The Rest of Us Just Live Here

Ness, Patrick. The Rest of Us Just Live Here. 2015. 317p. ISBN 978-0-06-240316-2. Available at FIC NES on the library shelves.

Every generation, there are those who are chosen to save the world by fighting zombies, defeating vampires, crushing an alien invasion, or repulsing a celestial assault. But what if you were not one of those chosen? What if you were just normal kids, having normal lives while around you the chosen ones were busy confronting this generation’s evil? For Michael and his friends, that’s exactly who they are. Around them the Indie kids are clearly up to fighting some force beyond Michael’s comprehension. With weeks left before graduation, he just hopes that the high school is not destroyed in the process like it was ten years ago.

Dealing with obsessive compulsive disorder does not help Michael with his current situation. His older sister will be graduating with him since she missed a year of school due to being interned following a bout of anorexia. His mother is running for Congress and likes to portray the perfect family. His father is a drunk who recently lost his job after embezzling money from his brother. Michael’s younger sister is smart, but at ten she just can’t escape her family situation and wonders what life will be like when her older siblings leave for college.

Michael would really like to ask Henna out before he graduates. His best friend, Henna is the girl he’s always been pinning for. But she’s attracted to someone else. His other best friend, Jared, is a half god of cats, and knows that his life will eventually be to become the full god of cats. But in the meantime he wants to enjoy himself and Michael’s presence.

As extraordinary events take place around them, these ordinary teens continue to lead their lives and hope to survive long enough to get that diploma and celebrate the accomplishment of finishing high school. An interesting take on what would happen if you weren’t one of the special people in the story, fans of teens with issues will appreciate those tackled in this book, including anorexia, OCD, homosexuality, and teen angst.