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Alone Out Here
What do you stand for, when you're one of the last left standing?
The year is 2072. Soon a volcanic eruption will trigger catastrophic devastation, and the only way out is up.
While the world’s leaders, scientists, and engineers oversee the frantic production of a space fleet meant to save humankind, their children are brought in for a weekend of touring the Lazarus, a high-tech prototype spaceship. But when the apocalypse arrives months ahead of schedule, First Daughter Leigh Chen and a handful of teens from the tour are the only ones to escape the planet.
This is the new world: a starship loaded with a catalog of human artifacts, a frozen menagerie of animal DNA, and fifty-three terrified survivors. From the panic arises a coalition of leaders, spearheaded by the pilot’s enigmatic daughter, Eli, who takes the wheel in their hunt for a habitable planet. But as isolation presses in, their uneasy peace begins to fracture. The struggle for control will mean the difference between survival and oblivion, and Leigh must decide whether to stand on the side of the mission or of her own humanity.
With aching poignancy and tense, heart-in-your-mouth action, this enthralling saga will stay with readers long after the final page.
The year is 2072. Soon a volcanic eruption will trigger catastrophic devastation, and the only way out is up.
While the world’s leaders, scientists, and engineers oversee the frantic production of a space fleet meant to save humankind, their children are brought in for a weekend of touring the Lazarus, a high-tech prototype spaceship. But when the apocalypse arrives months ahead of schedule, First Daughter Leigh Chen and a handful of teens from the tour are the only ones to escape the planet.
This is the new world: a starship loaded with a catalog of human artifacts, a frozen menagerie of animal DNA, and fifty-three terrified survivors. From the panic arises a coalition of leaders, spearheaded by the pilot’s enigmatic daughter, Eli, who takes the wheel in their hunt for a habitable planet. But as isolation presses in, their uneasy peace begins to fracture. The struggle for control will mean the difference between survival and oblivion, and Leigh must decide whether to stand on the side of the mission or of her own humanity.
With aching poignancy and tense, heart-in-your-mouth action, this enthralling saga will stay with readers long after the final page.
392 pages, Hardcover
First published April 5, 2022
90 people are currently reading
9757 people want to read
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February 7, 2025
I always feel like I need to provide a disclaimer when I write a 3-star review. I definitely feel like that is the case with Alone Out Here.
If you see 3-stars and think that I didn't like this, let me assure you, that's not the case. This is a good book and I can appreciate what Redgate created here.
I know there are a lot of Readers out there that are going to adore this thoughtful-YA SF tale.
In 2072, moments before a volcanic eruption that is predicted to be an extinction event hits, several teens on a tour of a high-tech spaceship, the Lazarus, are able to escape the planet just in time.
The world's greatest minds have been working on this issue for a while. Knowing that someday their only chance of survival would be to flee Earth. The Lazarus was just a prototype for the vast fleet they were ultimately planning to build and utilize.
Leigh Chen, first-daughter of the United States, is one of the lucky few to be aboard the Lazarus as it launches.
As the reality of their situation sets in, the teens begin to take stock of what they have. With 53-individuals aboard the vessel, they are going to need to ration their supplies.
In addition to that, and really more importantly, they need to decide on a game plan. Where are they going? How will they run this ship? This wasn't supposed to happen. There were supposed to be Adults on board, professionals, who knew what they were doing.
This was originally pitched to me as Lord of the Flies set in space and I would definitely agree with that comparison.
As the situation really begins to set in for the teens, tensions rise. Certain characters stand out as leaders, some driven it seems mostly by power, but some for other reasons. There's definitely a lot of thought-provoking content included here.
I was constantly wondering how I would handle certain situations the teens were facing. Would I stand out as a leader, or try to remain more in the background? How would I handle the stress of losing literally everything all at once?
The tone of this novel is definitely heavy. I think with a lot of YA-SF stories, there's quite a bit of humor and snarky dialogue woven throughout. That's definitely not the case here. This is a serious story and in a sense, it felt a bit depressing for me.
There's also not a ton happening. I mean there is, but it doesn't feel like it. I would say it is more character-focused, but I had a hard time remembering any of the characters and couldn't tell them apart most of the time.
They all seemed interchangeable to me, except Leigh.
I appreciate the themes explored and the thought that Redgate put into it, but besides trying to picture myself living through something like this, I was really never engaged by the narrative.
I never felt invested and frankly, I'm glad, because the ending may have disappointed me if I had been more invested in these characters.
Regardless of all of that, even though I wasn't completely sold on this one, I know a lot of people will love it. So, don't take my word for it. If the synopsis sounds interesting to you, pick it up and give it a go. You may love it!
Thank you to the publisher, Disney-Hyperion, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity to provide my feedback.
If you see 3-stars and think that I didn't like this, let me assure you, that's not the case. This is a good book and I can appreciate what Redgate created here.
I know there are a lot of Readers out there that are going to adore this thoughtful-YA SF tale.
In 2072, moments before a volcanic eruption that is predicted to be an extinction event hits, several teens on a tour of a high-tech spaceship, the Lazarus, are able to escape the planet just in time.
The world's greatest minds have been working on this issue for a while. Knowing that someday their only chance of survival would be to flee Earth. The Lazarus was just a prototype for the vast fleet they were ultimately planning to build and utilize.
Leigh Chen, first-daughter of the United States, is one of the lucky few to be aboard the Lazarus as it launches.
As the reality of their situation sets in, the teens begin to take stock of what they have. With 53-individuals aboard the vessel, they are going to need to ration their supplies.
In addition to that, and really more importantly, they need to decide on a game plan. Where are they going? How will they run this ship? This wasn't supposed to happen. There were supposed to be Adults on board, professionals, who knew what they were doing.
This was originally pitched to me as Lord of the Flies set in space and I would definitely agree with that comparison.
As the situation really begins to set in for the teens, tensions rise. Certain characters stand out as leaders, some driven it seems mostly by power, but some for other reasons. There's definitely a lot of thought-provoking content included here.
I was constantly wondering how I would handle certain situations the teens were facing. Would I stand out as a leader, or try to remain more in the background? How would I handle the stress of losing literally everything all at once?
The tone of this novel is definitely heavy. I think with a lot of YA-SF stories, there's quite a bit of humor and snarky dialogue woven throughout. That's definitely not the case here. This is a serious story and in a sense, it felt a bit depressing for me.
There's also not a ton happening. I mean there is, but it doesn't feel like it. I would say it is more character-focused, but I had a hard time remembering any of the characters and couldn't tell them apart most of the time.
They all seemed interchangeable to me, except Leigh.
I appreciate the themes explored and the thought that Redgate put into it, but besides trying to picture myself living through something like this, I was really never engaged by the narrative.
I never felt invested and frankly, I'm glad, because the ending may have disappointed me if I had been more invested in these characters.
Regardless of all of that, even though I wasn't completely sold on this one, I know a lot of people will love it. So, don't take my word for it. If the synopsis sounds interesting to you, pick it up and give it a go. You may love it!
Thank you to the publisher, Disney-Hyperion, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I appreciate the opportunity to provide my feedback.
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April 5, 2022hello! riley here. this is my fourth book, which has been described as "Lord of the Flies in space." that's pretty accurate, although it features less mud than the golding, and less criticism of anarchy, and also fewer british schoolboys. in fact there are no british schoolboys. sorry.
the book has, instead:
-an international cast
-a main character in a constant state of moral crisis
-an abundance of what do we owe to each other? energy
-wistfulness for the dying earth
-wistfulness in general. lots
OK. a few things. unsurprisingly (apocalypse book, etc) some violence is involved, so i've put up a list of content warnings here. (they won't spoil the book as much as an AO3-style taglist, but still: spoiler-sensitive page.)
also, while googling my own book title in an entirely ordinary and not at all anxious way, i've seen AOH on a few Upcoming Queer Book lists. so i feel like i need to state for the record that this is my straightest book. the only romantic subplot is f/m. but don't worry, i'll get back to normal soon
cheers and love,
riley
the book has, instead:
-an international cast
-a main character in a constant state of moral crisis
-an abundance of what do we owe to each other? energy
-wistfulness for the dying earth
-wistfulness in general. lots
In an alternate reality, I never think about alternate realities. I am sleepwalking through every blissful, quiet day. I am happy in a way that I will never realize.
OK. a few things. unsurprisingly (apocalypse book, etc) some violence is involved, so i've put up a list of content warnings here. (they won't spoil the book as much as an AO3-style taglist, but still: spoiler-sensitive page.)
also, while googling my own book title in an entirely ordinary and not at all anxious way, i've seen AOH on a few Upcoming Queer Book lists. so i feel like i need to state for the record that this is my straightest book. the only romantic subplot is f/m. but don't worry, i'll get back to normal soon
cheers and love,
riley
January 8, 2022
I wanted gays in space. I got space but no gays :(
Rant below, I will be spoiling the ending so read at your own risk.
Rant below, I will be spoiling the ending so read at your own risk.
May 8, 2022
While this book was described as being Lord of the Flies in space, I can’t say whether that’s true or not - I’ve never read LotF! This book was okay, with many highs and lows. I was bored at times but also eager to see how the story might end.
Following Earth’s collapse, a group of 50 or so teenagers find themselves on the Lazarus, alone without the ship’s commander. They attempt to form a Council, which at first glance is quite impressive. They establish their own school, assign maintenance checks, and ration their food supply accordingly. You can probably guess that their plans were not fool proof, and people quickly turn on each other in the name of survival. This book has strong female leads, including the First Daughter of the United States and the commander’s daughter, but there was a lot of teenage bickering that was kind of annoying on paper. Simply put, I guess it wasn’t the worst book I’ve read. The target audience of ages 14-18 seems appropriate, and I would give this author another try.
“As the words fall from my lips, I know I will never go back to that place again. It’s a promise. I choose the future. I choose to face forward, to follow her.”
Following Earth’s collapse, a group of 50 or so teenagers find themselves on the Lazarus, alone without the ship’s commander. They attempt to form a Council, which at first glance is quite impressive. They establish their own school, assign maintenance checks, and ration their food supply accordingly. You can probably guess that their plans were not fool proof, and people quickly turn on each other in the name of survival. This book has strong female leads, including the First Daughter of the United States and the commander’s daughter, but there was a lot of teenage bickering that was kind of annoying on paper. Simply put, I guess it wasn’t the worst book I’ve read. The target audience of ages 14-18 seems appropriate, and I would give this author another try.
“As the words fall from my lips, I know I will never go back to that place again. It’s a promise. I choose the future. I choose to face forward, to follow her.”
Want to read
April 6, 20204/5/2020
A reverse The 100? But we going up instead of down! 😆All I needed to see was Lord of the Flies! *eeeek*
A reverse The 100? But we going up instead of down! 😆All I needed to see was Lord of the Flies! *eeeek*
September 22, 2022
This is quite literally my most hated book I have ever read. I have never felt such anger while reading a book, and I am not even an angry person. It can be summed up with these lines:
"I'd starve for the chance to save someone."
"Die then! That's your choice. That's your life. But you dont get to throw mine away!"
except the person saying the second line is the ... villain?????
And of course the author pulls out some ridiculous deus ex machinas to make sure the MC was right to endanger everyone else on the ship (literally starving them) on some ludicrous hope of saving a single person.
I have an arm injury atm, so I can't give a proper review now, but oh my god if you're seeing this, please don't waste your time on this book.
Plot Concept: 5/5
Plot Execution: 0/5
Pacing: 1/5
Writing: 2/5
Characters: -10/5
Romance: 3/5
Ending: -100/5
Overall Enjoyability: -50/5
Song: when it's all over by raign
"I'd starve for the chance to save someone."
"Die then! That's your choice. That's your life. But you dont get to throw mine away!"
except the person saying the second line is the ... villain?????
And of course the author pulls out some ridiculous deus ex machinas to make sure the MC was right to endanger everyone else on the ship (literally starving them) on some ludicrous hope of saving a single person.
I have an arm injury atm, so I can't give a proper review now, but oh my god if you're seeing this, please don't waste your time on this book.
Plot Concept: 5/5
Plot Execution: 0/5
Pacing: 1/5
Writing: 2/5
Characters: -10/5
Romance: 3/5
Ending: -100/5
Overall Enjoyability: -50/5
Song: when it's all over by raign
April 11, 2022
Reasons to read: Lord of the Flies in space. Full stop.
I DEVOURED this book and I'm not saying that lightly. Sci-Fi books are a tread-lightly genre for me because so many of them are alike and are just not original. But it's one of my favorite genres because of gems like this.
What about you do if you knew devasting volcano eruption was going to destroy Earth as you knew it? That's the question the world asked when such a thing was predicted. In response, several countries scrambled to organize lotteries, build ships and map out the exact route to a new world. The Lazarus, a prototype spaceship is one of those preparing to house thousands of people, but almost a year early-while the world's leader's children are touring the ship and its base-chaos erupts, forcing fifty-three teens to board the ship and launch from Earth. Helmed by the pilot's daughter, Eli, Leigh (our MC) at the others set up a loose system of government all while charting their course to a new home despite the supplies on The Lazarus dwindling.
But supplies are not the only thing, the teens are missing.
Leigh and the others are thrust into leadership roles ahead of their time. While she has experience (her mother is the president) the others take a little bit of training. Things fall apart rather quickly. Without rules or laws, proper supervision etc the mental state of the teens begins to deteriorate. This is one of the things I loved about the book; it doesn't skim over the emotional turmoil one would endure when you believe your home has just been destroyed and everyone you ever loved, is dead. Leigh may seem cold and emotionless at the beginning, but there was a reason for it, as I learned. But like everyone on board, she's learning whether or not she's the First Daughter or the person she's growing to be.
This reminded me a lot of Jericho (a tv show that regrettably was canceled before it got a proper ending). In the show, a town must come together when the country is attacked by bombs and most of its leaders killed. This book touches upon a group of people unraveling, just like the show, where they have to figure out how to keep everyone in line all while not becoming the monsters people can become.
I loved the cast of characters and the slow-burn romance (M-F) as well as Leigh's flashbacks to her old life and her love of her two best friends. The tone of this book is one of dread and fear (think Event Horizon but without the aliens). The moments of reflection came in the form of Leigh running the track onboard the ship and it made for a quiet break from the tension. I loved every moment of it.
But that ending...I kind of thought things would go that way BUT I didn't expect the cliffhanger. I am desperate for book two (please let there be one!)
Trigger warnings here: https://batmansymbol.tumblr.com/post/...
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I DEVOURED this book and I'm not saying that lightly. Sci-Fi books are a tread-lightly genre for me because so many of them are alike and are just not original. But it's one of my favorite genres because of gems like this.
What about you do if you knew devasting volcano eruption was going to destroy Earth as you knew it? That's the question the world asked when such a thing was predicted. In response, several countries scrambled to organize lotteries, build ships and map out the exact route to a new world. The Lazarus, a prototype spaceship is one of those preparing to house thousands of people, but almost a year early-while the world's leader's children are touring the ship and its base-chaos erupts, forcing fifty-three teens to board the ship and launch from Earth. Helmed by the pilot's daughter, Eli, Leigh (our MC) at the others set up a loose system of government all while charting their course to a new home despite the supplies on The Lazarus dwindling.
But supplies are not the only thing, the teens are missing.
Leigh and the others are thrust into leadership roles ahead of their time. While she has experience (her mother is the president) the others take a little bit of training. Things fall apart rather quickly. Without rules or laws, proper supervision etc the mental state of the teens begins to deteriorate. This is one of the things I loved about the book; it doesn't skim over the emotional turmoil one would endure when you believe your home has just been destroyed and everyone you ever loved, is dead. Leigh may seem cold and emotionless at the beginning, but there was a reason for it, as I learned. But like everyone on board, she's learning whether or not she's the First Daughter or the person she's growing to be.
This reminded me a lot of Jericho (a tv show that regrettably was canceled before it got a proper ending). In the show, a town must come together when the country is attacked by bombs and most of its leaders killed. This book touches upon a group of people unraveling, just like the show, where they have to figure out how to keep everyone in line all while not becoming the monsters people can become.
I loved the cast of characters and the slow-burn romance (M-F) as well as Leigh's flashbacks to her old life and her love of her two best friends. The tone of this book is one of dread and fear (think Event Horizon but without the aliens). The moments of reflection came in the form of Leigh running the track onboard the ship and it made for a quiet break from the tension. I loved every moment of it.
But that ending...I kind of thought things would go that way BUT I didn't expect the cliffhanger. I am desperate for book two (please let there be one!)
Trigger warnings here: https://batmansymbol.tumblr.com/post/...
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
April 11, 2022
5 ⭐ CW: death of a parent, survivor guilt, grief, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, assault, murder/death
Alone Out Here by Riley Redgate is a speculative fiction scifi thriller that is basically Lord of the Flies in space. This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time!
We follow Leigh, the First Daughter to an Asian-American female president. Children of dignitaries from all over the world have gathered to tour the generation ship Lazarus, which is a prototype that has been built as a way to transport as many humans off of Earth as possible in anticipation of super volcanoes going off and making it uninhabitable. Unfortunately, the volcanoes go off months before they are predicted to and the only people to escape to the Lazarus are the teens already at the launch site. As far as they know, they are the only survivors.
This book was so intense! It kept wondering what was going to happen. Redgate makes excellent use of the thriller genre by using a countdown clock to show how long they have to reach another planet. Because the eruptions happened sooner than anticipated, things weren't completely ready onboard. Not enough food, no supplies, no adults, no crew. The teens had to figure it out for themselves. We get a really diverse cast since they are from all over the world.
Redgate explores nihilistic themes and the existential crisis of being alone in space and ripped away from everything you know and the complex grief that comes with it. We also see how things escalate quickly when weapons are involved. I loved Leigh's character development and her relationship with Anis. The ending wrecked me. I've just been huffing and sighing about it lol.
Go read this book!
Alone Out Here by Riley Redgate is a speculative fiction scifi thriller that is basically Lord of the Flies in space. This book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time!
We follow Leigh, the First Daughter to an Asian-American female president. Children of dignitaries from all over the world have gathered to tour the generation ship Lazarus, which is a prototype that has been built as a way to transport as many humans off of Earth as possible in anticipation of super volcanoes going off and making it uninhabitable. Unfortunately, the volcanoes go off months before they are predicted to and the only people to escape to the Lazarus are the teens already at the launch site. As far as they know, they are the only survivors.
This book was so intense! It kept wondering what was going to happen. Redgate makes excellent use of the thriller genre by using a countdown clock to show how long they have to reach another planet. Because the eruptions happened sooner than anticipated, things weren't completely ready onboard. Not enough food, no supplies, no adults, no crew. The teens had to figure it out for themselves. We get a really diverse cast since they are from all over the world.
Redgate explores nihilistic themes and the existential crisis of being alone in space and ripped away from everything you know and the complex grief that comes with it. We also see how things escalate quickly when weapons are involved. I loved Leigh's character development and her relationship with Anis. The ending wrecked me. I've just been huffing and sighing about it lol.
Go read this book!
April 25, 2022
The year is 2072 and a volcanic eruption will soon make the Earth inhabitable. In preparation, spaceships are being built to save them when the time comes. In the meantime, a group of kids are brought in to tour the first prototype of the spaceship called the Lazarus - their future home. It turns out that the volcano is ready to erupt now, leaving only 53 teens and kids being the sole survivors. As they journey into space, the kids begin to struggle getting along and figuring out how to survive until they make it to their new planet.
This started interesting enough but after 20% - I almost have up. It gets extremely slow and turns into some teenage drama. I expected the lord of the flies vibes that were promised and maybe thought I would get some Hunger Game influences too but I got nothing even close.
Also, the ending and explanation of certain things was…… not it. Some of it was kind of disappointing.
Thanks to Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for an advanced copy of this book!
This started interesting enough but after 20% - I almost have up. It gets extremely slow and turns into some teenage drama. I expected the lord of the flies vibes that were promised and maybe thought I would get some Hunger Game influences too but I got nothing even close.
Also, the ending and explanation of certain things was…… not it. Some of it was kind of disappointing.
Thanks to Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for an advanced copy of this book!
January 12, 2022
**I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, because I am a librarian and librarians are awesome**
34% DNF. When you've read Stephen King, who knows how to take a cast of characters and build interpersonal tensions in a life-or-death survival scenario, this just ain't gonna cut it.
The premise is great, and some of the characters (Eli, especially) have promise, but most of them are underdrawn to this point in the narrative, and the ship science is ... underwhelming, to say the least. I'm a stickler for world building - the world can be ridiculous and fantastical, but it has to make sense for the story that's being told. So they're going for the Arcteus - and I don't even know where it is. At first I thought it had reached its planet landfall? But then the overall science of .4% light speed came up and...yeah. So the Lazarus ship was originally for an 1100 year journey? With capacity for 90K passengers? But what about population growth? And I GET that the teens here aren't supposed to have all the answers (it's kind of the point) but if your MC has read the entire report on how the Lazarus is supposed to work (NOT JUST THE SUMMARY, she points out, as it was so helpfully pointed out in the text) why aren't the big questions being talked about?
I mean, if they're calorie-strapped, why the hell are two characters RUNNING for an hour every night??
Through the reading, I thought about everyone who did it better, from King's Boulder Free Zone in The Stand or the people Under the Dome, to the geopolitical machinations in Clarke's Rama ship, to the cramped quarters on the moon in Gibb's Space Case. Books don't have to be sophisticated to feel like a complete and cohesive world. See: Ice Planet Barbarians.
Honestly, if I didn't have another million books to read, I would probably finish this one because I'm curious about where it goes, from a plot perspective, but I don't have high hopes for it becoming any more personally satisfying/less annoying to me. It feels like sci-fi lite for teen audiences, which will be satisfying to some, but not to the kids who came away wide-eyed from Scythe looking for more like it.
If you're looking for a better space survival scenario, read The Martian or Hail Mary. If you're looking for a better teen survival scenario, read a book about zombies - there are lots of those. If you want some teens in space, read the Binti Trilogy.
(Note: given the high first printing run for this title, it's probably going to be purchased for my library if the reviews are good, but I'll reserve recommending it to my teens who are just starting to explore sci-fi, rather than those who are hardcore fans)
34% DNF. When you've read Stephen King, who knows how to take a cast of characters and build interpersonal tensions in a life-or-death survival scenario, this just ain't gonna cut it.
The premise is great, and some of the characters (Eli, especially) have promise, but most of them are underdrawn to this point in the narrative, and the ship science is ... underwhelming, to say the least. I'm a stickler for world building - the world can be ridiculous and fantastical, but it has to make sense for the story that's being told. So they're going for the Arcteus - and I don't even know where it is. At first I thought it had reached its planet landfall? But then the overall science of .4% light speed came up and...yeah. So the Lazarus ship was originally for an 1100 year journey? With capacity for 90K passengers? But what about population growth? And I GET that the teens here aren't supposed to have all the answers (it's kind of the point) but if your MC has read the entire report on how the Lazarus is supposed to work (NOT JUST THE SUMMARY, she points out, as it was so helpfully pointed out in the text) why aren't the big questions being talked about?
I mean, if they're calorie-strapped, why the hell are two characters RUNNING for an hour every night??
Through the reading, I thought about everyone who did it better, from King's Boulder Free Zone in The Stand or the people Under the Dome, to the geopolitical machinations in Clarke's Rama ship, to the cramped quarters on the moon in Gibb's Space Case. Books don't have to be sophisticated to feel like a complete and cohesive world. See: Ice Planet Barbarians.
Honestly, if I didn't have another million books to read, I would probably finish this one because I'm curious about where it goes, from a plot perspective, but I don't have high hopes for it becoming any more personally satisfying/less annoying to me. It feels like sci-fi lite for teen audiences, which will be satisfying to some, but not to the kids who came away wide-eyed from Scythe looking for more like it.
If you're looking for a better space survival scenario, read The Martian or Hail Mary. If you're looking for a better teen survival scenario, read a book about zombies - there are lots of those. If you want some teens in space, read the Binti Trilogy.
(Note: given the high first printing run for this title, it's probably going to be purchased for my library if the reviews are good, but I'll reserve recommending it to my teens who are just starting to explore sci-fi, rather than those who are hardcore fans)
April 8, 2022
This book had me at Lord of the Flies in space! Sci-fi horror is BADASS and this book’s synopsis had me in a chokehold. We need more outer space thrillers/horror in YA! Basically, the premise of this book was amazing. I so very wanted to like this book, and I was expecting to. Unfortunately this fell super flat.
With a premise this enticing and gripping, you’d expect the book to be the same. And it started out AMAZING. The first couple pages were filled with so much tension and I geared myself up for a super thrilling and intense ride. Yet, this book wasn’t that. Not at all. Basically this book was interesting until they boarded the ship, and they boarded the ship within the first chapter, so…
It’s weird because this book DID have high stakes obviously, as you can tell from the synopsis, but it didn’t feel high stakes. You can tell by how long it took me to finish this arc. Granted I am in a reading slump this long but geez, I can’t remember the last time it took me so long to finish an arc.
Also this is a minor thing but it made absolutely no sense; a huge part of this book is how they have limited food resources on the ship and in danger of starving, yet two of the characters go on intense runs every night. If you guys are literally limiting food intake and starving, why would you do intense cardio everyday, even as a stress reliever you CANNOT actually think that’s a good idea. I mean, come on.
Great concept, and I LOVE seeing that the mc is Chinese. Yay for Asian rep! But the execution was still poor. Sorry, but this was just super boring for me. A huge plus however, this book puts a massive fear of climate change in you, and that’s something our world desperately needs to take seriously right now. This will probably be an unpopular opinion, but I actually liked how this ended!
Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Hyperion for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
With a premise this enticing and gripping, you’d expect the book to be the same. And it started out AMAZING. The first couple pages were filled with so much tension and I geared myself up for a super thrilling and intense ride. Yet, this book wasn’t that. Not at all. Basically this book was interesting until they boarded the ship, and they boarded the ship within the first chapter, so…
It’s weird because this book DID have high stakes obviously, as you can tell from the synopsis, but it didn’t feel high stakes. You can tell by how long it took me to finish this arc. Granted I am in a reading slump this long but geez, I can’t remember the last time it took me so long to finish an arc.
Also this is a minor thing but it made absolutely no sense; a huge part of this book is how they have limited food resources on the ship and in danger of starving, yet two of the characters go on intense runs every night. If you guys are literally limiting food intake and starving, why would you do intense cardio everyday, even as a stress reliever you CANNOT actually think that’s a good idea. I mean, come on.
Great concept, and I LOVE seeing that the mc is Chinese. Yay for Asian rep! But the execution was still poor. Sorry, but this was just super boring for me. A huge plus however, this book puts a massive fear of climate change in you, and that’s something our world desperately needs to take seriously right now. This will probably be an unpopular opinion, but I actually liked how this ended!
Thank you to Netgalley and Disney Hyperion for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
May 24, 2022
This book was received as a DRC from Disney Publishing Worldwide in exchange for an honest review.
Alone out here takes us to the year 2072, when the earth is facing the consequences of global warming causing all the volcanoes on our planet to erupt. World leaders have come together to build spaceships to evacuate as many people as possible. The selection is through a lottery. In the eye of the hurricane, Leigh, the first daughter, and 50 more children see themselves forced to board as eruptions started sooner than they had expected. Without the supervision of any adults, these kids will have to create their own society and its sets of rules. But some rebellious kids have something else in mind.
The only chance of survival is to work together and keep their moral compass pointing north.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Alone out here takes us to the year 2072, when the earth is facing the consequences of global warming causing all the volcanoes on our planet to erupt. World leaders have come together to build spaceships to evacuate as many people as possible. The selection is through a lottery. In the eye of the hurricane, Leigh, the first daughter, and 50 more children see themselves forced to board as eruptions started sooner than they had expected. Without the supervision of any adults, these kids will have to create their own society and its sets of rules. But some rebellious kids have something else in mind.
The only chance of survival is to work together and keep their moral compass pointing north.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
March 30, 2022
It has been almost 70 years since Lord of the Flies was published; we need a new retelling that this generation can appreciate. Alone Out Here meets that need. This time the story takes place in space instead of an island and includes a diverse list of characters. I started and finished it in one day and a week and several books later, I'm still thinking about it. While not all the tech aspects may be realistic, I was willing to suspend my disbelief over this space odyssey and found many of the technology dilemmas' solutions well thought out.
February 9, 2022
It's 2072, and the world is going to end. Leigh Chen is part of a small group of the children of world leaders (her mom is POTUS) touring the Lazarus, a prototype of the ships being designed to transport humanity to a new planet, when the world ends early, sending Leigh and the other kids into an impossible situation: they have to survive. With no grownups. In space.
This. Book. Was. AMAZING. Leigh was a complex and sympathetic character -- she's spent her life in the public eye and has become the consummate politician even though she's only in her teens -- she modulates her emotions, doesn't over-commit, and is always seeking consensus, even if it means subverting her own interests and desires. The hardships and crises the survivors face are relentless and complicated, from technical and supply issues to interpersonal conflicts to emotional breakdowns. I could barely catch my breath waiting to see what would happen next thanks to the excellent pacing -- and that ending?!? PERFECTION. I loved this book SO MUCH. Riley Redgate is a new auto-read author for me, and I'm going back and hitting up her backlist, hard.
TL;DR: READ THIS BOOK.
*Thanks to Disney Publishing for the NetGalley review copy. Alone Out Here comes out April 5, 2022.
This. Book. Was. AMAZING. Leigh was a complex and sympathetic character -- she's spent her life in the public eye and has become the consummate politician even though she's only in her teens -- she modulates her emotions, doesn't over-commit, and is always seeking consensus, even if it means subverting her own interests and desires. The hardships and crises the survivors face are relentless and complicated, from technical and supply issues to interpersonal conflicts to emotional breakdowns. I could barely catch my breath waiting to see what would happen next thanks to the excellent pacing -- and that ending?!? PERFECTION. I loved this book SO MUCH. Riley Redgate is a new auto-read author for me, and I'm going back and hitting up her backlist, hard.
TL;DR: READ THIS BOOK.
*Thanks to Disney Publishing for the NetGalley review copy. Alone Out Here comes out April 5, 2022.
May 6, 2022
This book is pitched as lord of flies in space and it doesn’t disappoint! This book was engaging and fast paced throughout. I was invested in the main characters and thought the supporting characters were well developed and added something to the overall story. I listened to this on audio and I highly recommended, as the author narrates her own story and it was very well performed. I don’t say this often (if you have read my other reviews you know this to be true) I wouldn’t have minded more pages. You heard that right, I would have actually liked more time with these characters. I would have loved more time to really see some of the gritty, poor decisions a bunch of teenagers as the sole survivors of earth could make. I would love a sequel to see how time would play out. Could they create a new better world or would they always be doomed to repeat the mistakes of humankind? This book is for readers who love space or post-apocalyptic type stories. Not sure what age this is marketed for, but I would say this reads as young adult.
February 1, 2022
This is a story about the only ones left alive.
I was not prepared for the stress this book would cause me. It’s like someone read Lord of the Flies & saw The Village and also felt like space was the correct setting for these things. Don’t let the deceptively calm cover fool you, this book took off immediately and I didn’t spend a single page feeling relaxed. I’m looking forward to reading others by the author!
Thank you so much Disney Publishing Worldwide & Netgalley!
I was not prepared for the stress this book would cause me. It’s like someone read Lord of the Flies & saw The Village and also felt like space was the correct setting for these things. Don’t let the deceptively calm cover fool you, this book took off immediately and I didn’t spend a single page feeling relaxed. I’m looking forward to reading others by the author!
Thank you so much Disney Publishing Worldwide & Netgalley!
May 31, 2022
It's 2072 and the Earth, as they knew it, was coming to an end as of the result of global warming.
I actually devoured this book and was sucked in from the very beginning. It was fast paced and very entertaining; especially the last 50 or so pages. Really enjoyed the characters' descriptions and how they interacted with one another. In my opinion, character development within this story was so important and Redgate did a heartfelt job of doing so. Her descriptions of the various parts of the ship allowed you to visualize more clearly what was happening.
The ending was a total surprise to me and I loved the way Redgate built up to it. I couldn't put my book down and was anxious about finding out what was going to happen. I'm nots really sure how I feel about the ending and think it would be a great topic discussion. I think I needed more closure to the story. I highly recommend this book with 4.5 stars and add that it would be a great read for lovers of science fiction.
I actually devoured this book and was sucked in from the very beginning. It was fast paced and very entertaining; especially the last 50 or so pages. Really enjoyed the characters' descriptions and how they interacted with one another. In my opinion, character development within this story was so important and Redgate did a heartfelt job of doing so. Her descriptions of the various parts of the ship allowed you to visualize more clearly what was happening.
The ending was a total surprise to me and I loved the way Redgate built up to it. I couldn't put my book down and was anxious about finding out what was going to happen. I'm nots really sure how I feel about the ending and think it would be a great topic discussion. I think I needed more closure to the story. I highly recommend this book with 4.5 stars and add that it would be a great read for lovers of science fiction.
March 17, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and Disney/Hyperion for a review copy of this novel.
Wow! What a literal trip! This book is perfect for fans of Interstellar and Lord of the Flies. Or even if you just like space travel and sci fi books, this one’s for you.
The world aboard the ship reminded me a bit of the ship from Wall-E, but all those aboard are young kids and teens, who have to figure out how to rebuild the human race in order to survive. The sense of urgency is real, as they have limited food and the ship hadn’t been finished being stocked, so they’re faced with the choice of going back to find some sort of other food, or heading to a world which may or may not be able to sustain them.
My heart raced multiple times and it reminded me that I’m glad I live here on earth and don’t plan to (and hope I don’t have to) leave here any time soon.
Wow! What a literal trip! This book is perfect for fans of Interstellar and Lord of the Flies. Or even if you just like space travel and sci fi books, this one’s for you.
The world aboard the ship reminded me a bit of the ship from Wall-E, but all those aboard are young kids and teens, who have to figure out how to rebuild the human race in order to survive. The sense of urgency is real, as they have limited food and the ship hadn’t been finished being stocked, so they’re faced with the choice of going back to find some sort of other food, or heading to a world which may or may not be able to sustain them.
My heart raced multiple times and it reminded me that I’m glad I live here on earth and don’t plan to (and hope I don’t have to) leave here any time soon.
dnf
March 5, 2022DNF @ 40%
Unfortunately, I’m having trouble getting into this one. There are so many characters to keep track of, and as a result of this, I’m finding that none of them feel very developed or memorable. The pacing is also slower than I was expecting. That being said, I loved Riley Redgate’s other books, so I might try and pick this one up again in the future.
Unfortunately, I’m having trouble getting into this one. There are so many characters to keep track of, and as a result of this, I’m finding that none of them feel very developed or memorable. The pacing is also slower than I was expecting. That being said, I loved Riley Redgate’s other books, so I might try and pick this one up again in the future.
June 11, 2022
I absolutely hate this book. The ending sucked. I really thought I was getting a spooky, sci-if adventure, but it was actually pseudo-political bullshit trying to be lord of the flies in space with the most unsatisfying ending I could imagine. I also picked this up because I’d seen it on sapphic lists and was completely disappointed it wasn’t queer at all.
September 26, 2022
This was ok. I'll be honest, sci-fi is hit or miss with me. There's some novels that truly enthrall me to no end, and novels more akin to this one that help me rediscover what sleep is. That's not to say the author didn't try or do a good job. Just to say that in terms of personal enjoyment, I found it incredibly lacking in plot.
Want to read
March 4, 2022lord of flies in space is 10000% what sold me on adding this book to my TBR
August 19, 2022
This started off strong and then lost me.
August 14, 2025
The trials that come with living in space can be a lot, and I love how well that was portrayed here.
I hated that ending, though, it was completely unnecessary. 😭
I hated that ending, though, it was completely unnecessary. 😭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2022
*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Young Adult / SyFy
*Rating* 3-3.5
*Thoughts*
Riley Redgate's Alone Out Here is being sold as Lord of the Flies set in space. The year is 2072. Soon a volcanic eruption will trigger catastrophic devastation, and the only way out is up. While the world’s leaders, scientists, and engineers oversee the frantic production of a space fleet meant to save humankind, their children are brought in for a weekend of touring the Lazarus, a high-tech prototype spaceship.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Young Adult / SyFy
*Rating* 3-3.5
*Thoughts*
Riley Redgate's Alone Out Here is being sold as Lord of the Flies set in space. The year is 2072. Soon a volcanic eruption will trigger catastrophic devastation, and the only way out is up. While the world’s leaders, scientists, and engineers oversee the frantic production of a space fleet meant to save humankind, their children are brought in for a weekend of touring the Lazarus, a high-tech prototype spaceship.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
April 18, 2022
It's the year 2072 and the world knows that in the near future there will be a massive volcanic eruption that will mean the end of life on Earth. A global plan is in place to build rockets to send some people to the nearest inhabitable planet. When an eruption happens months too early, 53 of the kids whose parents are working on the rocket prototypes are the only survivors. They boarded the prototype Lazarus that they were there to tour and launched into space on a journey of over 1000 years. Luckily, Eli, the pilot's daughter, is onboard along with Leigh Chen, First Daughter of the US President. Leigh is well trained as a politician, to say the right thing at the right time, to give answers that aren't really answers and calm everyone's nerves. Eli, who has never had friends her own age, relishes her position of power and becomes the de facto leader of the group of kids from around the world. Leigh is appointed Chief of Staff, a voice to Eli's one-sided decisions based solely on survival. However, as tensions rise within the group over everything from time in the VR simulator to food to turning around to rescue an astronaut that may still be aboard a space station, Leigh begins to question her decisions and find a voice of her own.
Alone Out Here is a suspenseful and realistic young adult science fiction story of survival. I loved the premise of Earth's political leaders being woefully underprepared for a climate catastrophe and unable to come to consensus on how to solve it without greed and corruption taking hold. A bunch of teens and pre-teens aboard a spaceship alone goes about as well as anyone would expect as they try to survive with limited resources, constant power struggles, differences in opinion and trying to manage the grief and disbelief of their planet and everyone on it being destroyed. The characters were a very diverse group since they were children of Lazurus' engineers, scientists, pilots and World Leaders. Leigh and Eli's characters were focused on the most as their seemingly similar personalities diverged as they discovered who they truly were aboard the Lazarus. I enjoyed watching Leigh develop from a people pleaser into a person who could still help others while being true to herself. Her relationship with Anis was also well done, helping her realize her potential while not overtaking the story. Eli's character is interesting, at first it seems like she is the only one willing to make difficult decisions and have a plan, but as she becomes more powerful, her decisions seem more and more self-serving. While being set in space in a not-so-distant future, Alone Out Here still deals with very real teen issues such as depression, addiction, friendship and romance in thoughtful ways. With a thrilling and unexpected ending, Alone Out Here is an exciting young adult science fiction drama.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
Alone Out Here is a suspenseful and realistic young adult science fiction story of survival. I loved the premise of Earth's political leaders being woefully underprepared for a climate catastrophe and unable to come to consensus on how to solve it without greed and corruption taking hold. A bunch of teens and pre-teens aboard a spaceship alone goes about as well as anyone would expect as they try to survive with limited resources, constant power struggles, differences in opinion and trying to manage the grief and disbelief of their planet and everyone on it being destroyed. The characters were a very diverse group since they were children of Lazurus' engineers, scientists, pilots and World Leaders. Leigh and Eli's characters were focused on the most as their seemingly similar personalities diverged as they discovered who they truly were aboard the Lazarus. I enjoyed watching Leigh develop from a people pleaser into a person who could still help others while being true to herself. Her relationship with Anis was also well done, helping her realize her potential while not overtaking the story. Eli's character is interesting, at first it seems like she is the only one willing to make difficult decisions and have a plan, but as she becomes more powerful, her decisions seem more and more self-serving. While being set in space in a not-so-distant future, Alone Out Here still deals with very real teen issues such as depression, addiction, friendship and romance in thoughtful ways. With a thrilling and unexpected ending, Alone Out Here is an exciting young adult science fiction drama.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
2022-ya
January 2, 2022This is giving me so many vibes of 'The 100' except like right in the beginning of them first leaving the earth. I'm excited!!
P.S. I'm still mad at how badly Jason made the show suck after several amazing seasons. Couldn't even finish it.
P.S. I'm still mad at how badly Jason made the show suck after several amazing seasons. Couldn't even finish it.
May 9, 2022
the complete lack of logic every character in this book displays,,,,
should've dnf'd at 50% when I realized where this was going but I was like "nooo can't be that big of a cop out right??" (spoiler alert: it was)
should've dnf'd at 50% when I realized where this was going but I was like "nooo can't be that big of a cop out right??" (spoiler alert: it was)
Want to read
July 22, 2020if this isn't gays in space i might cry
but i'm reading this anyway because.... riley redgate
but i'm reading this anyway because.... riley redgate
April 29, 2022
Yeah, I'm a total sucker for books set into space... *shrug
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