Alive: The Generations Trilogy
#1 of 3 in The Generations Trilogy Series
on Goodreads (10,922)
What’s inside...
I open my eyes to darkness. Total darkness. I hear my own breathing, but nothing else. I lift my head…it thumps against something solid and unmoving. There is a board right in front of my face. No, not a board…a lid.
A teenage girl awakens to find herself trapped in a coffin. She has no idea who she is, where she is, or how she got there. Fighting her way free brings little relief—she discovers only a room lined with caskets and a handful of equally mystified survivors. Beyond their room lies a corridor filled with bones and dust, but no people…and no answers.
She knows only one thing about herself—her name, M. Savage, which was engraved on the foot of her coffin—yet she finds herself in charge. She is not the biggest among them, or the boldest, but for some reason the others trust her. Now, if they’re to have any chance, she must get them to trust one another.
Whatever the truth is, she is determined to find it and confront it. If she has to lead, she will make sure they survive. Maybe there's a way out, a rational explanation, and a fighting chance against the dangers to come. Or maybe a reality they cannot comprehend lies just beyond the next turn.
Discussion points
What did you think about the leadership qualities shown by different characters? Which leader would you follow?
How do the characters deal with the unknown? What would you do in their situation?
The characters discover many secrets about themselves and their environment. What was the most surprising revelation in the book for you?
How do the relationships between the characters change throughout their journey? Which relationship impacted you the most and why?
If you were in the same situation as the characters, what skills or knowledge from your own life would help you survive?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start the conversation by sharing your own thoughts on the book’s theme of survival and leadership, setting a comfortable tone for an open discussion.
Encourage your child to compare the book's world to the real world, helping them to think critically about the differences and similarities.
Ask your child how they felt at key moments in the story to foster empathy and understanding of the characters' decisions and dilemmas.
Link discussions to your child's life by asking if they’ve ever faced something unknown and how they managed it, personalizing the book’s themes.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Teamwork and collaboration
Explanation: In 'Alive: The Generations Trilogy', characters must work together to solve mysteries and overcome challenges.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by participating in group activities and learning the importance of cooperation and communication to achieve common goals.
Example Lesson: Resilience in facing the unknown
Explanation: The protagonist and her peers face unfamiliar dangers and environments but persist in seeking answers and safety.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the value of perseverance and courage when encountering new challenges or changes in their life.
Example Lesson: Leadership and responsibility
Explanation: The main characters assume leadership roles, make critical decisions, and bear the consequences, demonstrating the weight of leadership.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to take initiative, make decisions confidently, and understand the impacts of their actions in everyday situations.
Example Lesson: Problem-solving skills
Explanation: Characters must use logic and creativity to navigate the world around them, enhancing critical thinking.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to use reasoning and creative solutions in their studies and when resolving conflicts with peers.
Example Lesson: Identity and self-discovery
Explanation: Throughout the novel, characters explore and assert their identities which is crucial to their survival and growth.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to explore their own identities, understand their strengths and weaknesses, and assert themselves in social settings.