THE ANTI-BOOK
AN ALA Rainbow Book - AN AMAZON EDITORS’ PICK
A story about a boy who wants the world to disappear, and what happens when it does.
“To erase it, write it”
Mickey is angry all the time. At his divorced parents. At his sister and her homophobic bully of a boyfriend. At his two new stepmoms, both named Charlie. So he can't resist the ad inside his pack of gum: "Do you ever wish everyone would go away? Buy The Anti-Book!" But when the book arrives, it’s blank—except for one sentence: To erase it, write it. He fills the pages with all the things and people he dislikes . . . Next thing he knows, he's wandering an anti-world, and everything and everyone familiar is gone. Or are they?
From Raphael Simon (a.k.a. beloved author Pseudonymous Bosch!) comes this Phantom Tollbooth for today's generation—a fantastical quest for comfort and belonging that will resonate with many, many readers.
The ALA Rainbow-Listed novel is the first to appear under Raphael’s own name. You can read interviews with him about The Anti-Book in Publisher’s Weekly and in Pop Goes the Page. His essay about writing the book is here.
Illustrated by Ben Scruton
ANTI-REVIEWS
"Filled with clever wordplay and puns come-to-life. Its world crackles with imagination . . .To read The Anti-Book is to jump on — and hold on… a surprisingly powerful, formula-breaking coming-of-age story." — New York Times (Read the full review here!)
★ "A contemporary, quirky escape from the adolescent doldrums . . . the strange, fantastical nature of this book is a fresh and welcome remix of the coming-of-age genre." — School Library Journal, starred review
"Short sentences and a fast-moving plot will especially appeal to reluctant readers. A bubble-gum story disguising some real substance." — Kirkus
"With this fast-paced, humorous adventure, Simon explores the complicated interplay of negative emotions as Mickey learns to confront his shifting 'states of mind' and cope with the world around him." — Publishers Weekly
"Simon offers wacky, inventive sidekicks and plenty of humor, but it’s also weirdly refreshing to adventure with a grumpy protagonist truly wallowing in his misery. On the flip side, it’s heartening to watch Mickey grow in self-love and self-awareness and ultimately realize that he has been papering over deeper emotions with surface complaints." — Booklist
“This book will move you, make you laugh, and change the way you think. A mind-bending experience, unlike anything you've ever read before.” — Adam Gidwitz, author of The Inquisitor’s Tale
“This exciting, clever, and ultimately moving book deserves a place on the same shelf as our most beloved children’s fantasies.” —Trenton Lee Stewart, author of The Mysterious Benedict Society
“Wildly original. Witty. Whimsical. This book is clever and full of good humor. Kids (and their parents) will love it." — Holly Goldberg Sloan, author of Counting by 7s
“Quirky, snarky, and fast-paced. I’m very much pro The Anti-Book. I loved it!” — Chris Grabenstein, author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
“Rafi Simon has created a wildly inventive world and a story that is both deep and deeply funny.” — Stuart Gibbs, author of Spy School
The ANTI-Book is NOW IN PAPERBACK!
ORDER HERE:
