Podcast
Questions and Answers
Who are the main characters in 'Life As We Knew It'?
Who are the main characters in 'Life As We Knew It'?
Miranda, Mom (Laura), Dr. Peter Elliott, Dad, Lisa, Matt, Jonny, Horton, Mrs. Nesbitt, Brandon Erlich, Megan Wayne, Reverend Marshall, Sammi, Becky, Mrs. Daley, Mrs. Sanchez, Mayor Ford, Tom Danworth
Who is the author of 'Life As We Knew It'?
Who is the author of 'Life As We Knew It'?
Susan Beth Pfeffer
Where does 'Life As We Knew It' take place?
Where does 'Life As We Knew It' take place?
Howell, Pennsylvania
Name 3 natural disasters occurring around the world in 'Life As We Knew It'.
Name 3 natural disasters occurring around the world in 'Life As We Knew It'.
Who is pregnant in 'Life As We Knew It'?
Who is pregnant in 'Life As We Knew It'?
Who does Miranda become a godmother to?
Who does Miranda become a godmother to?
Where is Matt at the beginning of the book?
Where is Matt at the beginning of the book?
What type of lessons does Miranda want to take again?
What type of lessons does Miranda want to take again?
Who is training for the Olympics that Miranda admires?
Who is training for the Olympics that Miranda admires?
Why was Mother's Day not the best for Miranda?
Why was Mother's Day not the best for Miranda?
Where does Megan spend too much time?
Where does Megan spend too much time?
When were Miranda, Sammi, and Megan the closest?
When were Miranda, Sammi, and Megan the closest?
What changed after Becky died?
What changed after Becky died?
Where is Brandon Erlich training?
Where is Brandon Erlich training?
Why does Miranda's mother think she wants to take ice skating lessons?
Why does Miranda's mother think she wants to take ice skating lessons?
Who is dating Miranda's mother?
Who is dating Miranda's mother?
Whose telescope does Miranda's family use to view the asteroid hitting the moon?
Whose telescope does Miranda's family use to view the asteroid hitting the moon?
How old is Miranda?
How old is Miranda?
Who keeps a journal in 'Life As We Knew It'?
Who keeps a journal in 'Life As We Knew It'?
What does Miranda's mother do for a living?
What does Miranda's mother do for a living?
What does Jonny want to be when he grows up?
What does Jonny want to be when he grows up?
Where did Miranda's grandmother live?
Where did Miranda's grandmother live?
What happened to the moon when the asteroid hit it?
What happened to the moon when the asteroid hit it?
What did the news report was happening right after the moon was hit?
What did the news report was happening right after the moon was hit?
Why were there widespread tsunamis?
Why were there widespread tsunamis?
What national monument got washed out to sea?
What national monument got washed out to sea?
Who does Miranda's mother hate?
Who does Miranda's mother hate?
Which news channel does Miranda's mother refuse to watch?
Which news channel does Miranda's mother refuse to watch?
Why does Miranda's mother take her kids out of school during a wild storm?
Why does Miranda's mother take her kids out of school during a wild storm?
What type of groceries did they buy in 'Life As We Knew It'?
What type of groceries did they buy in 'Life As We Knew It'?
What store did Miranda go to at the strip mall, and what did she get?
What store did Miranda go to at the strip mall, and what did she get?
What did Miranda's mother buy at the clothing store?
What did Miranda's mother buy at the clothing store?
Who goes grocery shopping with Miranda, Jonny, and their mother?
Who goes grocery shopping with Miranda, Jonny, and their mother?
What does Miranda's mother buy at the nursery?
What does Miranda's mother buy at the nursery?
What was the thing the governor said might have to be rationed?
What was the thing the governor said might have to be rationed?
Where did Miranda and her family eat when all the fast food places were closed?
Where did Miranda and her family eat when all the fast food places were closed?
What did the president call for after many people had died?
What did the president call for after many people had died?
What did Miranda miss the most about no school?
What did Miranda miss the most about no school?
Name 2 things that were no longer happening at school when it first opened?
Name 2 things that were no longer happening at school when it first opened?
How was Megan spending her time since the moon was knocked out of orbit?
How was Megan spending her time since the moon was knocked out of orbit?
Where did Miranda suggest to the swim team they go swimming?
Where did Miranda suggest to the swim team they go swimming?
What does everyone do when the electricity comes back on?
What does everyone do when the electricity comes back on?
Who is Miranda's hero?
Who is Miranda's hero?
What growing list could be found on the internet?
What growing list could be found on the internet?
What did Matt do when bus service to school was discontinued?
What did Matt do when bus service to school was discontinued?
Who only eats half of their PB&J sandwiches?
Who only eats half of their PB&J sandwiches?
How does Megan irritate Miranda?
How does Megan irritate Miranda?
Why did school close for the year early?
Why did school close for the year early?
What did Mrs. Nesbitt bring over that was a gift from one of her students?
What did Mrs. Nesbitt bring over that was a gift from one of her students?
What two things is Miranda's mother worried about?
What two things is Miranda's mother worried about?
What mosquito-borne illness does Peter see at the hospital?
What mosquito-borne illness does Peter see at the hospital?
Who did Miranda meet at Miller's Pond?
Who did Miranda meet at Miller's Pond?
Who asked Miranda to the prom?
Who asked Miranda to the prom?
Where does Jonny go during the summer?
Where does Jonny go during the summer?
What was Jonny going to get at baseball camp?
What was Jonny going to get at baseball camp?
Why was Jonny concerned about his diet?
Why was Jonny concerned about his diet?
What was Jonny going to have to do at camp besides play baseball?
What was Jonny going to have to do at camp besides play baseball?
Who does Miranda have nightmares about?
Who does Miranda have nightmares about?
Who was Miranda's boyfriend?
Who was Miranda's boyfriend?
Why were people standing in line at the elementary school?
Why were people standing in line at the elementary school?
Why does Miranda's mother get mad at her when she leaves Mrs. Nesbitt to get Dan instead of staying in line?
Why does Miranda's mother get mad at her when she leaves Mrs. Nesbitt to get Dan instead of staying in line?
What did Miranda ask her mother to teach her?
What did Miranda ask her mother to teach her?
Who told Miranda she could be happy if she embraced God?
Who told Miranda she could be happy if she embraced God?
What does Matt do to ensure the family will be warm in winter?
What does Matt do to ensure the family will be warm in winter?
Once Jonny goes off to camp, what does Miranda's mother suggest?
Once Jonny goes off to camp, what does Miranda's mother suggest?
What turned the sky grey in 'Life As We Knew It'?
What turned the sky grey in 'Life As We Knew It'?
What does Peter bring to the house every time he visits?
What does Peter bring to the house every time he visits?
Which of her old friends does Miranda visit first?
Which of her old friends does Miranda visit first?
What does Miranda suggest to cut back on when the volcanic ash causes new problems?
What does Miranda suggest to cut back on when the volcanic ash causes new problems?
Who in Miranda's family is eating the least?
Who in Miranda's family is eating the least?
What does Miranda's family do to their well water?
What does Miranda's family do to their well water?
Why does Matt stop running?
Why does Matt stop running?
What happened the night Miranda decided to sit on the porch?
What happened the night Miranda decided to sit on the porch?
How long is Horton missing?
How long is Horton missing?
Who is Sammy going to Nashville with?
Who is Sammy going to Nashville with?
Who told stories of how things were like during the Great Depression and WWII?
Who told stories of how things were like during the Great Depression and WWII?
Why were Miranda and Jonny not going to Springfield?
Why were Miranda and Jonny not going to Springfield?
What did Miranda's father bring to the house?
What did Miranda's father bring to the house?
Where did Miranda's father say he got all the supplies?
Where did Miranda's father say he got all the supplies?
What made Lisa burst into tears?
What made Lisa burst into tears?
Where did the family decide to store their firewood?
Where did the family decide to store their firewood?
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Study Notes
Characters
- Miranda is the protagonist and keeps a journal documenting her experiences.
- Laura (Mom) is Miranda's mother, an author who writes from home.
- Dr. Peter Elliott is a friend of Laura and works at the hospital.
- Miranda's father lives in Springfield, Illinois, with his wife, Lisa, who is pregnant.
- Matt, Miranda's older brother, attends college in Ithaca.
- Jonny, Miranda's younger brother, is passionate about baseball.
- Brandon Erlich, an Olympic hopeful, is a local boy that Miranda admires.
- Mrs. Nesbitt is the elderly neighbor who helps the family.
- Megan Wayne is Miranda's friend with strong religious beliefs, along with Reverend Marshall.
- The book begins on May 7 and extends to March 20, covering various events affecting the community.
Setting
- The story is set in Howell, Pennsylvania, against a backdrop of global natural disasters.
Natural Disasters
- Major events include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis impacting daily life and the environment.
Plot Highlights
- Miranda's family faces challenges as the moon is hit by an asteroid, causing the moon to tilt and impact tides, leading to widespread tsunamis.
- The destruction results in extensive loss of life and property, including coastal areas and national monuments.
Family Dynamics
- Miranda asks to be a godmother to Lisa's coming baby.
- Miranda's mother frequently worries about food supplies and heating oil.
- Relationships shift significantly after the death of Miranda's friend, Becky, leading to estrangement among her friends.
Community Response
- The community struggles with dwindling resources, prompting the president to declare a national day of mourning.
- Miranda's mother and family conduct urgent grocery shopping amidst storms, stockpiling essentials.
Food and Supplies
- The family focuses on storing non-perishable items, medical supplies, and preparing for possible rationing of essentials like gas.
- Miranda's mother brings home vegetable flats from a nursery to grow their own food, illustrating the resourcefulness of families amid scarcity.
Personal Growth
- Miranda's relationship with her friends evolves, with Megan's religious fervor becoming a source of tension.
- The harsh realities of life lead Miranda to consider important life skills, such as baking bread and adapting their eating habits.
Emotional Challenges
- The story reflects on themes of loss, survival, and adapting to changing realities, particularly through Miranda's nightmares about Becky.
- Disappointment is felt when traditional school activities and routines, including cafeteria lunches, are stripped away due to the crisis.
Community and Family Connections
- The bond within Miranda's family strengthens as they face collective hardships.
- Important themes include resilience, shared grief, and rediscovering familial support as they navigate through crises.
Key Events
- Miranda's daily life is marked by significant events, including school closures and community food distributions.
- The increase in disease outbreaks, like East Nile Virus, adds strain on healthcare resources and family safety.
Other Notable Points
- Miranda’s aspiration to take ice skating lessons reaffirms her desire for normalcy and connection to hobbies amidst chaos.
- Matt demonstrates initiative by preparing bicycles for travel due to discontinuation of school bus services.
- Matt’s efforts to ensure their family’s warmth for winter exemplify his protective nature towards his family.
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