Thursday, October 22, 2015

#Thursday Review - The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Hess (YA, Contemporary)

Series: Standalone
Format: E-Galley, 336 Pages
Release Date: October 6, 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

What if you aren’t the Chosen One?

The one who’s supposed to fight the zombies, or the soul-eating ghosts, or whatever the heck this new thing is, with the blue lights and the death?

What if you’re like Mikey? Who just wants to graduate and go to prom and maybe finally work up the courage to ask Henna out before someone goes and blows up the high school. Again.

Because sometimes there are problems bigger than this week’s end of the world, and sometimes you just have to find the extraordinary in your ordinary life.

Even if your best friend is worshiped by mountain lions.

Award-winning writer Patrick Ness’s bold and irreverent novel powerfully reminds us that there are many different types of remarkable.
 




The Rest of Us Just Live Here is the story about the Unchosen One's. You know them, or maybe you don't since they don't shine as heroes like Buffy, or Dean and Sam. They're the ones that don't rush into a burning buildings, or rescue cats from trees, or fight flesh eating zombies, or kill shiny vampires with their crossbows. This is the story about the kids who attend the same school as the Indie kids (aka Chosen One's). They witness everything that happens around them and to the Indie kids. They are also the one's who try to get through school and graduate before the villains succeed in blowing up the school; again.

Ness's story is often filled with satirical situations that are intermingled with a back story where the Indie Kids are facing off against the Immortals. When I say intermingle, I mean that Ness summarizes what is going on in the Indie land before each chapter, and then jumps back into the story itself. The main characters of this story are protagonist Michael (Mikey) Mitchell, his older sister Melinda, and best friends Henna and Jared who has a cute ability that brings cats of all varieties running to him like he's their God, and the new kid Nathan, that kind of shakes things up but not in a bad way. Ness does a good job of writing a diverse cast of characters. There are three whites, one black, and one gay and they have absolutely no issues of racism, or sexism, or any ism for that matter. 

So, let's talk about our protagonist Mike. You see, Mike has himself some issues, not unlike everyone else he's friends with. I dare say that he is OCD, or maybe has symptoms of ADHD. Whenever he is stressed, he starts counting until he gets things right. He and his best friend are 4 weeks away from graduation but working to make money so that they can stay in touch. But, things get tricky when Mike starts wondering why he hasn't asked Henna out on a date. You know the story. Henna is Mike's unrequited love.The girl that boy loves, but she actually prefers to be friends. But, don't say poor Mike. Please stahp! He does very well for himself thank you very much! 

I truly believe that Ness covers all the bases in this story. There are zombie deer, strange blue lights that go unexplained (to the characters, not to the readers), and everyone has problems, including Mike's 10 year old sister Meredith who I adored. Yes, this is a cheesy story that makes you giggle a bit at certain situations the characters find themselves in. I would recommend this story to those of you who like cheesy Young Adult novels and movies. For the rest of you, I just live here.

**I received this book for free from (Publisher) via (Edelweiss) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**


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