We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen

But this is my only criticism as the story was easy to read, humorous, consistently entertaining and perfect for a quick, light hearted read. We Are All Made of Molecules was for sure enjoyable but I feel that the characterisation of Ashley and Stewart were some what unrealistic and border line over the top but. The book definitely displayed a strong undertone of humour with Ashley's amusing inaccuracies of phrases such as her declaration of desperation to be 'unconstipated' from her parents. Jared exposes his true predatory persona and Stewart has to show ultimate bravery backed only by his mothers inspirational memory and molecules. Preview We Are All Made of Moleculesby Susin Nielsen We Are All Made of Molecules by Susin Nielsen(Goodreads Author) 3.85 Rating details 13,628 ratings 2,000 reviews Thirteen-year-old Stewart is academically brilliant but socially clueless. On New Years Eve a small, close friends only get together turns into a nightmarish alcohol fest. Stewarts father, Leonard was widowed almost two years ago and is now moving with his son to live with Ashley and her mother, Caroline.Īshley and Stewart seemingly have nothing in common until the new boy Jared spells trouble for Stewart but heaven for Ashley. Agent: Hilary McMahon, Westwood Creative Artists.Ashley's parents are divorced as her dad came to terms with the reality that he is gay and now lives in a lane way house in the garden. But both characters grow tremendously as they grapple with loss, navigate their differences, and find common ground. Nielsen's books have been translated into Dutch, French, Portuguese, Italian, German and Polish (In the Polish language, not all of them have been translated). Stewart's analytical perspective and Ashley's sarcastic narration are as different as they are entertaining, though Nielsen perhaps has a bit too much fun at the expense of Ashley, who is prone to malapropisms ('Claudia hit the snail on the head') and thinks Idi Amin is one of her mother's colleagues. Nielsen's 2015 book, We Are All Made of Molecules, about two step siblings trying to form a bond with each other, was shortlisted for the Governor General's Award.

Larsen) humorously conveys Stewart's attempts to befriend Ashley, whose anger is actually about her father, who recently announced that he's gay and moved into the cottage in their yard.

Alternating between the teens' perspectives, Nielsen (The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Fourteen-year-old Ashley feels otherwise ('My family is fubar' is her introduction to readers).

Socially awkward and cerebral, Stewart knows that it's time to move on after his mother's death and is excited to be gaining a sister. In this honest and funny portrayal of the difficult transitions that can come with blending families, 13-year-old Stewart is on board when his father decides they are moving in with his girlfriend, Caroline, and her daughter, Ashley.