All The Ways The World Can End by Abby Sher - OPTIONAL

Sher, Abby All The Ways The World Can End, 301 pages. Farrar Straus Giroux (Macmillan), 2017. $17.99. Language: R (21 swears, 2 “f”), Mature Content: PG-13 (death, self-harm, drinking, mild sexual references), Violence: G

Eleanor is having a difficult time accepting that her father is dying of colon cancer. She tries to put it into perspective by concluding that life is not guaranteed, and in fact, the entire human race could be wiped out in a number of catastrophic ways: mass extinction, nuclear war, pollution, supervolcano, etc. Eleanor is dealing as best as a teenager can. Her mom has little time to give. Her sister is away at college. Her one true friend, Julian, is leaving to attend an elite dance school across the country. It’s no surprise that she’s attracted to the medical resident on her dad’s team, since truly only a doctor can solve her problems.

One of the things I like about this book is the character development. It’s definitely a character book, not a plot book. First Eleanor is afraid and anxious. Then she gets her voice and fights for her dad to get in a drug trial. Then she moves toward peace and the realization that there are endings but also beginnings and you must value every second you have. Because this book has a complex main character and is more stream of thought than plot, I think it has a limited teen audience.

HS – OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Valerie McEnroe, Media Specialist