We Are the Ants: Shaun David Hutchinson

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The ending of this book reminded me of the ending of We All Looked Up. We never find out if the world ends or if Henry is just delusional and it was never real, but as Henry says at the end of this book, it doesn't really matter. At the end of the day, that isn't what this story was about. This story is about a teenage boy who is depressed and suicidal but through a series of tragic events, he discovers the meaning of life. I think the ending of this book is absolutely perfect and it gave me goosebumps and I feel really inspired. Can I gush about the fact that everything is beautifully crafted, every event way more complicated than it first appears? Forget the blurb and your - well-deserved - doubts : although Henry's journey is freaking weird, it works wonderfully. Henry is bullied by his fellow classmates—particularly Marcus—and it makes his life miserable. Do you have an anti-bullying initiative at your school? If so, how can you support these efforts? If not, come up with a plan to combat bullying and propose it to your counselor or principal. CW/TW: trauma, grief, mentions of suicide, depression, suicidal ideation, homophobia, bullying, physical violence, sexual violence, assault, abuse, miscarriage/stillbirth

This book is so special. At some parts it seems like every other YA contemporary, but then at some parts it's just so much more. Its touching, deep and really makes you feel. I'm so glad I didn't DNF this, which I was very close to doing.For me...this book is less about being gay -( but Henry is gay), or coming of age - ( but he is still very young), but more about how we deal with grief - at any age!

this book resonated with me more than i thought it would and SDH keeps bumping himself up on my favourite authors list. i cant wait to read more from him! 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.

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i’m genuinely at a loss for words right now, although I just wrote a lot already, but I feel I can't praise th What do Diego’s paintings reveal about his past and his emotional state? Is there another way that Henry could have learned so much about Diego? Does Diego’s painting of Henry capture who he is? If so, how? You may also find that ants have invaded your pantry food items. Except for carpenter ants, most ants don't cause damage to your house. Carpenter ants bore into wood structures, leaving behind little piles of sawdust. Why Do You Get Ants? We Are the Ants begins with a quote by famous sci-fi writer Arthur C. Clarke, “Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” Why do you think the author chose these words to be the first that you see? What does it tell you about the story that is to come? Does your understanding of the quote change throughout the course of the book?

At one point, Henry says that Jesse was “definitely the best of me.” Why would he think that? What do you think is the best part of Henry? What would his friends and family say is his best quality? 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?Depression isn't a war you win. It's a battle you fight every day. You never get to stop, never get to rest. It's one bloody fray after another.“ (S.328) This novel explores the issue of homosexual relationships in a way that is the best I have ever read by not exploring it. Throughout the novel, there is simply an acceptance of Henry's lifestyle choice. His mother accepts it and even wants to have a safe-sex talk with him. Audrey, the closest person to Henry that might be called a girlfriend, accepts Henry's choice. That is probably because she was a best friend to Henry and Jesse before the suicide and she was aware of the boys' relationship. Because Henry blames himself for Jesse's suicide, he has withdrawn from even the platonic relationship he had with Audrey. Audrey is sad about this and tries throughout the story to rekindle their earlier relationship. The reader will learn (not a spoiler) that Audrey also feels guilty because she believes she was the reason for the suicide. Even Henry's grandmother, Nana, accepts Henry's choice when she can remember to think about it. She is suffering from Alzheimer disease; her struggle is an important story-within-a-story and contributes wonderful insights on the progression of life. 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 Ants First of all, I loved Henry's story. It's a mental health plot confined in this weird sci-fi/contemporary hybrid, and even though it's really open-ended, it somehow works. I like the philosophy of "Is the world worth saving?" from the perspective of a depressed teen, and this book is a great reminder of seeing perspective. Although this concept is neat, it isn't entirely new & revolutionary to me. Regardless, Henry's inner turmoil often brought tears to my eyes.