Review Of Susan Beth Pfeffer's 'Life As We Knew It'

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“Maybe there really is a Santa Claus.” This simple sentence from Life As We Knew It, by Susan Beth Pfeffer can have countless interpretations. Santa Claus, the world's beloved giver of gifts, transporter of toys, rider of reindeer, is more important than one might think. Most children only realize the minimum; behavior brings them more presents. In reality, Santa is giving them the best gift of all: everlasting hope. Santa allows kids to have something to look forward to all year round; his arrival. The thought of his presence is like a beacon of hope or belief, for people of all ages. The only thing stopping Santa from being perfect, is finding out he isn't real. The instant a child realizes Santa isn't real, is when hope starts to fade away.…show more content…
In the novel, Miranda's father is her beam of light. He gives her hope, like Santa does to a child. Throughout the book, her big plan is to visit her father in August. Tragically, an asteroid hits the moon, causing complete chaos all over the world! Compared to other people, Miranda knows her life is fantastic. She has food, water, and a family who loves her, but for a large part of the book she refuses to accept it's a worldwide issue. In Miranda's mind, only the people in Pennsylvania have been affected, not her father in Springfield, or the rest of the world. Miranda is constantly fantasizing about Springfield, a place with a fridge full of food and clear skies. Springfield gives her hope, hope that the world won't come to an end. Here, Sprinfield is her Santa Claus. Suddenly, she receives news that her trip to Springfield has been canceled, and that her father is coming to visit instead. Miranda was devastated, but deep inside, she knew it was for the best. Before, her father was her source of hope, but now she finally accepts that it is a worldwide problem, and there are people who are struggling much more than she is. Her hope for a better life in a new place is gone, so she resorts to hoping for Santa. Right now, what Miranda needs most, is a new source of hope, a new idea to believe in, a new Santa

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