Review: Survive by Alex Morel

Survive by Alex Morel

Release Date: August 2, 2012
Publisher: Razorbill 
Pages: 272
Genre: YA Survival
Source: ARC
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Hatchet meets Lost in this modern-day adventure tale of one girl's reawakening Jane is on a plane on her way home to Montclair, New Jersey, from a mental hospital. She is about to kill herself. Just before she can swallow a lethal dose of pills, the plane hits turbulence and everything goes black. Jane wakes up amidst piles of wreckage and charred bodies on a snowy mountaintop. There is only one other survivor: a boy named Paul, who inspires Jane to want to fight for her life for the first time. Jane and Paul scale icy slopes and huddle together for warmth at night, forging an intense emotional bond. But the wilderness is a vast and lethal force, and only one of them will survive.

Jane has been in treatment living in a mental hospital for the past year since she tried to commit suicide. Her dad killed himself so she believes crazy runs in the family. Jane has come up with a plan. She decides that on the plane ride home she will take pills in the bathroom and finally end her life. While in the bathroom, the plane crashes during a storm. The only other survivor is Paul, the boy who was seated next to her. He is stuck in a tree and needs her to help him get down and survive.

Jane wanted to give up but when she looks around at the wreckage and sees the newly married woman who has now lost her life she feels bad. She wonders why she lived when all these other people clearly deserved it more. Paul needs her to get out of the tree so she can't give up. Paul pushes her to survive. I think that was Jane's first step in wanting to live. For Paul. Paul was sweet at times, and a jerk at times, but he never let Jane give up. He was pushy but smart.

Many of the survival stories I have read take place on an island. This one was a change for me since it took place on a snowy mountain. I hate the snow and never would have thought that you can't eat it because it causes hypothermia. I would have been scarfing down snow. lol They have to melt the snow in water bottles against their bodies. They had to find sun glasses in the wreckage because their eyes could become sun burned. I've been to the snow like twice so I learned a lot and was even googling things after reading out of curiosity.

While trying to get to a location where they may be seen and rescued, Paul and Jane grow close. They share their deepest secrets and pains with each other. Both have suffered a horrible loss and are able to relate to each other. It was very sad at times and it didn't all end how I wanted. I had tears in my eyes during many parts, especially at the end. It was a fast read but an interesting journey through the snow. A lot of difficult cringe worthy scenes, but also a few sweet romantic scenes, and some humor. It was a quick read, good for survival fans.

"I pull out my gloves and hat from pockets and put them on, wincing at the pain in my head. I suddenly have an overwhelming urge to pee. I pull down my pants and semi-squat over the snow. I start to laugh out loud. I’m alone on top of a mountain in the middle of a fierce blizzard. Peeing!"

"I’m lost. I’m going to die. On this godforsaken moun­tain, I’m going to die. Well, isn’t that what I wanted?
There’s no easy answer on my lips or in my mind.
Is it what I wanted? Is it?"

“He laughs a little at his own joke and removes his sunglasses. Baby blues, no surprise—all the jerks have them."

Rating: 4/5