Hank Green, YouTube celebrity and brother of popular YA author John Green, has turned his attention to fiction with a debut novel, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, that is both thought-provoking and entertaining.
Twenty-something April May is working as a graphic designer when she comes across a giant robot-like statue in Manhattan late one night. She calls her friend Andy to bring his video equipment. The two make a video with the statue, which they nickname Carl, thinking it is an art installation, though they soon learn that more than 60 Carls have appeared mysteriously overnight in cities around the world. Within days, the video goes viral and April becomes an Internet sensation, frequently appearing as a guest on TV shows. She is flung into a world of international renown that is both exciting and unsettling.
Green has created a bizarre situation (that gets even stranger) while reflecting the present culture of overnight celebrities, social media empires and divisive politics, all seen through the mirror of the Carls. His compelling novel combines mystery, suspense and science fiction with insightful social commentary while exploring what it means to be famous today, based on his own experiences in becoming an Internet star. As April herself says, "I was virtually a social media celebrity now, and so I had to let the entire world know every time I experienced any inconvenience!" All of this is bound up in a laugh-out-loud, fast-paced story that is just plain fun to read. --Suzan L. Jackson, freelance writer and author of Book By Book blog