An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing (The Carls, #1)

by Hank Green

In his much-anticipated debut novel, Hank Green - co-creator of Crash Course, Vlogbrothers and SciShow - spins a sweeping, cinematic tale about a young woman who becomes an overnight celebrity before realising she's part of something bigger, and stranger, than anyone could have possibly imagined.

The Carls just appeared. Coming home from work at three a.m., twenty-three-year-old April May stumbles across a giant sculpture. Delighted by its appearance and craftsmanship - like a ten-foot-tall Transformer wearing a suit of samurai armour - April and her friend Andy make a video with it, which Andy uploads to YouTube. The next...

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Reviewed by luddite on

4 of 5 stars

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This was a fun read! And an unexpectedly poignant reflection on fame, especially in the era of social media.

Good, crisp writing on the back of a well-formed lead character, interspersed with good reflections on fame and the performative nature of the self. But it's the premise that was absolutely wonderful for me. And Hank Green has done an absolutely remarkable job with the world-building for the next book. (No, I'm not apologizing for that.)

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  • 18 December, 2018: Reviewed