Most people probably believe they would have pressed the button in my situation—nobody wants the world to end, right?—but the truth is that nothing is as simple as it seems. Turn on the news; read some blogs. The world is a shit hole, and I have to consider whether it might be better to wipe the slate clean and give the civilization that evolves from the ashes of our bones a chance to get it right." This book has some messages. They're not obvious or loud, but they're subtle. It made me so happy. There was no coming out scene. In an ideal world nobody has to "come out". The baby's room wasn't painted in pink just because it was a girl. In an ideal world nobody forces colours to be gender-specified. The principal, physics teacher and police officer weren't all white and male. In an ideal world positions of power are equally represented by all genders and races. Consider your life for a moment. Think about all those little rituals that sustain you throughout your day—from the moment you wake up until that last, lonely midnight hour when you guzzle a gallon of NyQuil to drown out the persistent voice in your head. The one that whispers you should give up, give in, that tomorrow won’t be better than today. Think about the absurdity of brushing your teeth, of arguing with your mother over the appropriateness of what you’re wearing to school, of homework, of grade-point averages and boyfriends and hot school lunches. You can try to eliminate or discourage ants by digging up the nest or soaking it with warm, soapy water.

We Are the Ants] is a book about more than love and loss; it’s about struggling to find motivation and not taking the people in your life for granted. A beautiful, masterfully told story by someone who is at the top of his craft.” I also appreciated how this isn’t a case of love-fixes-everything. Diego is an important part of the plot, and a developed character, but meeting him isn’t necessarily what fundamentally changes Henry’s world, like the blurb suggests. Instead, Henry has to determine his own world-view and make his own decision about the save-the-world-button. That's not to say that the book is a total downer. There were many moments that made me smile and laugh, and moments that touched my heart and made me even cry good tears (as opposed to the ugly ones I cried at other times). I haven't ever read anything that Shaun David Hutchinson has written before, but after this, rest assured I will. This is such an inventive, moving, beautiful book I feel utterly privileged to have read. I won't soon forget it. First of all, the character development in this book is one of the best I've seen. The characters have so much depth to them at the end than when they were first introduced in the book. It's utterly brilliant how the author has managed to paint such complex, yet relatable characters, with all their struggles and hardships and yet not making them too monotonous. I love when books explore the relationship of teenagers with their parents, I feel so many books fail to explore this aspect of teenage life. Henry's relationship with his mom, his grandma and his brother is a thing to be adored. What do you make of the document that Henry turned in for his Chemistry extra credit assignment? Why did he turn that in? Is this what Ms. Faraci had in mind for the assignment? Was Henry emotionally ready at the beginning of the story to share his thoughts and experiences with his teacher?

About the author

the fact that i enjoyed a book about aliens makes me worried that i was abducted and brainwashed by aliens. lol. So wonderful. He says he has ADHD. He was an average kid in school. One of the themes in is books is that his main character is average who is presented with extraordinary things to do. He wants to give the nerds a place to shine in the world.

Sometimes I think gravity may be death in disguise. Other times I think gravity is love, which is why love's only demand is that we fall.” The material "is patently offensive in the description or depiction of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, sadomasochistic abuse, or excretion" [18] The book opens with Henry telling us about the aliens. The aliens who have abducted him several times, conducted experiments on him, and finally given him the ultimate choice. The world is going to end, but pushing a button will stop it - will Henry find reason to save the world?This is one of the books I recommend highly for all ages (mostly 12 and up). Young people will empathize with the depictions of classroom life. The sexual angle is done with no sleaze and no unnecessary referencing. The importance of strong family relationships is emphasized even though Henry's family appears to be the definition of dysfunctional. Not that I would know. I have never been, nor wanted to be, popular. Popularity is the reason Marcus ridicules me in public and makes out with me when we're alone". You asked for a story, so here it is. I’ll begin with the night the sluggers told me the world was toast, and when I’m finished, we can wait for the end together.

How does Nana describe her Alzheimer’s disease? How does Henry feel about her decline? What effect does her disease have on the different members of Henry’s family? There are some really great “outtakes.” These are chapters depicting how Planet Earth might disappear for reasons other than Henry failing to hit the Big Red Button. In 2022, We Are the Ants was listed among 52 books banned by the Alpine School District following the implementation of Utah law H.B. 374, “Sensitive Materials In Schools." [16] Forty-two percent of removed books “feature LBGTQ+ characters and or themes.” [17] [16] Many of the books were removed because they were considered to contain pornographic material according to the new law, which defines porn using the following criteria: Must I mention the splendid characterization that gives life to these flawed, multi-layered and endearing human beings, whose relationships are pictured in such honest and real way? Speaking of which, do you know why I think that Shaun David Hutchinson shows so much talent when creating his characters? Because albeit begrudgingly, I can't hate any member of Henry's family - they're messed-up sometimes, but oh, how they ring true! Their struggles, their reluctances, their mistakes - none of them can hide the profound love they feel for each others, even if they don't always know how to show that yes, they do care. Also, Diego. Gah. I won't say much and let you discover this hopeful wonder of a boy by yourself but trust me, he won't let you indifferent. Ants begin their lives as eggs about the size of a period at the end of a sentence. Some eggs are used as food, while others hatch into larvae. Larvae eat and grow rapidly, molting as their size increases. When larvae grow large enough, they metamorphize into pupae. Pupae look more like adult ants, although their legs and antennae remain folded against their bodies, and they're lighter in color. Eventually, they'll emerge as adults and fulfill their role in the colony. Depending on the species, the entire process can take several weeks to several months. Types of AntsWe Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson is a remarkable account about the coming of age of Henry Jerome Denton from his perspective as a much-persecuted 13-year-old. The reader will have to read most of the novel before discovering the complete name of this protagonist. Through most of the novel, he will be identified with the name “Space Boy,” a title he despises. This is not a whining, complaining account; it is delivered more from a position of resignation, hints of despair, and an acceptance of the inevitability that the world will end on 29 January 2016. Since that is a given, absolutely nothing that happens prior to that point has any meaning. The only possible alternative will occur if the aliens convince Space Boy to hit the Big Red Button. Without Henry's agreement to do this, planet Earth will cease to exist.