I Am Still Alive

Survival, Rage, and the Will to Live! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review: I Am Still Alive is a raw, relentless survival story that completely pulled me in and never let go. This book isn’t just about surviving the wilderness — it’s about surviving grief, betrayal, and unimaginable loss when the world strips everything away. Jess is fierce, broken, angry, and determined in a way that feels painfully real. Every page carries tension, fear, and the constant fight to stay alive, not just physically but emotionally. The isolation, the danger, and the desperation are palpable, and the author does an incredible job putting you inside Jess’s head as she pushes herself beyond her limits. What made this book stand out for me was how deeply emotional it was alongside the survival elements. This isn’t a feel-good story — it’s gritty, heartbreaking, and empowering all at once. The fear feels real. The trauma lingers. And the strength it takes to keep going is unforgettable. This was a powerful, intense read that stayed with me long after I finished. If you love dark survival stories with high emotional stakes, strong characters, and a relentless sense of danger, this book is absolutely worth reading. Well done!

I love survival books and find it very hard to actually find a good one. However, this one was amazing! I read the top review on here and after reading the book I have absolutely no idea what this person was talking about. They stated that Jess was argumentative and all I have to say is, can you blame her? I actually found it easy to relate to her and didn't find her too argumentative. This person also said that she was making one bad decision after another and I understand what they were talking about but obviously Jess has never been in an extreme survival situation before and didn't know much about the wilderness in general prior to her tragedies. I feel like there were a few things that could have been better regarding the ending and leading up to the ending. Although, everything else was great. My new favorite book! : )

I stumbled into Kate Alice Marshall on Kindle Unlimited. Her books tend to be sort of gothic-romance teen literature, way outside my normal interests. But her writing is so good. She reminds me of Dick Francis in the way she can instantly and smoothly grab your attention. This early book is not gothic or romance. It’s a great adventure novel, a bit like King’s The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon. I literally couldn’t put it down, reading it non-stop until 4 AM. I recommend it for any reader.

This one was a bit hard to get in to at first, it starts off pretty slow and the MC is pretty frustrating at times. But once it picks up after a couple chapters it gets pretty good! Glad I stuck with it.

I loved this book so much. I wanted the main character Jess to survive so badly that I kept reading about what she was going through every time I should have put the book down to do something in the "real" world. I just needed to know how Jess was going to get through the next near-death experience! The forest was out to kill her. So were the animals in it and the people her father had gotten involved with. She was totally isolated. Not like a hundred miles from anyone else, but HUNDREDS of miles away from anyone being able to save her. Every time she survived a horrible accident or encounter, I was sure (because this was what always seemed to happen) that she would soon be attacked by a grizzly or fall through ice on a frozen lake or get swarmed by bees. "I Am Still Alive" is an amazing story of endurance. It seemed realistic, too. Jess has no superpowers. She's just a person who has to decide every day if she wants to live and then make that happen. Her tale is gripping. So is this book.

I love survival stories, and have since I was a teen searching through the YA section for every one I could pick up. I AM STILL ALIVE is a wonderful addition to the genre, and I loved Jess. I loved her resourcefulness, her somber voice, but most of all how she coped with her injuries and weakness and acknowledged that there were things she couldn't do, was angry about that, and used her strengths to compensate for what she couldn't do physically. Plus, the story itself is harrowing, with all the great survival elements I always love. But mostly, thank God we get a badass girl who gets to survive through the elements. Definitely recommended!

Interesting book!

This book was recommended to me by my brother, the author's grandfather. That makes me her aunt and wanting to support her I bought the book and read it (maybe even felt a little obligated). I was a little hesitant as I don't usually read YA. You can tell we are a family of readers, so I feel that I am qualified to compare and critique. The bottom line, I am so glad I read it! I found it hard to put down. In the beginning I thought it was just another book about a kid from a divorced family ticked at her dad. I soon found out It was so much more than that. Kate kept the story at a constant, moving pace and easy to follow. After reading the Donner Party book not long ago, this book reminded me of the hardships faced when living in the wilderness without adequate skills or equipment. The main character is a 16 year old, physically challenged, out of her element and she survives. I think Jess displayed guts, hard work and a lot of soul searching. Good job!!

A quick and enjoyable read. I am a fan of the TV series "Alone" and so enjoy surival stories in the wild.

In Australia we have a saying great yarn. A story that had you continuously reading until the end,could not put it down. What else could happen to this poor girl at 16 years of age

Not a bad story. Centres around a teen surviving the wilderness.

I loved this book , I couldn't put it down. I almost felt the cold she was feeling the whole time I was reading.

good for a 12-15 year old range