I realize now that dismissing this book so quickly was a mistake. I’m sorry to say that, but it’s just the truth as someone who has read four books by Hank Green’s brother, John, and only enjoyed one of them, I truly wasn’t expecting much from An Absolutely Remarkable Thing. However, a friend both pushed me to read it and bought me a copy, so I figured there had to be something good about, right? Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.This wasn’t a book I was ever planning on reading. This article was originally published in the October 2018 issue of BookPage. An Absolutely Remarkable Thing is a fun, fast read that invites readers to contemplate their position in the modern world.ĪLSO IN BOOKPAGE: Read our Q&A with Hank Green for An Absolutely Remarkable Thing. Green’s debut novel is an adventurous romp that combines science fiction and interpersonal drama to explore identity, relationships, a polarized world and the influence of media and popular opinion. He is also known as one half of the VlogBrothers, alongside John Green, his superstar novelist brother and author of such YA bestsellers as The Fault in Our Stars. As co-CEO of Complexly, a production company whose work includes the popular YouTube channel Crash Course, Green is well-versed in that realm. In An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, Hank Green explores the power of social media. “The circle jerk of mockery and self-congratulation was so intense I didn’t even notice I was at its center.” “It’s so much easier for people to get excited about disliking something than agreeing to like it,” April thinks. April quickly becomes a pundit-the very sort of person she once railed against in her art and conversation.

When a communal dream travels from one person to the next like an infection, popular opinion becomes further divided. She’s convinced that the Carls exist to unify the world, but others aren’t so sure.

In fact, Carls have appeared throughout the world, and people turn to April for insight. The video has gone viral literally overnight, and the world wants more of April, and more of the robot-sculpture, which she named Carl. They make a video and post it on the internet. How sad would it be to ignore the 10-foot-tall sculpture simply because it appeared in the middle of a city where remarkable is the norm? April calls her friend Andy. She’s tired, she wants to go home, and there are so many “cool New York City things.” Art school graduate April May nearly walks past the first robot and dismisses it as another cool New York City thing.

An absolutely remarkable thing plot