The Rest of Us Just Live Here

by Patrick Ness

[Beth C.]

Mikey is a regular kid, even though his mother is a political wannabe, his older sister is in his class, his town appears to be the epicenter for paranormal happenings, and his best friend is partially a God. Oh, and he has a disabling case of OCD. But what happens when you are the ordinary kid surrounded by extraordinary happenings? How do you figure out how to be "normal" amidst the chaos?

Patrick Ness has written a book with a unique perspective, but one that seems so normal for every teenager living. Finding the extraordinary that is within us all, when everyone else seems to be "the special one" can truly be a challenge - and that challenge doesn't end when high school does. The voice of Mikey rings so true, even though I'm so far out of high school that I now have a high schooler of my own. The writing is honest, and the occasional Immortal floating around just makes the struggle to find what is special all the more poignant.

The story is also done as a sort of story-within-a-story. Each chapter begins with a synopsis of the current goings-on in the battle of the "indie" kids against the Immortals. For example, the book begins:

"Chapter The First, in which the Messenger of the Immortals in a surprising shape, looking for a permanent Vessel; and after being chased by her through the woods, indie kid Finn meets his final fate."

The rest of the chapter then goes on with Mikey telling his story outside of the supernatural one. Each chapter begins the same, with an update on the supernatural battle at the beginning, before Mikey carrying on. It was an interesting way to both set the tone of the chapter, compare the differences in the "ordinary vs. extraordinary" in Mikey's view, and (honestly) giggle a little bit at the cliche stories of the regular kid who becomes the hero.

Overall, it was a fun and mellow read with a great message. It's not a beat-you-over-the-head-until-you-realize-my-point kind of message either, which most teens and pre-teens would respond to. It's just...a good story.