“We may not get to choose how we die, but we can choose how we live. The universe may forget us, but it doesn’t matter. Because we are the ants, and we’ll keep marching on.”
The Book “We Are The Ants” by Shaun David Hutchinson is written from the perspective of a boy named Henry Denton, who has been abducted by aliens (whom he refers to as “sluggers”) periodically since he was 13-years-old. In the book, the sluggers present Denton with a choice that could change everything: press a button to save the world from destruction, or let the world end by not pressing it. Denton is struggling with a variety of personal issues in his life, such as the suicide of his boyfriend, Jesse, one year ago, which left him in a state of grief and confusion. His family is struggling with their own issues, too. His mom, Christine Denton, is a single mom at a job that overworks and underpays her, his grandmother (who lives with them) is suffering from Alzheimer’s and his brother, Charlie Denton, is battling his own issues as well. Throughout the novel, Henry tries to find his place in the world while also being bullied and harassed. However, he meets a boy named Diego Vega who is a new student at his school with a peculiar and mysterious past. The newly found friendship blossoms into more, and helps Henry see the world from a different view, therefore helping him find his place in it.
“We Are the Ants” covers numerous themes, such as grief, mental health and the meaning of life. The opening of the book is very negative and brooding, with Denton saying on page 2, “We drive fast and party hard and study for exams that don’t mean d–k in the grand scheme of the cosmos.” It is important to note that many of Denton’s thoughts that are portrayed throughout the book are symbolic to his grief about the passing of Jesse, a crucial part of the story. The sluggers giving Denton the ultimatum of whether or not he will save the world is a metaphor for his struggles with finding meaning in his life to continue living, as his grief makes it very difficult for him to see the value in saving the world. In reference to Denton’s interactions with others, the way he interacts with his family in a strained manner shows how grief affects relationships with others; Vega, his newly formed friend, is a stark contrast to the rest of his relationships. He provides a sense of hope and demonstrates how new connections can aid the healing process during grief. As the story progresses, Denton slowly finds ways to cope with his grief. The development of Denton’s friendship with Vega and his gradual acceptance of Jesse’s death shows that there is hope and healing after an event such as the one described in the book.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone, especially those who have experienced loss. This book changed my perspective on life after reading it, and it will for you too.
