In an unnamed town where "indie kids" are busy fighting supernatural soul-eating Immortals, Mikey Mitchell just wants to graduate and work up the courage to ask out his crush, Henna. While blue light flickers in the distance and the chosen ones face apocalyptic stakes, Mikey deals with practical realities: his sister’s recovery from an eating disorder, his political father’s neglect, and his own spiraling obsessive-compulsive disorder. Each chapter begins with a brief summary of the epic fantasy battle happening elsewhere, but the narrative focuses strictly on the mundane lives of those who aren't preordained heroes.
This book is for readers tired of chosen-one tropes who prefer character-driven stories about ordinary internal struggles. It appeals to people who value the quiet endurance required to survive high school and mental health challenges rather than world-ending catastrophes. Readers finish the book with an appreciation for the importance of "unexceptional" lives. It clarifies that managing a personal crisis or maintaining a friendship can be as significant as saving the world, validating the experiences of those left in the background of typical young adult adventures.
Inward-looking; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2015
- Language
- EN
