Book #16 of 2016. 
 I liked this book more than I thought I would. I don't know exactly why I thought I would dislike it; afterall, I am a sucker for any post-apocalyptic tales, and this one is fairly realistic. Mullin clearly did some research about the Yellowstone caldera and the aftermath of volcanic eruptions to make sure that everything that happened was realistic. 
 Our main characters are lucky, but not too lucky. Alex's biggest stroke of luck was running into Darla, whom I would pick as an ally in a disaster any day. I love that we have a girl who is comfortable being smarter and more hardworking than anyone around her, plus she is a mechanic and inventor. Plus, she appears to understand that she does not have to define herself by what has happened to her and she is confident in her sexuality. This is rare for a YA novel. Alex has his assets too, but they are less fun in my opinion. 
 I thought Ashfall really hit its stride once Darla was incorporated into the crew. Before that, it follows a fairly predictable pattern-- something good will happen, something bad will happen, repeat as needed. After Darla (AD?), things become grayer, even as the ashfall lightens up. These moments are more compelling, and I was never sure what to expect. 
 This was recommended to me by a student, but by no means would I universally recommend this to middle schoolers. Ashfall does not shy away from sex; however, it also never veers into anything graphic. The "fade to black" method is appropriately used here. 
 I will definitely seek out the sequel.