Life As We Knew It - Chapter 19

In this chapter, Miranda nurses her family through the flu, learns terrible news about Peter and the damage caused by influenza and adverts a fire caused by the wood stove. Matt is left weakened by his illness.

1. What is the condition of the family at the beginning of Chapter 19?
   


2. What has happened to Peter? Most of the hospital staff?
   


3. Why does Miranda continue to write in her journal despite all the adversity she and the family are experiencing? (p. 299).
   


4. What incident happens at the house to make Miranda believe her family will survive no matter what? (p. 305)



5. On p. 311, mom stops herself mid-conversation to call Miranda a "very special woman." Why is this significant?
   


6. Describe Matt's condition at the end of the chapter? Why is he this way? What does Miranda feel this means for the family?

Life As We Knew It - Chapter 18

In this Chapter, Miranda and the family experience their first Holiday Season post-Asteroid Impact and come to realize how lucky they all are. They exchange meaningful gifts and make practical New Years Resolutions. The Mortensens, neighbors down the road, are introduced and the idea of illness spreading is foreshadowed.

1. Why does Miranda call the family’s first Christmas after the catastrophe "Absolutely the best Christmas ever"? (p. 280)
   


2. On New Year’s Eve, Miranda wonders if people ever realize how precious life is. (p. 287) What events have happened in Miranda’s life to remind her that life is precious?
   


3. Why is Matt so adamant about the family learning how to cross country ski?
   


4. Why did Mr. Mortensen show up at the family's door?

Life As We Knew It - Chapter 17

A blizzard strikes Miranda's town, dumping about four feet of snow in a short period of time. With gasoline in limited supply, its unlikely the roads are going to be plowed anytime soon.

1. As the blizzard begins, where is Matt? Why doesn't mom allow Miranda or Jon to head towards town to look for Matt?
   
   
2. Why is Jonny the only family member allowed to eat two meals per day? When Jonny discovers he is the only one who eats two meals, how does he feel about this?
   
   
3. The snow provides one benefit to the family -- What is it?
   
   
4. On p. 276, Miranda states "Right now I'm reading about the American Revolution. The soldiers had a tough time of it at Valley Forge. My heart bleeds for them." What is Miranda implying in this journal entry?
   

Life As We Knew It - Chapter 16

Mrs. Nesbitt has died and Miranda's family has taken all they could from the house before other neighbors could loot the house. Life continues for the family with the additional supplies and Matt, Jonny and Miranda attempt to complete some schoolwork.

1. After Mrs. Nesbitt dies, Miranda goes through her kitchen cabinets and says doing so makes her “feel like a cannibal?” (p. 240) Why does she feel this way?
   
   
2. What utility does Mrs. Nesbitt still have that the family does not?
   
   
3. On p. 247, Miranda said "And we toasted the best friend we'll ever have." Whom is she talking about and why?
   
   
4. How has home schooling been going for Matt, Miranda and Jonny?
   
   
5. Why doesn't Miranda want to study French?
   
   
6. What has happened to Mrs. Nesbitt's house in the days since her death?
   

Life As We Knew It - Chapter 15

Miranda's world gets "smaller" in this chapter. The family's well dries up due to lack of rain and due to little need for the kitchen with no water, the entire family is now only using the sun room of the house. Also, Miranda's mother is hurt again causing Miranda to make all the visits to Mrs. Nesbitt's house where her death is foreshadowed.

1. What has Matt done to the sun room windows? Why?
   
   
2. Where did Matt get the plywood? How does Miranda feel about this?
   
   
3. Describe Miranda's conversation with Mrs. Nesbitt. What is your reaction to this exchange? (p. 231-234).
   
   
4. What does Miranda mean by "But my world keeps getting smaller and smaller." (p. 236).
   
   
5. Why is Miranda so vehemently opposed to moving her mattress from the kitchen to the sun room with everybody else.
   

Life As We Knew It - Chapter 14

This was a short, but pretty meaty chapter. Volcanic ash has turned cool fall weather into sub-zero conditions. Miranda's family has moved downstairs and are trying to conserve what food they have. Most notable in this chapter is we learn that Megan and her mother have both died and Megan learns what a hypocrite Megan's pastor is.

1. What utility has been shut off? How has it effected Miranda's family?


2. What volunteer job has Matt taken in town? How does Miranda's mother feel about this?


3. What has happened to Megan? How do you think Megan died?


4. How did Megan's mother, Mrs. Wayne, die? How did Reverend Marshall treat her body in comparison to Megan?


5. Why does Miranda call Reverend Marshall "despicable?" (p. 222) Do you agree with her? Why or why not?
   
6. Who was Miranda skating with?


7. Having a space to call your own is important. How has losing her room for the winter effected Miranda? How would it effect you if you were in Miranda's shoes?

Life As We Knew It - Chapter 13

In this chapter, Miranda's mother is injured and Miranda learns the difficulty of getting medical treatment in this changing world.

1. What has happended to mom? What is the prognosis?


2. How difficult was it for Miranda to get a hold of Peter to get help for mom? How hard would it be for someone without connections to get medical treatment in Miranda's town or elsewhere?


3. What is meant by the following lines: "It's funny how much I'm enjoying things these days. I think we all are. We're so used to worrying we hardly even notice it." (p. 211).