Everybody Sees the Ants (YA)

Book #14 Read in 2013
Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King (YA)

This is a young adult realistic fiction book and I enjoyed it.  Lucky is a high school student who is getting bullied by a real jerk named Nader.  His father's advice is to ignore it, and that is what most of the adults do too, since Nader's father is a hot-shot lawyer and people are intimidated by him.  On top of that, Lucky's grandmother, on her death bed, makes Lucky swear to rescue her husband, a POW/MIA from the Vietnam War.  Lucky's dreams take him to his grandfather, who gives him advice as to how to handle the problems in his life.

This book was a great read.  It showed the effects of bullying.  It also showed how the victims were not the only ones who feel helpless when bullying and harassment is going on.  Lucky is a character readers will relate to and care about; this book has action, romance and humor.  King's writing is so true-to-life that readers will feel a part of the story.  I recommend it.