144 Days - Save the world. Or not. What would you do?

Henry Denton is a teen trying to handle his stressful life. His boyfriend committed suicide and his family is struggling to stay afloat. Now his alien abductors (with whom he has had previous interaction) have told him that the future of humanity is up to him. He can push a giant red button and save the planet OR let the aliens destroy the world. He has 144 days to decide. Given the pain he feels and his family's struggles, he's not sure why humanity sould survive. But as a man of science, Henry decides to figure out if the world and its people are worth saving. What lies ahead is a dark journey, where Henry tries to find beauty and meaning in his chaotic world.

BTSYA / Teen Reader (17):
Hutchinson’s book is full of incredibly relatable and real characters, all with their own struggles. With Henry’s incredible journey, Hutchinson throws out a lifeline to readers who also struggle to find their place in the world. Readers will feel for Henry in his heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. I certainly appreciated Henry’s words of wisdom and life lessons.

The story itself is thought-provoking, and the author provides an insight into navigating different kinds of relationships. Henry meets and interacts with many people, some of whom help him see the world in a better light, others not so much. The philosophic language and slow pace made it too "angst-y" for my taste.

Teens, young adults, and adults who like realism and thought-provoking content will find everything they love about great science fiction - and more - in We Are the Ants.

This is a book for teens and young adults, despite the elementary-aged reading level. Characters use a lot of profanity, and the plot includes violence, sex, and suicide, as well as alcohol and drug use.