Reviews

Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King

lertsek's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5/5

rmrhodes's review against another edition

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This may be the first (and only?) book I've read exploring maladaptive daydreaming (I assume that's what it was) but:

1: Why would a parent take their child to a place where their bully works and spend like, half a day everyday there? 
2: Therapy, everyone needs therapy
3: Is he magicking items out of his daydreams or is he hallucinating? 
4: I don't like how the answer to bullying is "work out, gain muscle and confidence and stand up to them one time and then watch a bigger (adult??) bully beat them up too 

trisha_thomas's review against another edition

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4.0

Another amazing [a:A.S. King|1651879|A.S. King|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1323437957p2/1651879.jpg] story. One so quirky and unique and lovely and heartbreaking.

Around page 205, my heart literally broke. I had to put the book down.

It's so subtle. One moment, you are just getting to know Lucky and his squid mom and turtle dad. And crazy aunt and cool uncle Dave, jerk Nader and ninja Ginny.

Next you are living his crazy life and holding your breath for every dream that Lucky might have - one more glimpse of his grandpa and what he will bring home.

This story is so simple and yet so complex. There are such a mix of themes that it will take me a few days to fully realize the complete impact of this one. Between Ginny and her statements, his Grandpa's wise words and even Lucky's own experiences. It was just an amazing adventure to read.

kinakule's review against another edition

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5.0

I've never been on drugs, but I feel like if I had, this book would be even trippier

renbyskates's review against another edition

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4.0

The concept of the ants it's amazing, I would have never thought of this before but I love it and even more because it's true everybody sees the ants, everybody has this inner thoughts that you want to say but don't end up saying.
I do have to say that Lucky lives under terrible circunstances and I admire him very much for being able to still go on with life even if he prefers to live in his dreams.

This book is totally re-read material and I hope that time comes soon.

piddlepiddle's review

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3.0

The last ~80-100 pages really got me. A.S. King writes such unputdownable books man

ficklefever's review against another edition

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4.0

i think i just realized why i love a.s. king books so much: she takes the beauty of magical realism and puts it into the YA contemporary world.

camellott_'s review

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5.0

I. loved. this. book.

Everybody Sees the Ants is the story of a boy named Lucky, whose life isn't so great. His dad is a turtle, his mother is a squid, and his grandfather has never returned from the Vietnam War. And on top of that, he has been bullied for a long time, by the evil Nader McMillan.
But Lucky has a secret to get him out of this torture--he escapes to the war-ridden jungles of Laos, where his grandfather is still trapped.

I don't have anything to say about this book besides the fact that it is amazing. The characters are fresh, and I honestly felt really sorry for Lucky and what he was going through--I never feel really sorry for characters. His emotions are just so real, and I cannot emphasize that enough. It's like...well, it's explainable what it's like. I just felt for him, you know?
I enjoyed every time he visited his grandfather in his dreams, when he visited his aunt and uncle in Arizona, and how he made a friend who was really nice to him, while out in Arizona. Gah, I just enjoyed it all.

(This review is weird and I apologize)

minemourik's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I read this book when I was 14, read it again now 10 years later and I hope to read it again in 10 years. Beautiful. 

annaptobias's review against another edition

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4.0

I kind of hate nursing school (and especially the psychiatric rotation) because I couldn't read this book without diagnosing Lucky, his mom, Jodi, and Nader.