*"This savvy, insightful take on the modern family makes for nearly nonstop laughs."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred
Stewart, 13: Socially clueless genius.
Ashley, 14: Popular with everyone but her teachers
Ashley's and Stewart's worlds collide when Stewart and his dad move in with Ashley and her mom. The Brady Bunch it isn't. Stewart is trying to be 89.9 percent happy about it--he's always wanted a sister. But Ashley is 110 percent horrified. She already has to hide the real reason her dad moved out; “Spewart”could further threaten her position at the top of the social ladder.
They're complete opposites, but they have one thing in common: they—like everyone else—are made of molecules.
In this hilarious and deeply moving story, award-winning author Susin Nielsen has created two narrators who will steal your heart and make you laugh out loud. Praise
NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
Nominated for the George Peach Book Award for Teen Readers
Nominated to the Pacific Northwest Young Reader’s Choice Award
Texas Lone Star Reading List
"A laugh-out-loud story of two teens learning to adjust to unusual family life that neither expected...Everyone from teenagers to adults will enjoy this story of ups and downs, laughter and tears, and the healing power of love."--VOYA
*"Drama, humour, poignancy, and suspense are rarely found in such perfect proportions..some truly funny writing...stellar, top notch stuff."—Quill & Quire, Starred What Other Authors Are Saying
“Susin Nielsen is one of the best writers working today. In We Are All Made of Molecules, her astonishing ability to combine insight, tenderness, poignancy, and uproarious humor is in full flower. Susin Nielsen is a genius, and kids and adults alike will adore this book.” —Susan Juby, author of The Truth Commission
“What a skilled, gifted writer Susin is!…There’s so much to love about this story . . . but what grabbed me the most is the humor.” —Christopher Paul Curtis, Newbery Medal–winning author of Bud, Not Buddy and The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963
We Are All Made of Molecules is one of the smartest, sweetest, funniest books I've read all year. When I spotted it in the library, along with a bunch of other YA books, it stood out to me immediately. And I knew just from reading the first chapter that this book was going to be special, and that I was going to absolutely love it. So much, in fact, that I read it in one sitting and it was infinitely better than my previous read, which made me do a big sigh of relief.
This is definitely a book on the younger scale of Young Adult, although there is talk of boobs/sex, etc, so maybe not so young, but it comes across quite young when reading it, or maybe that's just me? I don't know. But it's the story of Stewart and Ashley, and what happens when Stewart's dad and Ashley's mom decide to live together, and it's all about what happens when you become a blended family. But Stewart and Ashley were just so vastly different - Stewart saw the move for making his dad happier, after Stewart's mom died, but Ashley just saw it as a big inconvenience and it took ages for her to even be civil to Stewart or Leonard. That actually made me a little bit angry, because Stewart was LOVELY.
I genuinely loved Stewart. My favourite characters are always the more literal ones, who take things a bit too serious or may not always get the jokes, and I adored Stewart. He was amazing. For a thirteen-year-old, he was so strong and he knew who he was - he knew he was gifted and he was proud, as you should be if you have that kind of gift. Ashley was the complete opposite and I kind of adored her, too, when she wasn't being snarky. She made me laugh how she wasn't quite the brightest bulb in the box and constantly mixed up her words, and never NEVER once called Schroedinger Schroedinger. But it was hilarious, bless her, and I always knew what she meant.
We Are All Made of Molecules had such a big heart. It was so warm and witty, and so wise. I loved everything about this book, everything. Stewart, Ashley, Leonard, Caroline, Schroedinger. It's genuinely one of the better books I've read this year, one of the ones I'll remember months later, and that's how you know you've read a true gem of a book.
