About This Book
Reach for this book when your middle schooler is navigating complex social dynamics, the ethics of honesty, or the weight of peer pressure and empathy. This smart, humorous story follows Antsy Bonano as he makes a selfless but complicated decision: he signs over a month of his life to a classmate who claims to be terminally ill. What begins as a singular act of kindness spirals into a school wide phenomenon that raises profound questions about how we value time and what we owe to others. The book masterfully balances Shusterman's signature wit with serious ethical dilemmas. Parents will appreciate the way it explores the consequences of good intentions and the messy reality of forgiveness. It is an ideal choice for preteens who are beginning to see the world in shades of gray rather than black and white, providing a safe space to discuss honesty, accountability, and the moral complexities of helping others.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
DISTRESS: The concept of children 'donating' years of their life to a peer can be unsettling, particularly when Antsy's father suffers a heart attack, leading Antsy to believe his 'time donation' caused it. There is also a scene where a character attempts to jump from a bridge. CONVERSATION: Be ready to discuss the difference between a white lie and a manipulative one. Parents should also be prepared to talk about 'death hoaxes' or the psychology of why someone might lie about a serious illness to get attention. Additionally, be prepared to discuss the bridge scene, specifically regarding mental health and the permanence of death.
Ideal Reader
A 12-year-old who enjoys witty narrators and stories that challenge their moral compass. Perfect for the kid who liked Stargirl but wants something with more sarcasm and fast-paced dialogue.
Parent Prep
It is helpful to read the final third of the book to understand how Gunnar's deception is handled so you can guide the conversation on forgiveness. A child witnessing a parent's sudden heart attack and the subsequent guilt of feeling responsible for that parent's mortality.
Age Experience
Younger readers (11) will focus on the humor and the 'cool' factor of the life-donating contract. Older readers (14) will better grasp the existential dread and the critique of how people perform 'kindness' for social status.
What Makes It Special
Shusterman takes a high-concept, almost supernatural-feeling premise and roots it firmly in realistic fiction, using it to dissect teen social structures and the value of human life.
Read plot summary
Antsy Bonano, first introduced in The Schwa Was Here, returns in a story centered on mortality and social contagion. When classmate Gunnar Umlaut reveals he has six months to live, Antsy signs a legal-looking document 'donating' a month of his own life to him. The gesture goes viral, leading to a school-wide movement of time-donating. However, the ethics get murky when Antsy suspects Gunnar might be lying, and a family member's health crisis makes the 'donated' time feel terrifyingly real.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Antsy initially signs over his time to Gunnar out of pity. Do you think his intention matters more than the fact that the contract wasn't 'real'?
2
Why do you think the rest of the school was so quick to follow Antsy's lead? Was it about helping Gunnar, or something else?
3
When Antsy's father has a heart attack, Antsy feels responsible because of his 'donated' time. How does guilt change the way Antsy looks at his friends and family?
4
If you found out a friend had lied about something as serious as a terminal illness, would you be able to forgive them like Antsy tries to do?
5
The book explores the idea of 'borrowed time.' If you knew you only had a specific amount of time left, how would your daily choices change?
