I Am Still Alive
by Kate Alice Marshall
by Kate Alice Marshall
After: Jess is alone. Her cabin has burned to the ground. She knows if she doesn’t act fast, the cold will kill her before she has time to worry about food. But she is still alive—for now.
Before: Jess hadn’t seen her survivalist, off-the-grid dad in over a decade. But after a car crash killed her mother and left her injured, she was forced to move to his cabin in the remote Canadian wilderness. Just as Jess was beginning to get to know him, a secret from his past paid them a visit, leaving her father dead and Jess stranded.
After: With only her father’s dog for company, Jess must forage and hunt for food, build shelter, and keep herself warm. Some days it feels like the wild is out to destroy her, but she’s stronger than she ever imagined.
Jess will survive. She has to. She knows who killed her father…and she wants revenge.
Potentially Sensitive Topics: murder and several killings with brief bloody details & vivid descriptions of skinning a rabbit and butchering a deer
Summarized by ChatGPT
Students had mixed reactions to I Am Still Alive by Kate Alice Marshall. Many enjoyed the suspense, survival themes, and emotional depth, especially the main character’s journey of resilience and personal growth. However, some felt the narrative was repetitive, slow to start, or hard to follow due to its "Before" and "After" structure. While some found the protagonist relatable, others described her as frustrating and unlikable. The book’s intense survival elements, emotional moments, and themes of perseverance make it appealing to fans of adventure and survival stories like Hatchet. Despite criticisms, most students found the story engaging and would recommend it to readers who enjoy action-packed and emotionally driven narratives.