54 pages • 1 hour read
Shaun David HutchinsonWe Are the Ants
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2016A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson follows Henry, a teenager dealing with family issues, grief over his boyfriend’s suicide, bullying, and the recurring trauma of alien abductions. The aliens offer Henry a choice to save Earth by pressing a button, but his depression makes him doubt if it’s worth saving. Sensitive topics include suicide, self-harm, depression, bullying, and sexual violence.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson has been praised for its imaginative plot and deep, emotional exploration of themes like depression and the meaning of life. Reviewers appreciated its blend of science fiction with poignant personal struggles. However, some found its pacing uneven and the protagonist’s recurring cynicism off-putting. Overall, it's lauded for its original and thought-provoking narrative.
Who Should Read We Are the Ants?
Fans of Young Adult fiction with a blend of science fiction and deep emotional exploration will relish We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson. Readers who enjoyed Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven or More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera will find this novel’s themes of love, loss, and the meaning of life captivating.
RecommendedReading Age
14-18yearsLexile Level
HL800LBook Details
Magical Realism
Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
Modern Classic Fiction
LGBTQ
Mental Illness
Bullying
Identity: Sexuality
Relationships: Friendship
Life/Time: Mortality & Death