
A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is struggling with profound existential dread, the aftermath of a traumatic loss, or the feeling that nothing in life truly matters. It is a vital resource for parents of teens who feel like outsiders or are battling the heavy weight of depression and isolation. The story follows Henry, a boy who is periodically abducted by aliens and given the chance to save the world from an impending apocalypse by simply pressing a red button. However, grieving the suicide of his boyfriend and dealing with a fractured family, Henry is not sure the world is worth saving. This is a deeply emotional, gritty, and raw exploration of nihilism versus hope. It deals with heavy themes like bullying, grief, and sexual identity with unflinching honesty. Parents might choose this book to open a dialogue about mental health and the importance of finding small reasons to keep going when life feels unbearable.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewIncludes scenes of physical bullying and a depiction of sexual assault.
Contains frequent strong language common in realistic YA fiction.
Explores complex LGBTQ+ relationships and sexual situations.
Occasional mentions of drinking and smoking.
The book deals with suicide, sexual assault, and bullying in a very direct and secular manner. The resolution is realistic and cautiously hopeful, emphasizing that while the world may not be 'fixed,' it is still worth experiencing.
A 16-year-old who feels like a cynical outsider, perhaps someone who has experienced loss or feels overwhelmed by the state of the world and needs a story that doesn't offer easy, sugar-coated answers.
Parents should be aware of graphic descriptions of bullying and a scene involving sexual assault. This book is best discussed rather than read cold due to its intensity. A parent might see their child withdrawing from friends, expressing that 'nothing matters,' or struggling with the loss of a peer.
Younger teens (14) will focus on the sci-fi elements and the high-school drama, while older teens (17-18) will likely connect more deeply with the existential questions and the complexity of the relationships.
It perfectly balances high-concept science fiction with gritty realism, using the literal end of the world to mirror the internal feeling of depression.
Henry Denton is a teenager who has been abducted by 'slug' aliens since he was a child. They give him a deadline: the world will end in 144 days unless he presses a button to stop it. The narrative follows his daily life as he navigates the suicide of his boyfriend, Jesse, a grandmother with Alzheimer's, a bully who is also a complicated love interest, and a family that is falling apart. The aliens serve as a metaphor for his lack of agency, but the core of the story is Henry's decision on whether humanity is worth the effort.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.