Alone

Throughout Alone, books and libraries symbolize Maddie’s growing knowledge, resourcefulness, and research skills, as well as companionship and even spirituality. Once 12-year-old Maddie is left alone with no internet or electricity, the library becomes an invaluable resource to her, assisting her in several aspects of her survival. Maddie locates and reads nonfiction books to learn how to build a fire, how to grow a garden of fresh vegetables, and how to safely handle a gun and improve her aim to reliably hit a target. Although Maddie possessed certain camping and survival skills prior to the evacuation, she is able to fill in gaps in her knowledge thanks to the information found in library books. In this way, books are one avenue for Maddie’s resourcefulness, allowing her to procure food, shelter, and safety.

Books and libraries have additional significance for Maddie beyond helping her survive in basic, literal ways. Maddie ultimately finds the challenge of feeding and housing herself and George to pale in comparison to the challenge of enduring loneliness and isolation. She starts to view the library as her “book church,” a place of great spiritual significance and nourishment. She especially looks for books with photographs of the author on the cover, referring to the books by the first name of their authors, such as “Mary” or “Emily.