Mike, Mel, Henna, and Jared are four relatively normal teenage kids. They tackle the usual teenage problems--family stress, unrequited love, anxiety about college and future expectations. And yet, an unusual story stays right on the periphery of their lives. Indie kids at school are disappearing and no one believes the explanations given. Strange blue lights keep showing up in the woods, but normal life keeps moving forward.
In The Rest of Us Just Live Here, Patrick Ness cleverly presents two stories side by side. In this version, the ‘chosen ones’ who fight the strange evil are on the sidelines. Instead, we focus on those ‘normal’ kids fighting their own kinds of extraordinary battles. The result is a deep look at teen issues with a hint of the supernatural on the side. Very cleverly done and entertaining.
Recommended ages--13 and up