Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King

Description:

Lucky Linderman didn't ask for his life. He didn't ask his grandfather not to come home from the Vietnam War. He didn't ask for a father who never got over it. He didn't ask for a mother who keeps pretending their family is fine. And he certainly didn't ask to be the recipient of Nadar McMillan's relentless bullying, which has finally gone too far.

Lucky has a secret—one that helps him wade through the daily dysfunction of his life. Grandad Harry, trapped in the jungles of Laos, has been visiting Lucky in his dreams—and the dreams just might be real: an alternate reality where he can be whoever he wants to be and his life might still be worth living. But how long can Lucky remain in hiding there before reality forces its way inside?

Printz Honor recipient A. S. King's distinctive, smart, and accessible writing shines in this powerful novel about learning to cope with the shrapnel life throws at you, and then taking a stand against it.

Epic Wins:

• Lucky- He's a good kid who is a little lost, confused, and broken but he is trying to get to better ground. He was funny too, you know if your into that thing.
• The ants were very sarcastic and basically a reality check for Lucky. I rather agree with Lucky when he said that sometime there job looked fun.
• Ginny- Best described as a kindness ninja :D She really helps Lucky grow and changes his life for the better. I loved that she knew she was better than just her hair. 
• I loved all the little chuckle moments planted all over in the book, whether the ants or Lucky himself. They made a slightly dark topic come into some light.
• Granddad Harry- I almost want to say that he was Lucky's conscience. He was always so patient with Lucky and the people around him, a truly wise man.  
• The whole book is about growing up and dealing with your problems head on. Oh and about turtles and squids!!
• Aunt Jodi- Yes she is a nutter and probably takes too many pills but her heart is in the right place and sometimes that is enough.
• Uncle Dave- I liked him to begin with and I still think he taught lucky something. In the end his true colors seemed to show.
• Lucky gets a scar and as it heals he says it looks like the shape of certain states. It was funny because he would say stuff like I looked at Ohio in the mirror.

Epic Fails

• Nader rules the world of fails. He is a creepy psycho bully who scars the outside and the inside. 

Overall:
A funny book about a boy with a state shaped scar,the people who helped the boy grow, and  ants that have the funnest jobs.


just sayin, 
-Kare