Monument 14: Sky on Fire is one book of a series written by Emmy Laybourne. It is absolutely thrilling, horrifying, and indescribably well written. The book is centered around two brothers, Dean (Type O) and Alex Grieder (Type B). In this story, Laybourne describes the journey of eight kids traveling through a postapocalyptic America that has been destroyed by chemical warfare.
It begins with a letter written by Alex who describes their situation to the reader, naming everyone’s blood-type and age. He then ends the letter by asking the reader to go rescue his brother and the others.
The kids live in a supermarket but end up escaping in a bus. A few are left behind for reasons pertaining to the effects the chemicals in the air have on their blood-type. As the days pass, the conditions worsen and the kids find the outside world to be brutal. Eventually, their bus gets taken and they have to travel by foot, leading to some serious issues. Finally, they reach their destination, a hospital where they are told they will be evacuated. This story has a bitter-sweet and exciting ending.
While reading, some aspects of this story really stood out to me. Laybourne lays out the story in such way that allows for the ultimate nit and grit. The format also allows great character development. The story has a definite steady pace that I felt was just right for the plot at hand. The structure shows the before and after of the brothers’ relationship from the beginning of the story compared to the end. The plot’s twists and turns leave you wanting to read more while simultaneously making you need space from the content. For example, when Laybourne described the derranged person the kids came across while on foot makes the reader need a break.
Common themes found in this book are family, friends, loyalty, trust, willpower, and survival. The letter presented in the beggining of the book definitely foreshadows events in the story; however, if the reader uses this note to predict the end, the reader is led astray. The book’s main theme is outright family. The main characters stick with each other through thick and thin. In the end, they are all brought together by their survival.
This book makes me seriously reconsider my survival tatics and how I think the world might end, considering this world Laybourne imagined is quite realistic. Moreover, I highly recommend this book.
Comments from other reviews include but are not limited to:
“Frighteningly Real…Riveting.” -The New York Times Book Review on Monument 14
“An unforgettable opener…a realistic, multi-character survival story…the ending is a real thriller.” -Booklist
“Monument 14 is raw, honest, gritty, and full of emotionally taut storytelling. Laybourne dares you to look away but you won’t be able to. I had to hug so many kittens after reading it that the pet store asked me not to come back.” -Lish McBride, author of Hold Me Closer, Necromancer
