after years without human contact, Katie and Harry are terrified by the unwelcome arrival of another survivor. Katie realises she must undertake a previously unthinkable journey in search of the man she was supposed to marry and a new life for her son.

But outside their safe haven, Katie and Harry encounter a dangerous world that is forever changed . . . (source: Osiander.de)

1 edition

NookAndCanny reviewed Not Alone by Sarah K. Jackson

Potential not used

3 stars

Normally I don't like postapocalyptic stories too much but this one sounded promising. It didn't meet my expectations.

Story starts 5 years after a micro plastic storm which eliminated most of the population. It tells the story on how a mother survives with her almost 5 yro boy in a world full of poison and dangers by other survivors. Until she found signs that her fiancé might have survived and she starts a journey high up to the north through the country.

The story is mostly about how she overcomes and survives dangerous situations with other survivors or even animals. At times I was even annoyed by yet another obstacle to overcome. A bit too much for my taste

Imho the author missed the chance to write a lot more about how it ever came that far (she did mention it but only as a side line). Especially with her …

Normally I don't like postapocalyptic stories too much but this one sounded promising. It didn't meet my expectations.

Story starts 5 years after a micro plastic storm which eliminated most of the population. It tells the story on how a mother survives with her almost 5 yro boy in a world full of poison and dangers by other survivors. Until she found signs that her fiancé might have survived and she starts a journey high up to the north through the country.

The story is mostly about how she overcomes and survives dangerous situations with other survivors or even animals. At times I was even annoyed by yet another obstacle to overcome. A bit too much for my taste

Imho the author missed the chance to write a lot more about how it ever came that far (she did mention it but only as a side line). Especially with her acclaimed interest in micro plastics in the oceans and in our times with climate change.

The book is more about survival in the wilderness to find the love of her life. If you like that this is definitely a book for you. I would have loved to read more about climate change and the issue itself.