An Absolutely Remarkable Thing

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing

By Hank Green
Published: Dutton, 2018
Pages: 343
Genre: Sci Fi
Check it out on Amazon

Her message is clear to me-it will never leave me now. We are each individuals, but the far greater thing is what we are together, and if that isn't protected and cherished, we are headed to a bad place.

April May is an average twenty-something who is walking home from work late one night when she stumbles across what she believes to be a large, robot-looking sculpture placed on a sidewalk as part of an art installation. She and her friend Andy make an amusing, silly video to upload to YouTube. However, they find out the next day that their "Carl" is one of sixty other Carls that have mysteriously apparently overnight, and April soon becomes an internet sensation. April finds herself and her friends drawn into the world of celebrity and the Carls and what this all means for humanity.

WOW, guys. I never expected this book to make me cry. I'm not sure what I entirely expected, to be honest. I think, maybe, some kind of lame robot fighting novel. How do I even begin this review?! April is a such a well-written character; she's really one readers can relate to. She makes many mistakes and hurts those she loves but this shows that she's only human. I dislike novels that have perfect characters who make all the right decisions; how is that even believable? The other main characters are also enjoyable as well.

As for the plot, Green uses the concept of the Carls to show how people can come together, can work together to make the world a better place. As April's popularity quickly rises, she becomes obsessed with increasing her fame and markets herself as a tool rather than a person. I feel like that's what many Instagram and YouTube famous individuals do these days; they turn themselves into something completely different for the camera instead of using their platforms for good causes. April eventually obsesses over arguing with Defenders - those who are strongly against her opinions on the Carls. She realizes, probably too late, that she has put her online persona and life before those she loves the most.

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing is a remarkable novel. Be sure to pick it up if you can; you won't regret it.

RATING (out of five puppies)