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EVERYBODY SEES THE ANTS by A. S. King


copyright date:  October 2011
primarily marketed for: young adults (high school)

Everybody Sees the Ants by A. S. King is unlike anything else I have ever read.  Lucky’s story has lingered in my mind long after I put the book down. 

{The ants cheer.}

Lucky Linderman has been ruthlessly bullied by Nader McMillan since second grade.  Needless to say, high school is not a pleasant experience for him. 

His mother is a squid; she swims laps to escape reality. 

His father is a turtle; he works long hours at his restaurant to escape reality.   

His grandfather fought in the Vietnam War and never returned.  He is officially listed as Prisoner of War/Missing in Action. 

When Lucky’s grandmother died, she charged him with the duty of continuing the search for his missing grandfather. 

The book covers a summer in Lucky’s life when the bullying reaches a point where it can no longer be ignored, the coolness between his parents is about to ice over, and a joke at school has caused suspicions that he is suicidal.  In an effort to address all three issues at once, Lucky and his mom take off to stay with her brother and sister-in-law in Arizona. 

In Arizona, Lucky’s life becomes increasingly more complicated and crazy, but somehow finds a way of working itself out in the process.

What drew me into this book more than the story itself, though, is the manner in which it is told.  There is a very dry, witty, humor to King’s writing, especially through some elements of fantasy that she threads throughout the story. 

For instance, Lucky continuously observes a swarm of ants reacting to events in his life.  Their responses are most often amusing, and offer subtle, yet straightforward, insight into Lucky’s character. 

In addition, Lucky has dreams throughout the book in which he travels to the Vietnamese jungle to locate his grandfather.  He speaks to his grandfather each night through these dreams, and often wakes up with objects pulled straight from the dream into his reality. 

All of this bizarre craft makes Everybody Sees the Ants a book that will make you think long after you finish the story.  It is bullying story meets family drama meets war story meets fantasy meets light romance.  And it is worth reading.

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  1. Deb DayMay 7, 2012 at 9:20 AM

    Sounds weirdly amazing. I'll have to add it to my list! Missing your voice. Hope all is well

    ReplyDelete

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