THE SURVIVORS by Will Weaver

Here's my review of the MEMORY BOY sequel, as promised.

Back in the city, Miles would rather be anywhere but school.  More interested in his tools and building things, Miles is not a dedicated student, and when he hears about the oral history project that would require chatting with an elderly resident of a nearby nursing home, he tries his hardest to figure out how to get out of it. 

Now, his family's very survival depends on the things he learned from Mr. Kurz's stories.  At the time the old man was rambling on, Miles spent his time working on his refurbished skateboard trucks or some other hands-on project that would keep him awake during his visits with the old coot.  But, thanks to Miles's exceptional memory (Memory Boy), he now remembers all the survival skills Mr. Kurz passed on. 

The other huge benefit of having gotten to know the old man is that Miles and his family have a home.  After the disappointment of finding squatters living in their family cabin on Gull Lake, Miles presented the idea of searching for Mr. Kurz's mountain cabin.  It needed a ton of repairs, but Miles was up for the task, and he even found a way to add a small room so he and Sarah didn't have to bunk with their parents.

The family is still considered by most to be Travelers and must battle discrimination when they venture into town, but life in the cabin on the river is much better than what life in the city has become.  Miles is busy getting the place ready for winter, and Sarah decides to begin attending the local school.  Even their father is beginning to adjust to the country life.

Just when things seem to be falling into a normal routine, Sarah has problems at school and their status as Travelers could ruin everything.  This city family may need to learn the violent ways of the wild and do it quickly if they hope to survive.

Author Will Weaver continues the Newell family saga in THE SURVIVORS.  The world is recovering from the devastation of massive volcanic eruptions leaving society divided into the haves and the have nots.  Weaver vividly captures the struggle of those trying to survive without the modern conveniences they once enjoyed.