Book Title: Everybody Sees the Ants
Author: A.S. King
ISBN: 978-0316129282
Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Magical Realism
Published Year: 2011
Introduction
Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King is a young adult novel that delves into difficult themes such as bullying, family trauma, and the effects of war. The protagonist, Lucky Linderman, is a 15-year-old boy who suffers from severe bullying, primarily by a peer named Nader McMillan, while grappling with his dysfunctional family. The novel uses a blend of magical realism and real-life struggles, as Lucky escapes into vivid dreams about his grandfather, a POW missing from the Vietnam War. In these dreams, Lucky tries to rescue his grandfather while also searching for a sense of identity and control in his own life.
With a unique voice, King paints an honest and emotional picture of a young boy who feels powerless in a world that seems indifferent to his suffering. Through both surreal dreams and stark realities, Lucky learns to stand up for himself and to confront the emotional scars of his family and his own trauma.
Main Characters
Lucky Linderman: The 15-year-old protagonist, deeply affected by bullying and his family’s unresolved trauma. Lucky’s emotional journey drives the novel as he seeks ways to cope with his pain, often escaping into surreal dreams about rescuing his grandfather.
Nader McMillan: The school bully who relentlessly torments Lucky. Nader represents not just a physical threat but also the emotional toll of bullying, as he forces Lucky into a state of constant fear and humiliation.
Grandpa Harry: Lucky’s grandfather, a POW who never returned from the Vietnam War. Though absent in real life, Grandpa Harry plays a significant role in Lucky’s dreams, symbolizing unresolved family trauma and a desire for heroism.
Mom (Lori Linderman): Lucky’s mother is a strong but emotionally distant woman who uses swimming as a way to escape her own issues. She struggles with how to deal with her son’s problems, often ignoring them rather than confronting them head-on.
Dad (Michael Linderman): Lucky’s father is a chef who is also emotionally withdrawn. His own father’s disappearance in the Vietnam War has left deep emotional scars, which he avoids addressing, further alienating him from his family.
Aunt Jodi: Lucky’s sharp and assertive aunt, who takes him and his mother in during the summer. Aunt Jodi provides a temporary refuge for Lucky, and her brash attitude contrasts sharply with the passivity of Lucky’s parents.
Plot Overview
Part 1: Lucky’s World of Bullies and Powerlessness
The novel begins with Lucky Linderman trapped in a miserable existence. He is relentlessly bullied by Nader McMillan, who humiliates him in front of his peers. Lucky feels powerless to stop the bullying, and his attempts to seek help from authority figures have been met with indifference or outright failure. This sense of helplessness pervades every aspect of his life, leaving Lucky feeling isolated and invisible.
At home, Lucky’s life is equally challenging. His parents are emotionally unavailable, and the lingering trauma of his grandfather’s disappearance during the Vietnam War casts a shadow over the family. Lucky’s father, who was deeply affected by his father’s unknown fate, distances himself emotionally from his son, focusing on his job as a chef. Lucky’s mother uses swimming as a form of escapism, ignoring the real problems in her family. This leaves Lucky with no outlet for his pain and frustration.
"The thing about a bully is that he's just one person. He lives in the real world, in your high school. But the real problem is the bully inside your head that you can't outrun."
Part 2: Escape into Dreams
Lucky’s only solace comes in the form of dreams about his grandfather, Harry Linderman, who was captured as a POW during the Vietnam War and never returned. In these dreams, Lucky embarks on missions to rescue his grandfather from captivity. These surreal dream sequences offer Lucky a sense of control and purpose that he lacks in his waking life. In the dreams, Lucky is brave, resourceful, and capable, everything he wishes he could be in reality.
These dream sequences are interwoven with the real-life narrative, offering a magical realism element to the story. The ants that Lucky sees in his dreams serve as a Greek chorus of sorts, commenting on the action with sarcastic and often humorous observations. The dreams become a metaphor for Lucky’s desire to save himself and his family from the trauma that binds them.
"Every time I close my eyes, I’m in the jungle again. And I think this time, I’ll save him. This time, Grandpa Harry will come home."
Part 3: Summer with Aunt Jodi
After a particularly violent encounter with Nader, Lucky’s mother decides that they need a break from their life in Pennsylvania. They go to stay with Aunt Jodi in Arizona for the summer. Aunt Jodi is a stark contrast to Lucky’s parents—she’s bold, unafraid to speak her mind, and unwilling to let Lucky wallow in self-pity.
Arizona offers Lucky a brief respite from Nader’s bullying, but he still struggles with his sense of inadequacy and isolation. However, being away from home also gives Lucky time to reflect on his situation. He begins to see his parents’ flaws more clearly, understanding that their emotional distance is rooted in their own unresolved traumas.
In Arizona, Lucky also meets Ginny, a girl his age who becomes a friend and confidante. Ginny is dealing with her own set of problems, including a strained relationship with her father. Through their conversations, Lucky begins to open up about his feelings of powerlessness and fear, and Ginny’s honesty helps him see that he is not as alone as he once thought.
“Sometimes you meet someone who, for no reason at all, you feel you can talk to. I don’t know why, but it happens.”
Part 4: Confronting the Bully and Breaking the Cycle
The summer in Arizona marks a turning point for Lucky. With the support of Aunt Jodi and Ginny, he begins to confront his feelings of helplessness and starts to stand up for himself in small but significant ways. He realizes that he cannot change the way his parents behave or the fact that Nader will always be a bully, but he can change how he responds to them.
When Lucky returns home, he faces Nader once again. This time, however, he is no longer willing to be a passive victim. He fights back, not just physically but emotionally. He refuses to let Nader control his life through fear and intimidation. Though the struggle is not easy, Lucky’s newfound inner strength allows him to reclaim some of the power he thought he had lost.
“I was always the kid who wouldn’t fight back. But now, I wasn’t that kid anymore. I was someone else. Someone who could fight.”
Part 5: Healing and Moving Forward
The novel concludes with Lucky coming to terms with the realities of his life. He learns that healing is a gradual process and that while he cannot change the past, he can influence his future. Lucky’s relationship with his parents remains complicated, but he starts to understand that they, too, are victims of their own struggles. His father’s emotional distance, rooted in the unresolved grief over his missing father, is something Lucky begins to empathize with rather than resent.
The dreams about Grandpa Harry continue, but they shift in tone. Rather than focusing solely on rescuing his grandfather, Lucky starts to view the dreams as a way to explore his own identity and the concept of being a hero in his own life. The ants, once a snide and sarcastic chorus, begin to offer more meaningful insights, signaling Lucky’s growing sense of self-awareness.
“We can’t always be heroes. Sometimes, just surviving is enough.”
Themes and Symbolism
Bullying and Powerlessness: At the heart of the novel is the theme of bullying and how it affects the victim’s sense of identity and self-worth. Lucky’s struggle with Nader McMillan is not just a physical battle but an emotional one, as he grapples with the overwhelming feeling of powerlessness.
Family Dysfunction and Generational Trauma: Lucky’s family is haunted by the trauma of his grandfather’s disappearance during the Vietnam War. This unresolved grief has affected every member of the family, leading to emotional distance and dysfunction. The novel explores how trauma can ripple through generations, affecting relationships in subtle but profound ways.
Magical Realism and Dreams as Escape: The surreal dream sequences involving Grandpa Harry serve as both an escape for Lucky and a way for him to process his emotional turmoil. The magical realism of these dreams allows Lucky to confront his fears and desires in a symbolic way, giving him the strength to face his real-life challenges.
Ants as a Symbol of Perspective: Throughout the novel, Lucky frequently sees ants in his dreams, acting as a sort of commentary on his life. These ants provide both comic relief and deeper insight into Lucky’s thoughts, symbolizing his growing awareness of his own situation. They represent perspective, reminding Lucky (and the reader) that sometimes life’s problems, though overwhelming, are not insurmountable.
Heroism and Identity: Lucky’s journey is also one of self-discovery and understanding what it means to be a hero. While he initially believes that heroism means rescuing others (such as his grandfather), he eventually learns that being a hero can also mean standing up for oneself and finding the strength to endure hardship.
Conclusion
Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King is a powerful and emotionally resonant novel that tackles difficult subjects with sensitivity and depth. Through Lucky’s journey, King explores the long-lasting effects of trauma, the devastating impact of bullying, and the complex dynamics of family relationships. The novel’s use of magical realism, particularly through Lucky’s dreams of his grandfather, adds a unique layer to the narrative, allowing readers to delve deeper into the protagonist’s psyche.
Lucky’s story is one of survival, resilience, and ultimately, hope. While he may not be able to change the world around him, he learns that he can change how he responds to it. In the end, Lucky’s journey is about reclaiming power over his own life and finding the strength to move forward despite the challenges he faces.
Final Thoughts: Everybody Sees the Ants is a compelling exploration of how young people cope with trauma and adversity. A.S. King’s nuanced storytelling and blend of realism and surrealism make it a standout work in young adult fiction, offering both heartache and hope as Lucky learns to navigate the complexities of growing up.