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Everybody Sees the Ants: A Novel
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Everybody Sees the Ants: A Novel
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Everybody Sees the Ants: A Novel
Audiobook7 hours

Everybody Sees the Ants: A Novel

Written by A.S. King

Narrated by Kirby Heyborne

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

Lucky Linderman doesn't want to wake up. . . .

Lucky Linderman has been the target of Nader McMillan's relentless bullying for as long as he can remember. But he has a secret-one that helps him wade through the mundane torture of his life. In his dreams, Lucky escapes to the war-ridden jungles of Laos, where his grandfather, who never came home from the Vietnam War, is still trapped. There, Lucky can be a real man and maybe even a hero. But how long can he keep hiding in his dreams before reality forces its way inside? Printz Honor recipient A.S. King's boldly original writing shines in this powerful novel about learning to cope with the shrapnel life throws at you-and taking a stand against it.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateSep 11, 2012
ISBN9780449014721
Unavailable
Everybody Sees the Ants: A Novel
Author

A.S. King

A.S. King is the award-winning author of young adult books including the 2012 Los Angeles Times Book Prize winner Ask the Passengers, Everybody Sees the Ants, 2011 Michael L. Printz Honor Book Please Ignore Vera Dietz, and the upcoming Reality Boy. After fifteen years living self-sufficiently and teaching literacy to adults in Ireland, she now lives in Pennsylvania with her small, freakish family. Find more at www.as-king.com.

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Rating: 4.112612700000001 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This and other reviews can be found on Reading Between Classes

    Cover Impressions: Love the simplicity of the black and white image with the details of the bullseye and the ant.

    The Gist: In Lucky Linderman's dreams he treks through the Vietnamese jungle in search of his long lost grandfather. In reality, he laments his parent's marriage troubles and tries to escape the bully that tortures him. When a violent episode forces his mother to open her eyes she whisks him away to his uncles where he is finally able to put his situation in perspective.

    Review:
    Everybody Sees the Ants is not an easy read. It tells the story of Lucky Linderman, a boy who has been bullied since he was a young child. The story begins with an incident where Lucky attempts to make a school project about suicide and gets himself and several other boys in trouble. This begins the an intense period of bullying that is often violent and with a sexual undertone. The narrative moves back and forth in time from this point and from a further incident that causes Lucky's mother to immediately flee with him to her brother's home. There is also an element of magical realism that adds humor and whimsy. Lucky spends his night visiting his grandfather who was lost in Vietnam. Each night, he attempts to rescue him and, remarkably, brings back souvenirs to prove that his time spent in the jungle is more real than anyone would believe. Lucky also starts to see ants that observe his story and add hilarious commentary.

    Lucky Linderman (and the ants) have a unique voice that is funny and self-deprecating. He is an inherently good boy who, even knowing that his actions will lead to further torture, he stands up for those who need it. My heart went out to him as he suffered the most heinous of acts and watched as the adults around him fail to notice or to take action. I also found myself getting very angry at the adults in this situation, particularly the apathetic teachers who turn a blind eye to what they must know is happening. The other characters are all damaged in some way, Lucky's parents and aunt and uncle all escape the problems of their marriages with their own obsessions. Pre-occupied as they are, they seem incapable of facing the true pain that Lucky is going through.

    I found it particularly interesting to read Everybody Sees the Ants at a time when I had just finished Thirteen Reasons Why. It created an interesting juxtaposition between bullying against girls and bullying against boys. Thirteen Reasons Why featured rumor and name calling, while Everybody Sees the Ants featured violence and cruelty that was often difficult to read. It also a thought-provoking connection between bullying and torture. In the end, Lucky gains a sense of confidence and stands up to his bully. It all wraps up a little too cleanly for my taste and I think that resolution is slightly unrealistic. It did take down my enjoyment a notch.

    Many of the other reviews have mentioned that this book wasn't quite as powerful as King's other novel Please Ignore Vera Dietz, so I am adding that to my TBR pile as well.

    Teaching/Parental Notes:

    Age: 15 and up
    Gender: Both
    Sex: Kissing, talk of Sex
    Violence: Bullying, Suicide
    Inappropriate Language: Shit, Slut, Pussy, Fuck, Fag
    Substance Use/Abuse: Smoking, Pill Use
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    In Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King, a teenage boy struggles with bullying, high school, family issues, girls, and frustrating dreams about trying to rescue his missing grandfather. He’s got a lot on his plate.

    Lucky Linderman’s grandfather was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, and has been missing ever since. The entire family has never recovered, and Lucky has been “searching” for him from a very young age. Meanwhile, Lucky’s parents squabble constantly, and he is the victim of some rather brutal bullying. When his mother jets them off to Arizona to see her brother and his wife, Lucky’s life becomes even more stressful.

    While most of the characters are very well-drawn out, the plot falls short once we enter Lucky’s dreams. The author leaves it open to interpretation whether or not Lucky is actually in Vietnam or just imagining it. This decision did not work at all for me, as I found it pulled me out of the action of the book more than it added to the story. The dreams are also too disjointed and happen far too often. While King tries to bring elements of Lucky’s real life into them, the elements she chooses are far too obvious.

    I did find the educational aspects of the book fascinating. If I had read this in high school, it would have helped me understand the more intimate details of the war and its aftermath. I think the book also did a fairly decent job of depicting the average high school experience, although there were a few moments that seemed over-dramatic.

    All in all, the targeted audience seems to be the young reader, bordering on middle school and early high school. I read quite a lot of young adult fiction, but I do not believe I would classify this book as such. I wouldn’t recommend picking this up unless you’re under the age of twenty.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really enjoyed this book. It was a smooth read that I didn't want to put down. I'm pleased that when I first picked this book up I realized that I wasn't ready for it (in the mood) and put it down. Doing that allowed me time to acclimate myself with the story this time around.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is a wonderful book. Thought-provoking, sometimes surprising, and with a little touch of magical realism.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    Unfocused and tries too hard to be meaningful, but not without its strong points.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    "No one can pee on your soul without your permission"

    I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I was younger.
    P.S. I'm #137 to be drafted (1971) according to the chart for men born in 1951.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is ultimately a story about growth and acceptance. Lucky has been bullied for years by Nader McMillan, with the most recent episode resulting in a huge state-shaped scab on his cheek. As his cheek heals, Lucky learns to change the way he approaches life, including his relationship with his parents whose unhappy marriage leaks into how they treat their son. The trip to Arizona to visit his uncle becomes more than just a physical journey for Lucky who also travels to Vietnam in his dreams to save his POW grandfather. This book is full of suprises, mostly in how all characters, major and minor, are developed and the creative way dreams help Lucky face his reality. He grows so much. There is much to love about this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I really enjoyed this book. It was a smooth read that I didn't want to put down. I'm pleased that when I first picked this book up I realized that I wasn't ready for it (in the mood) and put it down. Doing that allowed me time to acclimate myself with the story this time around.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Deeply disturbing and excellently written, this book plunges one into the heart and mind of a kid who's been routinely, excruciatingly, unmercifully bullied for years. His parents are wounded in ways which prevent them from helping him deal with the situation, and he is unsurprisingly failed by The System. His novel way of dealing with his messed up life is a triumph, a paean to the human spirit, and it makes a wonderful book. Lucky reads as absolutely real, completely believable. His parents and most of the other characters are only slightly less able to walk off the pages into real life. All of the teens strike me as realistic, complex, and familiar. Except Nader, I never get the slightest feel for what's going on in his head- nor would I want to.


    I see the ants, of course I do. Don't you?
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A really powerful book about a lot of things. War, bullying, secrets, truth. Maybe it was the Vietnam connection but this books reminded me of The Things They Carried, very visceral and complex storytelling. What can I say, I have a soft spot for tortured, sensitive, vaguely emo boy characters.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is my first experience with A. S. King, whose books I have wanted to read ever since I read a glowing review of one of his books on Presenting Lenore. I can now see why he received such high praise. King does not shy away from confronting seriously tough truths. She captures just how harsh children can be and does not sugercoat anything.

    Bullying: Nader McMillan is a classic bully, the whole school afraid to piss him off. The fact that he has it out for Lucky, for no reason so far as I could tell, means that Lucky cannot really make friends, since no one wants Nader's attention. In fact, others pick on Lucky to earn Nader's approval. Undoubtedly the most intense scene in the book is a memory of what Nader does to snitches. Let's just say that this cannot be explained away with "boys will be boys." Perhaps even more terrifying is that no one will do anything to stop this. Just imagine what an awful person Nader will grow into if he learns that he has the right to do anything he wishes.

    Family: Just because your parents give you everything you need physically and do not beat you does not mean that the relationship is healthy. Lucky's parents are somewhat neglectful, trying to recover from their own past damage. They love their sun, but do so completely ineffectually. Much as teens may pull away, parents need to be there for them. King also considers the fact that just because someone is a little crazy does not make them unlovable; nor does the fact that someone acts really cool mean that they're actually a good person. Basically, everything is complicated when it comes to family.

    The Vietnam War: This may actually be my favorite aspect of the book. It is rife with statistics on and references to the Vietnam War, which is one of my favorite historical periods to study. Lucky's grandmother, his dad and he himself are all really into the POW/MIA movement, since Lucky's grandfather was one of the men never to return. This element to warfare, all of the families who never know if their father/husband/son is still alive or dead, is one not focused on very often, as authors tend to focus on the more exciting aspects, rather than the effect the war has years down the line.

    The Dreams & the Ants: Honestly, the ants were weird. They, along with the dreams of his grandfather, are really strange. The ants are a metaphor for victimization and standing up for oneself, which I get, but I do not really understand why. The dreams are totally magical realism, because Lucky brings something tangible back from every dream.. I love some well done magical realism.

    Everybody Sees the Ants is seriously hard-hitting and entertaining. Lucky makes a great main character, growing in confidence and learning to be himself. Plus, he reads Catch-22, which automatically makes him totally cool. If you like dark humor and truly realistic fiction, give Everybody Sees the Ants a read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A young man struggles through his own life - terrorized at school by a kid who is powerful, popular, and has lots of control over adults - while also dealing with his family's legacy of loss and war. Weird dream sequences interspersed with harrowing school scenes and then regular, bittersweet, funny teen life. Awesome book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    AS King writes some of the weirdest stuff, and is one of the most difficult writers I can think of to match to any particular teen I know. I'm sure they're out there--I'm sure I'd have loved this as a teen--but it's not something with widespread appeal.

    As an adult I found it engrossing and heartbreaking and hopeful all at once and by turns. It's such an interesting blend of reality and fantasy, where the fantasy could be just mental illness, except that it's not. I'm not being articulate, and that may be the best praise for the book I can give.

  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Everybody Sees the Ants was quirky but an enjoyable read. The main character, Lucky Linderman,is a good guy and very likeable. The ants as the "peanut gallery" added a hysterical component to this dramatic novel. I loved the ants snarky comments. I look forward to reading King's other books.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book is unexpectedly poignant and tends to linger in the back of your mind. To be perfectly honest, I wasn't really looking forward to reading it. I had read some rather unsavory things about Everybody Sees the Ants here on Goodreads and was tempted to simply return it to the library and pick up a different book instead. I suppose another reason I was hesitant to read it is because YA books that claim to discuss teen issues have the unfortunate tendency to come off as angst-y and superficial and discuss "teen issues" instead of actual teen issues. For example, books that suggest dating is the single biggest issue teens deal with annoy the heck out of me, not to mention always made me feel a little insulted. I mean, even at my angst-iest I did, in fact, have more on the brain than dating. Anyway, this book does not fall into that category, thankfully, and far surpassed my expectations. I really like the main protagonist and narrator, Lucky. He is believable and relatable, a normal kid dealing with several years of bullying culminating in a traumatizing locker room experience. He has a flair for honesty that tends to get him into trouble, especially with the adults at his school who prefer to delude themselves into believing Lucky's problems are inside his head rather than the result of them ignoring the obvious signs of bullying for years. Most of the adults in this book are portrayed as being schmucks in one way or another: Lucky's father neglects his wife and son, incessantly working so as to avoid facing his personal problems; his mother cares deeply for Lucky but ignores the bullying to please her husband (who insists that confronting Nadar [the bully]/Nadar's parents/the school will count as coddling); his teachers and school principal are more concerned about politics (upsetting Nadar's father) than making sure their most vulnerable students are safe; and the only man Lucky has ever really looked up to is discovered to be a serial-cheater. Even though this cast of weak and ineffective adults may appear prejudiced and unreasonable, it seems to me to be a pretty fair appraisal of the reality of a lot of kids and teens: no real support at home and no protection at school. This book is, in a way, a social commentary and strives for change in the school system as well as perceptions of bullying (i.e. it is not inevitable, it can be prevented, etc.) through the student body itself, rather than through the adults (though it is hoped, of course, that at least some adults will take the time to read it and change their perceptions as well). It encourages empowerment and a refusal to allow yourself to be a victim, while at the same time being sensitive to those who have been or are being victimized. I feel Lucky sets a good example by refusing to become disillusioned and mean himself, instead believing he can be better than Nadar and his buddies and acting on those convictions. Possibly the most interesting aspect of this book, though, concerns Lucky's paternal grandfather, Harry, who has been MIA ever since he was taken prisoner in the jungles of Laos during the Vietnam War. Lucky has vivid dreams about going to the jungle to save his grandfather, seemingly harmless until they become a form of escape for him and he begins to retreat into sleep to avoid real life. Harry is instrumental in helping Lucky face his reality and realize life is what you make of it, no matter how hard it may seem. Harry should know about this first hand since his fate was decided by the draft lotteries, a rather cruel system that dictated, according to the men's birth dates, in what order they would be drafted. The most unique aspect of this book is the author's use of the ants. They are literally a little group of ants that Lucky starts seeing after Nadar beats him up badly. Sometimes they comment on a situation or a thought of Lucky's, act out a farcical scene, or simply provide insight. They are one more way it is demonstrated to the reader that we all have our demons. They are a clever tool and tend to provide comic relief. No matter how much I enjoyed this book, though, I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. The reason is because there was some discussion of sex, some pretty graphic (and disturbing) images, and a lot of language, and while these things won't stop me from reading a book (Chuck Palahniuk, who is certainly not squeamish, is one of my favorite authors), this book's target audience is not adults, it is kids. The YA genre can attract readers as young as 8, 9, 10 years old, and the idea of children that young having access to this book and possibly being encouraged to read it bothers me. Maybe I'm being namby-pamby, I don't know, but I am really uncomfortable with the idea of anyone under the age of 15 or 16 reading this book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a powerful and accessible story about one kid realizing that he's not alone and figuring out how to take charge of his life.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Lucky Linderman's mother is a squid. She spends all her time swimming laps at the pool. His father is a turtle and spends most of his time working. Lucky's grandfather is missing in action from the Vietnam War, and Lucky dreams of rescuing him. Lucky is a victim, tormented and physically abused by a local bully. Lucky wants to bring his family together, and stop the torment.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This was such an extraordinary book! From the chapter titles and the comedic insects to the way that topics such as bullying, marital problems, depression, and war were covered, this was brilliantly written. Lucky was a believable and honest narrator who managed to capture so much truth without having to say too much. This is one of those books that will stick with you for a long time after you finish it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This review has been in the making for ages. It's kind of ridiculous how long it's taken me to write it - to the point that I was wondering if I'd have to read the book again before I could - because it's hard to know what to say. Part of me just wants to say: Get it; read it. Part of me wants to say: A.S King should already be on your auto-buy list. But how else to talk about this complex, weird, painful, triumphant book without giving away some of its magic?I guess I'll start with Lucky. I love Lucky Linderman as a narrator, and I think nearly everyone will. He's very relatable and rootforable, and his deceptively calm way of narrating just really works. And the pace at which things are revealed by Lucky is just damn near perfect. He's just this really well-designed gateway into what can be a very difficult (technically and emotionally) story. On the surface, his story is about bullying and self-worth, but it would be too easy to write it off as just those things, because the story is more complex than that, and Lucky is more complex than that - Lucky doesn't exist as just a victim of bullying, he is not defined purely in terms of what is done to him, and this story explores that and teaches Lucky that.I normally talk about WSOD (willing suspension of disbelief) in stories when it doesn't work - when an author doesn't quite pull it off, and I'm not really able to suspend my disbelief. But when I am able to - when it's successful - it normally isn't addressed because it seems so natural. But I want to make a point to talk about it here because I think King's writing really drives this home - the entire concept and presentation of this story requires a huge WSOD, but it's done in such a way that you almost don't even need to be willing - it just happens, you just go with it, and before you know it, you're like, "Yeah, talking ants, state-shaped scabs, mother = squid/father = turtle, real-world dream-travels back to Vietnam to chat with your MIA/POW grandpa. Of course." It all just seems like such a completely logical way of seeing the world around you, and dealing with that world, that the reader's willing suspension is not only never broken, but it's not even really threatened. That's a pretty impressive feat in a story like this, which brings me to:A.S. King should be on your auto-buy list. She has such an unflinching quality to her writing that I absolutely love. Combine that with a magical realism streak (yay!), and it's pretty much a guarantee that I'm going to like what she writes. But I don't think that's just me; I know magical realism isn't something that everybody is comfortable with (it's weird, it ignores boundaries, it makes you uncomfortable), but King uses it judiciously and she makes it work. She confronts things, and she does so in a unique, powerful way that affects the reader. She takes on a topic that many have tackled before (bullying and self-worth, and finding your place in the world and among your family, etc.), but she does so in what is very uniquely her own way. She also understands how to find a balance between a "normal" contemporary story and something a little more weird and quirky, so that fans of contemporary find themselves reading something more challenging in presentation, and fans of weirder stuff find themselves enjoying the contemporary story they may normally forego - both get genre-shaken, and I think that's a good thing.And I...I don't want to say too much more than that, really, because I don't want to give even a tiny bit of the story away. Every little thing, down to the tiniest ant, has its place in this story, and sometimes those tiny things will creep up on you out of nowhere and hit you so hard that it takes your breath away - and that is the type of story that needs to be read understood experienced.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Loved the scenes with his grandfather
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I'm still not sure how I feel about this book. It wasn't bad by any means, in fact, I liked many element of it. The problem arises from just not knowing what to make of it. It can absolutely be classified as magical realism, and it is the inclusion of these fantastic moments that lose me.

    On the realistic side of things, this novel tackles quite a few issues, including parental separation, bullying, and abuse. Most of these issues come to a resolution in the real world but with help from fantasy elements, such as Lucky spending evenings with his POW Grandfather in the jungles of Vietnam, and his talking with dancing ants.

    The dream nights with Grandpa are what I had the most difficulty with. The more I consider this novel, the more I feel that maybe I should reread it. Maybe a second time around the jungle will provide me with some answers like it did for Lucky.

    As my review shows, I'm a bit ambiguous about this one. I really liked some parts, but didn't like others. The characters are very well fleshed out, and I love Lucky's comparisons of his parents to animals. But the purpose of some elements is unclear to me. In fact, the novel itself is a little fuzzy as I try to look back on it. I'll have to give it another go at some point.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Lucky is having a rough time to say the least. Nader McMillan has treated Lucky as one of his personal punching bags since he was 7 years old. He's stuck seeing the school psychologist once a month b/c of a social studies project taken the wrong way and his parents are no help. They just want to pretend that nothing is happening. His grandfather went missing in Vietnam and his father has never recovered. In Lucky's dreams he visits his grandfather every night, trying to rescue him from the jungles of Vietnam. And then there are the ants, Lucky's personal peanut gallery, judging his every action.

    I loved watching Lucky grow and change. I liked how he thought things out, realized people had it worse then him, realized that he had to he the one to change his own life and that even though he had it pretty bad he could find a way to rise above it. I loved all of the quirky characters in the book too, Ginnie and Aunt Jodi were particular favorites.

    So far I've loved every book I've read by A.S. King, and I can't wait to see what she will do next.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This was an outstanding book! _Everybody Sees The Ants_ was my introduction to A.S. King, and I will certainly read more of her writing. There are many many books out there about bullying, and the treatment of this prevalent issue (particularly in regards to how the bullying is ultimately handled) is all over the map. Without going into too much detail, I can tell you that the way it shakes out is appropriate and empowering on the part of the protagonist, Lucky (if less so by some other characters). And the personal growth made by several characters is inspiring.There is a heavy magical realism element to the tale. It serves to show off King's authentic portrayal of adolescence, as well as propel the POW/MIA portion of the story and the bonding between Lucky and his grandfather. King's writing is accessible to readers. While some scenes are painful to read, nothing is beyond what would be suitable for mature middle and secondary readers (grades 7 and up), and the message of hope and self-awareness and advocacy applies. I highly recommend reading.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    There is something beautiful about the books that make your heart shiver with compassion and remind you that you're not the only one who has little devils in their heads. The books does just that, but they're ants, and when you think about it - ants are everywhere and everyone sees them but not many care about how they react next. But our main character does. Everybody Sees The Ants is overall beautiful and exciting to say the least. Got quite repetitive at points but still, these were words filled with emotion.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    15-year old Lucky Linderman isn't so lucky. It started in 2nd grade when local bully Nader McMillion peed on his shoes. Every since then, Lucky's escape has been in his dreams where he tries to rescue his grandfather who is Missing In Action in Vietnam. After a social studies project is misunderstood and brings Lucky and under guidance counselor scrutiny, Nader ups his tactics until he brutally, physically attacks Lucky. Lucky's mom is tired of her do-nothing husband, and takes Lucky to Arizona for a few weeks respite. While staying with his aunt and uncle, Lucky learns to lift weights, makes friends with a 17 year old model, and figures out that the simplest thing to do is to stand up for himself. Lucky's grandfather helps him sort through all of his emotions, guiding him to the right realization and gives him something each night that Lucky actually wakes up with in the morning. This blend of realism and fantasy makes this story about overcoming a bully even more interesting. I'd recommend this 282 page book to high school students, due to some sexual content.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The book is so well executed that I give it 3 stars, despite its "a boy needs the influence of a man to be okay" ideology, and the fact that a MAJOR subplot is left completely unexplained. Part 2 is where the book really shines, and luckily that's the largest section. King has good control of prose, but this book is, overall, a miss.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Due to copy and paste, formatting has been lost.ACTUALLY 3.5 STARSI think I keep waiting too long after reading to write reviews, so please forgive me if this one doesn't make sense. And it probably won't. When I start Everybody Sees the Ants, I was expected a book very similar to Please Ignore Vera Dietz, which I adored. And although they had a lot of similarities, in my mind they were completely different.Lucky, the main character per this one, is a huge nerd. I don't know exactly what makes him a nerd for me, but he'll be stuck forever as that in my mind. And the poor guy is bullied, he doesn't stand up for himself (his daddy made him that way) and one day it just goes too far. His mom gets sick and tired and leave town to stay with her brother. That's when the real story starts. Before that it was like we were just getting all the info for the build up of leaving, so we could see why. Good call there. (Completely off subject, but the bully: Nader. That sounds like a kid who would get bullied to me.)But anyway. So they're gone. And Lucky starts explaining these weird dreams. Every time he has one, we get the down-low. And honestly, I have no idea whether Lucky is downright delusional, or if he's actually sane. Because the dreams...they're weird. And they're true to him, which makes it even harder to make a decision. Surreal is the best way to describe this entire book.Lucky was really weird, too. On top of having all of these strange dreams, he's (as mentioned before) nerdy, and not only that, but he's a bit anti-social. I was so proud of him when he started to make friends! Because no matter how weird they were, I loved them. I mean, they're doing a public play named "The Vagina Monologues", and are doing it seriously. How are they not awesome? I mean, if it makes you uncomfortable it's probably not awesome, but I thought it was hilarious and actually kind of meaningful.All in all, Everybody Sees the Ants was a very weird, surreal book. If you have problems reading about vaginas, or bullied boys, don't read it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Lucky has not been so lucky. His family is suffering. His dad is disengaged and his mom overwhelmed by his dad. When Lucky is injured by the bully who has been tormenting him for years, Lucky and his mom go to Arizona to take a much needed break. In his dreams, Lucky visits Harry, his grandfather, who is a POW in Vietnam and he wakes up after each dream with an item from the dream. While staying with his aunt and uncle who have their own share of problems, Lucky meets a girl who wows him, inspires him, and help him starts to find his strength. The sassy ants act as a sort of Greek chorus, helping narrate the action. The story is compelling and a quick read. With elements of magical realism, a well done book. Deciding not to include this in our hybrid Lincoln program, but I really enjoyed the read!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A.S. King tackles two significant topics in Everybody Sees the Ants. The first is the status of the Missing in Action in our sundry wars and the second is bullying. Known recently for her highly praised Ask the Passengers, King’s 2011 novel centers on Lucky Linderman who has been bullied by Nader McMillan since he was seven years old when Nader peed on Lucky in a restaurant restroom and escalated to rubbing Lucky’s face in the concrete by the local community pool when Lucky was fifteen forming a scab that started out taking the shape of Ohio and diminishing to various other states before finally healing.Two underlying themes include Lucky’s proposed (but vetoed) social studies project, a survey of the student body with the question “If you were going to commit suicide, what method would you use?” This, of course, spurred the school’s administration into action, suggesting that Lucky seek professional help…thus avoiding the issues surrounding why kids would want to commit suicide to begin with.The second is Lucky’s grandfather, Harry, who is a Vietnam veteran missing in action. His grandmother, Janice, was an MIA advocate and refused repeated governmental attempts to have her agree to change his status to presumed dead. On her deathbed when Lucky was seven, she made him promise to find Harry. Of course, Lucky had no clue as to what this meant, but it started a series of unusual dreams.We are all familiar with bullying (this book was excerpted in an audio CD on bullying…that’s how it came to my attention). King created a bully we can all visualize in Nader. There is no person unscathed from his actions. Compounded by Lucky’s inactive parents, he has no recourse but to ‘take it’.We are less cognizant of the fact that there remain MIA veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.King’s characters’ lives vary, in many ways making us realize that we all have shit to deal with and while we may have it rough, there are people who have it rougher, although on the outside everything looks fine. King makes her point on both counts with an entertaining book, interesting characters and fine writing. You can read Everybody Sees the Ants for the enjoyment or for a purpose, but in either event, you’ll have a good read.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The main character’s name is Lucky, however he is not a lucky boy. His family if suffering, and when he gets injured from the bully who has continued to ruin his life for years, his mom and him decide to go to Arizona. In his dreams Lucky visits Harry, his grandfather who was in the Vietnam; after each dream Lucky wakes up with an item. With the help of the girl he meets, and his grandfather in his dreams, Lucky soon finds his strength to let go and move on.