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Description edit see section history

Alex has run away and is hiking through the wilderness with her dead parents' ashes, about to say goodbye to the life she no longer wants to live. But then the world suddenly changes. An electromagnetic pulse sweeps through the sky zapping every electronic device and killing the vast majority... read more

Summary edit see section history

It could happen tomorrow… a cataclysmic event. An army of "The Changed." Can one teen really survive on her own?

An electromagnetic pulse sweeps through the sky, destroying ever electronic device and killing billions. For those spared, it’s a question of who can be trusted and who is no... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

It could happen tomorrow… a cataclysmic event. An army of "The Changed." Can one teen really survive on her own?

An electromagnetic pulse sweeps through the sky, destroying ever electronic device and killing billions. For those spared, it’s a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human. Desperate to find out what happened and to avoid the Changed, Alex meets up with Tom—a young army veteran—and Ellie, a young girl whose grandfather was killed by the electromagnetic pulse. This improvised family will have to use every ounce of courage they have just to survive.

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Alex: Protagonist. 17 year-old girl from Evanston, IL who has an inoperable brain tumor. Her parents were both killed in a helicopter crash during a snowstorm when she was about 14. She's on her way to Lake Superior to scatter her parents' ashes when she runs into Jack and Ellie. While they are visiting, the EMP hits and she's left to care for Ellie.
  • Tom Eden: 20 year-old guy. He is an explosive ordnance disposal expert with the army in Afghanistan. He is currently on leave and has gone on a camping trip with friends and relatives. Seems to be suffering from Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  • Ellie: A young girl whose father was killed in Iraq. Her mother left when she was a baby. She's camping with her grandfather when they meet Alex. After her grandfather dies, she's left with Alex to take care of her. She's only eight years old.
  • Jack Cranford: Ellie's grandfather and guardian. He lives in Minneapolis and has a pacemaker.
  • Mina: A Belgian shepherd. Mina worked as a bomb-sniffing dog in Iraq with Danny, Ellie's father. When Danny died, Jack requested Mina to be Ellie's dog.
  • Aunt Hannah: Alex's aunt who became her legal guardian after Alex's parents died.
  • Dr. Barrett: Alex's oncologist
  • Jim: Tom's team leader in Afghanistan. He is about 25 years old.
  • Stan: Tom's forty-something uncle.
  • Earl: Jim's dad, who is about sixty-five years old.
  • Larry Mathis: A biology teacher who is on a school ecology trip with several students and teachers.
  • Diedre Mathis: Larry's teenage daughter
  • Reverend Yeager: The leader of Rule. He is part of the Council of 5. He is a member of the oldest family therefore he leads the council.
  • Chris Prentiss: One of the Rev's grandsons living in Rule. He is about 19 years old. He lived with an abusive, alcoholic father before the EMP. He did not grow up in Rule, and so does not have the full authority of someone who has clearer bloodlines. He likes Alex.
  • Peter: Chris's 24-year-old brother, who also lives in Rule. He is another of the Rev's grandsons. He likes Lena.
  • Jess: The owner of the house occupied by Lena, Sarah, Tori, and Alex. She is an older woman. She wants someone to change the rules of Rule.
  • Kincaid: Acting doctor of Rule; one of the Awakened; had Alzheimer's before the EMP
  • Kopf: Add a description of this character.
  • Blick
  • Wasser
  • Mann
  • Lena: one of the Spared; living with Jess and the other girls that were Spared; wants to leave and go back to Oren
  • Wald
  • Boden
  • Sarah
  • Dann
  • Gott
  • Laster
  • Schulter
  • Greg
  • Frau
  • Paul
  • Messer
  • Nathan: works as one of the guards/escorts in Rule
  • Feuer
  • Klar
  • Mund
  • Stelle
  • Danke
  • Luft
  • Hals
  • Brett: one of the men who rob Alex, Ellie, and Tom
  • Ende
  • Stirn
  • Herz
  • Rauch
  • Berg
  • Fleck
  • Himmel
  • Knie
  • Tod
  • Felsen
  • Griff
  • Menge
  • Jacke
Show all 55 characters
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “At last, something to live for.”
    Tom Eden

Setting & Locations edit see section history

First Sentence edit see section history

"Where are you?" Aunt Hannah demanded as soon as Alex thumbed TALK.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 1 of 2 in Ashes Trilogy. (standard series)

Followed by Shadows.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Ilsa J. Bick (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Country: USA
Publication Date: September 13, 2011
ISBN: 978-1606841754
Page Count: 480

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: PZ7.B47234
  • Dewey: Fic Bic

More Books Like This edit see section history

   
  • Dust & Decay
  • The Reapers Are the Angels
  • Hollowland
  • Aftertime
  • Feed
  • The Immortal Rules
  • Blood Red Road

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