Alex Halprin

Alex Halprin is the fifteen year-old (later sixteen year-old) main character, narrator, and principal protagonist of Mike Mullin's novel, Ashfall. Alex is an ordinary teenager who spends most of his time playing video games and hanging out with friends. A resident of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Alex has a younger sister named Rebecca, and stays home for the weekend alone because he doesn't want to go for a trip with his family to his uncle's farm in Illinois. Alex is also a black belt taekwando expert. Alex is at home when the Yellowstone Supervolcano erupts, debris from which smashes apart his house and nearly kills him. From there, he is taken in for a few days by his neighbors, but when violent thugs are killed breaking into their house, he sets out on his own.

Alex scavenges for food and supplies as he goes, and has a run-in...