One Crow Alone - Sophie Crockett

One Crow Alone by Sophie Crockett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"They say it's going to get worse. That it's not going to end." The snow won't stop falling in this dangerous-new-world prequel to AFTER THE SNOW.

'The long, bitter winters are getting worse, and a state of emergency has been declared across Europe. In Poland, the villagers are subject to frequent power cuts and fuel shortages. After the death of her grandmother and the evacuation of her village, fifteen-year-old Magda joins forces with the arrogant, handsome Ivan and smuggles her way onto a truck bound for London - where she hopes to find her mother. But London, when they reach it, is a nightmarish world, far from welcoming. Riots are commonplace and the growing chaos is exploited by criminals and terrorists alike. Magda's mother is not to be found, and as the lost girl struggles to come to terms with her changing situation, she eventually becomes friends with a rag-tag group of travellers planning a new home and future. They will need all the cunning and know-how they possess as they realise that the frozen wilderness of Britain has become just as lawless as the city.'


I was sent this from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

When I was sent this book I thought it looked really interesting. It wasn't something that I would normally read but I was looking forward to it.

'One Crow Alone' is about a girl called Magda a Polish girl who discovers that her village has been abandoned, with the country in a state of emergency because of the weather and no family left, she decides to make the journey to London to find her mother who is working there. Along the way she meets a boy who tags along for the journey.

When I began reading the book I realised that this is the prequel of 'After the Snow'. I had not read this so read 'One Crow Alone' in isolation. Sometimes I think that it is better to read a prequel first as you have no preconceived ideas about the characters.

'One Crow Alone' I felt was a little out of my comfort zone, I don't normally read dystopian novels or stories set in different worlds. I feel that this book crossed over into this genre, I struggled with this concept personally as I kept trying to make sense of things. At points I felt the story had been set in the past but then there were comments that made it seem as if it was in the future, such as electric cars..

I loved Magda as a character, I felt that she was very real, I felt like I was with her in her head and really felt for her. Her character was well developed, the only negative I would say about Magda is that at times I felt she could be naive, saying this she was sixteen and many sixteen year olds can be naive at times. Being an older reader, however it was a little frustrating as you could see things that were going to happen and you just wanted to shout at her, such as the man with the car...

Personally I struggled a little with the concept of this book as I think it was out of my comfort zone, saying this I think it was cleverly written and looking back I understand why the author structured the book in this way. I also realised once finishing that I had enjoyed the book more than I originally thought, it has stayed with me a long time after I had finished the book.

While reading the book the descriptions of the setting and emotions were beautiful, I found that it is a very descriptive and vivid book. You felt like you were in the room with Magda, or hiding in the cupboard with Alice.

After reading 'One Crow Alone' I would be interested in reading 'After the Snow' and think if you have not read 'After the Snow' I would encourage you to read this one first.

I would recommend this as a good cultural novel, it covers the struggle for some migrants to relocate, highlights to teenagers that we are not all as lucky, some of us have to work very hard in order to make something of our lives and teaches you to be grateful for what you have got.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me this to review.