The Dead and the Gone

“But the moon was supposed to get hit tonight by an asteroid or something. One of my teachers mentioned it. She was going to a meteor party in Central Park to watch.”

This statement, spoken by Bri to Alex, illustrates that the characters know that an asteroid is going to hit the moon but do not expect this collision to have negative consequences for Earth. In fact, the characters are so confident that they’re safe that some choose to gather in Central Park to watch the event. This statement exemplifies dramatic irony, as the reader knows that dire consequences are coming for the characters, but the characters themselves don’t realize it yet.

“Alex began to wonder if he was still asleep. None of this seemed real, except for the reports of Aunt Lorraine’s hysteria.”

Reality starts to sink in for Alex. While he hopes for a quick recovery after the asteroid hits the moon, he slowly realizes that the situation might be more serious than he first suspected. Conflict and tension are also starting to build. Alex doesn’t know where Mami and Papi are or what is going to happen to him and his sisters, but he realizes that he is now the head of the family and that it is up to him to ensure their safety and survival. It is ironic that Alex laughs about Aunt Lorraine’s hysteria, yet she is the one who first realizes the seriousness of the situation.