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fiendfull's review
5.0
How To Get Over the End of the World is a young adult novel about trans teenagers coming together to raise money through a rock opera whilst some of them see visions that are trying to prevent climate destruction. James is a messy gay trans senior who is ignoring high school to focus on keeping the local LGBTQ+ youth space, Compton House, open, alongside his best friends, who are forming a band and dealing with their own stuff. When James meets Orsino, a trans boy having visions of the future, the two of them seem to be able to share this look at escaping destruction, but to make a difference, they all need to navigate the messy world of being queer teens.
Having read Schrieve's previous book Out of Salem (and following hir on social media), I was looking to this one, and it doesn't disappoint. It's quite a different book, far less focused on the otherworldly elements (to me) than the interpersonal dramas and realities of being a queer teenager that is part of various friendship groups, support groups, and "scenes", and this is what makes it so powerful. The style of writing, and the moving between three different points of view, really immerses you in the world of these characters and the ways in which they miscommunicate, try hard and not enough, and navigate the messiness of queer teenage life. Everything is fast-paced and Schrieve really pulls you along for the ride, not explaining everything but letting you feel as inside and outside of things as a lot of the teenagers do.
The characters are far more flawed and interesting than in a lot of books aimed at similar readers, making a lot of mistakes and having to learn that you can't always see yourself as the protagonist of everything because other people matter too. James in particular is at a real point of self-discovery as he explores the excitement and frustrations of being almost an adult, but not quite (and his friends express when he needs to be better to them). At the centre is a love triangle that is, as it is hard not to keep saying in this review, messy, but in a way that isn't annoying or forced, and it is woven into the entire plot. The inclusion of adults who are complex in their relationships with the teenagers is also a nice detail, bringing in some of the questions around how community support can push against personal circumstances.
This is a purposefully weird and messy book that revels in not just being another paint-by-numbers queer teenagers book, but instead mixes speculative elements (to a level that I as someone who doesn't really like sci-fi or fantasy felt was ideal) with the punk DIY queer scene. It's bold and fun, with some great characters, and like Out of Salem, may be aimed at teens but is great for adults too.
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