Two kids and a pilot survive a plane crash. You soon find out that the kids are running from something or someone. The protagonist is a 16-year-old girl protecting her little brother. The book is about their journey braving the Alaskan wilderness, and running from men with guns to their destination. It’s hard to say more than that without spoilers.

I thought the writing was good, the characters well-developed. I loved the tidbits of the children’s past that slowly came to light. But the story just never really grabbed me. This could be because I thought the “twist” was painfully obvious from the beginning which distracted me. I kept thinking, ‘get on with the reveal so I can get on with the rest of the book.’ I had guessed it before I even began reading, and every time there was a small mention or ‘clue’ it took me out of the story. I wish it had either been hidden better, or not hidden at all.

I would give it 2.5 stars. It was ok, and had potential, and perhaps the target audience (young adult, although it reads more like middle grade to me) would not have the same problem with the twist that I did.

I don’t usually gravitate towards science fiction/alien books. It’s just not my cup of tea. Then I saw this book, I read the synopsis and I thought I should give it a shot - plus, the cover was beautiful! I’m always trying to read different types of books to get out of my comfort zone, so I have to admit I was skeptical at first, but I started reading it anyway.
Long story short: I’m very impressed. This book was absolutely beautiful, and exceeded all my expectations. I’m really into survival books, and a young adult version of that was exactly what I needed. It’s definitely NOT a heavy book - for my surprise! It was very easy to read, I loved the writing style, and I only put the book down when I had to.
The writing was one of my favorite things about this book. Nick has a writing gift. His writing is smart, beautiful and leaves you hungry for more. Most chapters ended in “mini-cliffhangers”, so you were always wondering what was going to happen in the next chapter! And can we talk about the scene when Emily was dancing in the snow for Aidan? I seriously felt that in my heart, and that does not happen often.
The atmosphere was absolutely magical. The book is set in Alaska, and through my reading I was transported there. The snow, the cold air. The descriptions were so authentic, it’s impossible to read this book and not feel the cold - I had to grab a few cups of hot tea myself, no joke!
Emily was exactly the kind of heroine I like: strong, intelligent and skilled, but still human. Qualities I find in other female leads I loved before, like Katniss Everdeen from “The Hunger Games”. I loved the other side characters too - especially Aiden and Bob - but Emily was definitely my favorite.
I’m shocked I liked this as much as I did. I honestly hope this book gets the hype it deserves! It’s a unique, beautiful book that you should read with your own eyes to understand the magic.

I think this may be the first book I’ve read by Nick Lake and I’m going to read more. ‘Nowhere on Earth’ was a quick, action-packed, survival read that focused on a sibling relationship. Accidentally committing school arson, sixteen-year-old Emily runs away with her little ‘brother’ only to have their plan crash in the Alaskan wilderness. I found this book to be a sweet sci-fi that focuses on relationships and what it’s like to be a teen that moves away from all she knows.

This book will have you thinking that is for sure. The moment I loved the most was when Emily's parents join them on the mountain because that is when you begin to see the depths of Emily's character and when she truly begins to understand that maybe her problems are not as big as she made them out to be. Maybe her parents understand more than she gave them credit.

I would have loved a more detailed description of what the alien looked like besides something the human mind cannot comprehend. It was beautiful prose I only wished there was more.

4 out of 5 stars.

Nowhere on Earth by Nick Lake a four-star read that you need in your life. This is one of those stories that you may think twice about picking up, but don’t, it isn’t a typical story, it is deep, and you do have to pay attention while reading but its worth the attention. This seems like your typical survival against the elements, but it was so much more than that. This was a good story and well done, there were a couple of bits that didn’t sit with me, but overall it was a good story.

(review from goodreads)
14/12/19 - 4.5 Stars
WOW...

I think I'm in shock right now. I fully went into this not knowing what to expect - actually I don't really remember properly reading the synopsis at all so it was definitely one hell of a ride. I have to say, not knowing what I was getting into made the whole reading experience so much more entertaining, and maybe that is why I loved this book so much. It is definitely NOT your typical survival story.

"The explosion was breath made manifest, the whole field of snow a lung."

There is SO MUCH I want to talk about with this book, I barely know where to begin. This is a fast paced, adventure filled read that was somewhat predictable in places but with such powerful meaning behind every action, every word it turns into something much more spectacular. I fell in love with the writing style, how it flowed so smoothly and wasn't the slightest bit hard to follow. It really takes you there, to the Alaskan winter wilderness, surrounded by beautiful scenery you can almost physically see.

We start off immediately being thrown into a place crash, in which our main protagonist Emily has stowed away with her 'younger brother'. It is not initially explained why these two chose to ran away, but there isn't much time to get your bearings before figuring out the 'men in black' are in hot pursuit. Luckily Emily has learned, if not reluctantly, crucial survival skills from her parents which become invaluable in saving all of their lives - pilot included as he is severely injured from the get go. From here on in it is a treacherous trek across the mountains, trying desperately to reach their important destination with all of them intact; but there is more than just the physical journey for our characters to embark on. There is a metaphorical one, an emotional one. How this creates such a passionate message really shapes this entire story and creates something else entirely. Emily learns of love, and the depths it can reach. She grows from a child to a young woman, coming of age in a rough, necessary yet magical way. We learn that she is a talented dancer, who was forced to move with her parents and become something she was not in a school and a town that she hated. We learn how much she misses her past and wishes she could go back, how she feels misunderstood and alone. It resonates with everyone on some level, of remembering your childhood, or teenage years when at some point you inevitably feel different, left out, lonely - as we all do. It creates this bond between reader and character, a connection that develops as the plot thickens and we are carried along on this discovery and growth with her. The writing really does develop her character with such grace, it is genius.

"It's strange to me," he said, "that instead of enjoying this place, you people always want to fight over who owns it."

This quote hit me. Hit me right in the feels.

- A little backstory for you, which has pretty much nothing to do with the book at hand, I am at the moment living and working (travelling) in Canada. Right now I am lucky enough to spend every day in Banff, slap bang in the middle of the stunning Canadian Rockies. It's winter, it's freezing cold, there's snow everywhere so it's not hard for me at all to picture the landscape that this story revolves around. And, it. Is. BEAUTIFUL! I cannot express you to how beautiful. Magical. It takes my breath away. SO having said that, reading the scene containing the previously mentioned quote, I very almost teared up. Because it's true. It is so true. Our world is beautiful, and rather than simply appreciating it, we (those humans in charge ha) need to possess it, to use it, to discover it's secrets and take them as though they are simply there for the taking... And it's incredibly sad. That is why I resonated so much with the above quote. It really did hit home. -

ANYWAY, back on track. I just had to mention that. I have come to really love Lake's writing style and have noticed how it tends to have that effect on the reader - of burrowing deep, bubbling up emotions, making you think. Everything seems to have a deeper meaning than simply what the words are telling you on the page. It's unique and absolutely spell binding.

"She opened her eyes, and he was gone, the future in front of her, untraveled, a road waiting to be driven down."

The 'gift' that Emily receives at the end rendered me speechless. It was everything I hoped for and more when mentioned earlier on in the story (also given to Bob but we are unaware what said gift is until the end). How she comes to terms with her past, and her present and learns that her future is there for her to shape, to become whoever and whatever she chooses. It is a lesson I believe can benefit all of us. To take things as they are, to accept ourselves and realize we have the power to change our own futures. We are only as trapped as let ourselves be.

All in all I cannot praise this book enough. It is a captivating, lyrical coming of age story that teaches the characters (and the reader) about love, and family and to appreciate the world that we live in. Trust me, you want to read this.

"The past was always there. The future was waiting to be shaped."

//

PRE-READ
09/12/19 - Let's get this show on the road!

Nowhere on Earth was definitely an interesting read. I was invested in the characters and twisty plot line that I wasn't expecting. I do not know if I would group this as YA maybe middle grade, but it was still well written and enjoyable. I would recommend this book to others just getting into the genre.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

This was a good book, and wasn't really what I was expecting. It had action, and was like a thriller, with twists.
The story follows Emily, who is forced to move to Alaska and basically leave her dreams behind. As the story unfolded, the pace and action picked up, and ended up being a solid book.

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

I had no idea what to expect going into Nowhere on Earth. I had seen the cover around but hadn't yet read the synopsis. I'm not sure if the cover fits the story now that I've read it but that's an individual reader's opinion so no spoilers. Anyway, when I saw it was available on Netgalley, I thought I would try it out.

Nowhere on Earth is a fast-paced thriller adventure that keeps you guessing through most of the story. I didn't see the big twist coming. 😱

Even though, I think it reads almost Middle Grade (maybe low YA?), it was a book that kept me entertained for a few hours. Nowhere on Earth would be a prime gem for a Disney Channel Original Movie. 👀

*Thank you to Random House Children's and Knopf Books for Young Readers for providing me with a review copy.*

This is a good one by a talented and experience author. It has a good plot with nice twists and interesting characters. It's an easy and compelling read. Good stuff.

I really appreciate the copy for review!

This book was kind of a surprise for me. I had certain expectations based on previous reviews but it was nothing like what I had in my head. This story was part action, part journey, part coming of age/ reminder that family is very important (no matter who makes up your family).

The story starts out with a plane crash and the action starts immediately. I loved the characters in this story. They were all real, like fully fleshed out and realistic. The dialogue matched the ages of the characters and their knowledge base fit as well. The action was well paced with the internal dialogue and the realizations that both the character makes and the reader discovers.

I will not give plot information, it needs to be read. In this case there is a good reason for it not to be discussed in the book’s blurb. The story was just plain enjoyable and I was very happy with the outcome. It has a heartwarming vibe to it; and it is perfect for younger children as well as older ones. There were no triggers or difficult subject matters; yet at the same time it is a family story. I received an ARC via #NetGalley and I am leaving my honest review.

Quão bom é o sentimento de ter começado uma leitura sem saber exatamente o que esperar dela e terminar a leitura com o coração quentinho e leve pelo o que se leu? Foi esse o meu sentimento ao chegar à última página do livro e até agora ainda não saber ao certo como explicar o que gostei no livro, mas vou tentar.

À princípio, Nowhere on Earth não tem nada de muito chamativo. A história de uma garota acompanhada do irmão e de um piloto de avião que ficam perdidos nas montanhas do Alaska após a queda do avião não parece uma história que traga muita pretensão, certo? Mas o livro foi muito bem avaliado aqui no NetGalley e os elogios eram quase tão únicos que tive que ler para tirar a prova do porquê, e o que encontrei foi uma leitura que começou confusa e permaneceu assim nos primeiros capítulos, mas que tão logo se mostrou à que veio e para onde estava indo, eu não consegui parar de ler. De ontem para hoje foram mais de 100 páginas devoradas na necessidade de saber o que mais ia acontecer aos personagens. Personagens estes que eu comecei a leitura sem conseguir me apegar a eles, mas que acabaram me cativando em algum momento, não sei bem especificar qual, apenas que desde que isso aconteceu, a leitura passou a fluir mais ainda.

Emily foi uma protagonista tão diferente do que eu esperava à princípio, pelos primeiros capítulos, e até entre todos os livros que já li. Ela se destaca facilmente pela sagacidade, inteligência, pensamento crítico e calculista que tanto são coerentes com a idade dela, sendo uma adolescente, como pela criação que ela teve com os pais. Me apeguei à ela de um jeito tão inesperado e torci tanto por ela em sua jornada que por si só, já recomendaria o livro facilmente. Por outro lado, também tivemos outros ótimos personagens, como o Aiden, nosso então garoto alienígena que não se destaca muito no início, mas que lá pela metade do livro já começa a se fazer mais presente e a nos cativar de igual modo que Emily. Cada fala dele era tão única, um misto de criança com adulto pelas mentes e lembranças lidas dos outros, mas ao mesmo tempo tendo suas próprias opiniões e ideias tão firmes de uma forma tão singela mas por vezes bonita que eu me pegava refletindo sobre o que ele falava em vários momentos. Até Bob, o piloto, tem seu destaque nesse trio principal da história, aos poucos passando de um mero piloto até realmente entrar nos planos de Emily e Aiden e ajudá-los da forma que pode e até mesmo até ter diálogos bem legais com os dois. Eu não esperava muito dele em particular, mas fico feliz de ter sido surpreendida.

Na verdade, eu fui surpreendida por muita coisa nesse livro, inclusive pelos pais da Emily, que mesmo após a imagem um tanto quanto reticente que eu tinha deles por algumas falas e atitudes deles lembradas por Emily e narrados em alguns capítulos até a metade do livro, eles acabaram se mostrando muito além do "rótulo" e se fizeram muito presentes por ela quando precisava e quando realmente procuraram entender a filha que tinham - e que mesmo tendo suas diferenças se comparada à elas, ainda tinha muitas semelhanças com eles da mesma forma. E o que falar sobre a mensagem que paira no livro e que fica ao final? Quem diria que uma teoria tão simples teria um impacto tão grande na leitura! E na vida da própria Emily e na do Bob, que precisaram sofrer uma queda de avião, passar por maus bocados numa aventura pelas montanhas do A|laska, até inclusive quase serem mortos, para perceberem algo óbvio e que por vezes não reparamos na correria e pressões a que somos submetidos no dia-a-dia.

Nowhere on Earth acaba sendo muito mais do que a sinopse dá a entender, e essa é uma das graças do livro que, mesmo sem a pretensão de ser o melhor livro e blá blá blá, consegue se destacar e ser um daqueles livros que nos marcam por pouco e por muito ao mesmo tempo, e que passe o tempo que for, continuaremos lembrando, se não da própria história, mas de seus personagens e da mensagem real e bonita que ela passa.

Emily Perez and her little brother Aidan stow away on a plane that crashes in Alaska. Good thing Emily’s military parents have taught her to hunt, how to build fires and shelter, and how to forage for food - at 16, Emily is better at taking care of herself than most adults.
Their endeavor to survive the brutal Alaskan wilderness gets a lot more complicated with the appearance of Men In Black, which raises the stakes and proves that not everything is as it seems.
In Nowhere On Earth Emily has to come to terms with her anger and resentment towards her parents after being uprooted from their home in Minnesota. Her perception of the adults around her changes and she’s able to perceive them as human beings with flaws that are trying their best to keep their family safe.
Something that sets this apart from other YA titles, is the reintroduction of the parents midway through the story, which allows Emily to see her parents in a light that young people don’t tend to be able to understand until they’re older.
The fast paced, action packed climax of the novel ended up leading us to a quiet but satisfying conclusion, if stunted by the final short chapters.
Nowhere On Earth is a story about family and about being human.
Note: Reads strongly middle grade, though I can see how the guns would have bump up the rating.

This was an unusual read. The story line was a bit out there. However, it was a good read. There were no typos that I noticed. The plot evolved quite nicely. The characters were realistic and I felt connected to them. I think I will look for more of Mr. Lakes books. This is definitely not my normal read but I did like it.
Emily and Aidan were trying to get to Anchorage and stowed away on a plane. That plane crashed. Along with the pilot, Bob, the brother and sister set off to walk to civilization. Soon into the journey, the men in black appear and now the trio is trying to out run them.

Nowhere on Earth by Nick Lake
Rating: ★★★★
Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I went into this book knowing absolutely nothing about it. I hadn't heard about it until the ARC landed in my lap with its shiny purple cover. I never expected to get hooked as quickly as I did. I'm all for survival stories - it's kind of my thing (much like our main character Emily, I grew up with a military veteran father that taught me a ton of random survivalist knowledge and tips.)

I wasn't expecting the whole alien and "men in black" twist when I dove into the story - that's what I get for not reading the synopsis first, but that actually made for a more interesting reading adventure!

Nowhere on Earth is a brilliant coming-of-age story with a dash of sci-fi here, and a dash of survival there, and a sprinkling of familial love to top it all off. What a great novel!

I'm not really sure how I felt about this book. I felt the book dragged on, It was a good read though, I would recommend it to someone.

I loved this book. It did feel a little too short, however that could have very well been due to the fact that I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you, Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book and leave my honest review.

This book, a beautiful bridge between adventure story and science fiction, is both fast-paced and thought-provoking. While the protagonist is a high-school aged young woman, the rugged race-to-survive should appeal to all readers, The plot centers around love: love for family, love for those we protect, and ultimately self-love and self-acceptance. In the meantime, there are wild animals, gunshots, and explosions.
While the book is generally a page-turner, it does take a long time for the science fiction elements to truly shine. Reading the back cover gives away much of the developing plot, a mystery better left to the reader to discover. The effervescent ending, though it goes a bit too long, is a beautiful payoff for the cloud of danger all the characters face through most of the book.
This is a book I will be thinking about for a long time. I will recommend it to all teens and young-adult readers, and to the young at heart.

So, I love Nick Lake this time around. And I say that NOT to be flip or silly, but because I just never know. I heard so many great things about "In Darkness," so I grabbed it the first time I could and I thought I'd inhale it. But I didn't. I didn't even finish it actually. It never grabbed me I suppose. Then, "There Will Be Lies" came into my world and I was determined to finish it just to see how it ended. And I promptly gave it a 3.
Then came "Hostage 3" and it was like I was transformed into a Nick Lake Lover. I totally dug the storyline and the ending, even though every single other person to whom I recommend this book wants to kill me when they finish! Big ol' 4!
And then "Satellite?" Would have grabbed a solid, resounding 5 if not for the format, which is just not my gig. But the story was all kinds of cool and I truly dug it.
And "Nowhere On Earth" is just like that again. It's a solid 4 with a satisfying story and an interesting story. I also like the way the characters develop, though they do it through flashbacks and forward and all over the place. It's cool.