Reviews with content warning for Sexual harassment - We Are the Ants

DO NOT read this book if you are suicidal. DO NOT read this book if you are depressed. DO NOT read this book if you are lonely. DO NOT read this book If you are anything but mentally stable. There were 2-3 points in this book where I was willing him to suicide, to just end it all. There were points in this book where I wanted to jump in and slap some characters, and hug other ones. I don't know how the author managed it, but this book filled me with such strong emotions, such feeing of helplessness, such feeling of frustration at the protagonist, yet sympathising with him.

This book was definitely not a sci fi at all, so don't go into it expecting it to be, as I did and it's why I was a little let down, but the book was good nonetheless. It's more of a look into the psychology into this depressed teen boy whose boyfriend committed suicide.

Some people might consider this a spoiler, I don't, so read if you want to:

On a different note, even though I was constantly feeling bad for Henry but at the same time felt like he sort of deserved it because he was victimising himself so much, not even TRYING to fight back. He could've had a much much better life much more easily had he tried to stand up for himself even once. I liked the book but don't get me started on the kisses. They were so cringe that let's just ignore them. 😬

Overall, a good book but not the best I've ever read. Definitely look up the trigger warnings.

Content Warnings

reeseyyy's review

Go to review page

dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Oh my gosh this was so well written.

We are the Ants is a very dark, but touching story of a young teenager, named Henry Denton, who lost someone very close to him, and never fully dealt with it. The way Hutchinson brings in science fiction to (what seems like) a completely normal world amazes me to this day. The author makes every character seen in their own struggles, even ones that not everyone will like. Reading the story unfold made me feel like henry was truly telling his story, and we got to watch him finally accept himself.

Witnessing how characters like Marcus would act towards “space boy” is definitely a terrible thing to witness, however the way Hutchinson handled it was very well written. Anyone reading could tell that Marcus was not a good person, but we all still feel bad for him because he’s not where he needs to be with himself in life. (however the Marcus on the football field makes me hate him.)

Audrey and Diego both gave Henry so much hope that he needed from losing Jesse. I mean, is the world really worth saving if Henry lost the one thing that made life seem beautiful? The question: Should he press the button? Henry had every right to ask everyone if they would press the button. The world can be a terrible place, and saving it could cause so much hurt towards others. His brother’s wife losing her child, or just Jesse losing himself. Henry could be portrayed as a someone evil human, but all he was was struggling to figure out how to handle himself and his own life.

Did he really get abducted? Henry sending in his journal to his science teacher shows how much he grew throughout the story. Diego or Audrey wasn’t the only reason he was saved, he was the person who allowed himself to overcome his own obstacles. Now towards the end the readers can believe that he wasn’t really abducted and that that was his way of giving himself something else in his mind, but no one will really know.

The end. The last sentence in the book. This is what got me. It is such a moving line that really concluded the whole story and what it was sending out as a message. “We are the ants and we’re still marching along”. We are all ants in this huge world but we all have a small part and will continue to march along and play it. It was such a sweet way to end the book and that is one of the reasons I love it.

Overall I love love love this book and will definitely read it again. If you are struggling or just need something to read I would 100 percent recommend this, however it is very powerful so make sure you’re in the right headspace.

TW: Suicide, Bullying, Sexual Assault

Content Warnings