Hutchinson, Shaun David. We Are the Ants. 464p. ebook available. Simon Pulse. Jan. 2016. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978148144963210.

Gr 9 Up– Henry’s life is complicated. His previous boyfriend committed suicide without warning or explanation. His jerk brother’s girlfriend is pregnant. His nana has Alzheimer’s. And his new boyfriend refuses to acknowledge their relationship, instead humiliating and attacking him publicly. Henry is also haunted by questions about why his father left and if Henry himself is culpable. This is all further complicated by the fact that he is regularly abducted by aliens who drop him off naked in various locations throughout the city. The aliens offer Henry the opportunity to save the world from obliteration by simply pressing a red button. The catch? Henry isn’t so sure it’s worth saving. Hutchinson’s voice rings true. This work effectively combines the best of elements of Nick Burd’s The Vast Fields of Ordinary (Dial, 2009) with hints of Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five. VERDICT Angst-loving teens will devour this lengthy tome, yearning to see if Henry can consummate a new romance. Highly recommended.–Leah Krippner, Harlem High School, Machesney Park, IL