Is this book suitable for middle schoolers?

It is better suited for ages 14 and up. Middle schoolers might enjoy the alien mystery, but the book contains moderate profanity (f-bombs), casual drinking, references to adult relationships, and themes of political radicalization that resonate more with high schoolers.

Do kids need to know Hank Green from YouTube to enjoy it?

Not at all. The story stands completely on its own as a sci-fi thriller. Knowing Hank Green's background on Vlogbrothers or Crash Course adds a fun layer, but zero prior knowledge of his work is required.

How dark or violent does the story get?

The violence is minimal in terms of volume, but there are heavy moments. An anti-alien extremist group forms, resulting in arson and an attempted attack on the main character. It is tense rather than graphic or bloody.

Does the book contain explicit sexual content?

No. The main character is bisexual and mentions past hookups and romantic partners, but any sexual activity happens off-page. Romance and attraction are central to her character arc without detailed explicit content.

Is this part of a series or a standalone novel?

It is the first book in a two-part series. The second book, A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor, completes the arc. An Absolutely Remarkable Thing ends with a significant cliffhanger that will make readers want the sequel immediately.

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing – WISE Score & Parent Review

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Read

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Screenwise Verdict

Hank Green's debut novel is a fast, fun sci-fi mystery that doubles as a masterclass on how the internet changes human behavior. When twenty-three-year-old April May stumbles across a ten-foot robot sculpture named Carl at 3:00 a.m. in Manhattan, her decision to film a casual video launches her straight into international media stardom. What follows is equal parts alien contact puzzle and cautionary tale about viral notoriety.

Because Green built a career inside digital media, the book avoids the usual out-of-touch tropes about the internet. It gets the micro-details right: the weird thrill of a subscriber count spiking, the toxic pull of reading comment sections, and how political pundits immediately weaponize uncertainty to build personal brands. It is a smart, propulsive read for high schoolers who want something that speaks their language without feeling like a lecture.

Expect some strong language, casual alcohol use, and real moments of danger as the plot escalates into radicalization and violence. If your teen is 14 or older, it is one of the best contemporary fiction picks for starting real conversations about online identity.

Age Fit

Targeted at older teens (14+) and adults. High schoolers who spend time on YouTube, TikTok, or Reddit will recognize every single social dynamic Hank Green describes.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

62

April May is a flawed, realistic 23-year-old who makes impulsive, self-centered choices as fame goes to her head, though her core relationships ground the narrative.

Imaginative

86

The premise of mysterious ten-foot alien sculptures appearing globally and unlocking crowdsourced puzzles is clever, original, and deeply engaging.

Safe

75

Contains occasional f-bombs, casual drinking, non-graphic references to sex, and mild violence including an attempted murder and arson.

Enriching

88

Offers an incisive, highly relevant critique of algorithm-driven celebrity, internet outrage mobs, polarization, and parasocial dynamics.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Nails internet culture from the inside out, showing exactly how algorithms reward polarization and outrage.
Fast-paced mystery where humanity has to collaborate on global logic puzzles to figure out what the sculptures want.
Sharp character study of what sudden online clout does to personal relationships, self-worth, and safety.
Written by Hank Green, who spent fifteen years building YouTube platforms and actually knows how the machinery works.

⚠

What to Watch For

Profanity and language: Dropped f-bombs and moderate swearing throughout.
Mature themes: References to casual sex and hookup history, though non-explicit.
Real violence and danger: An attempted assassination, an arson attack, and intense threat from an anti-alien radical group.

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think April chose to lean into media optics even when it hurt her closest relationships?"
"How do real social media algorithms favor outrage over calm conversation when something weird happens in the news?"
"If you suddenly woke up with two million followers overnight, what is the first boundary you would set for yourself?"

Deep Dive

Why This Book Hits Different for Teens

Most fiction written about social media by adults falls flat because the author clearly does not understand how feeds work. An Absolutely Remarkable Thing avoids that trap entirely. Hank Green has spent nearly two decades operating inside online video culture, and his understanding of audience dynamics, parasocial intimacy, and viral incentive structures shines through on every page.

April May is not a polished hero. She is messy, defensive, and easily swayed by the dopamine hit of public attention. As global interest in the mysterious "Carls" grows, April transforms from a broke art school graduate into a central media figure. The narrative shows the quiet tax of that shift: how she starts treating her genuine friendships as background noise and evaluates every life event by how it will perform on television or Twitter.

Sci-Fi Mystery Meets Real-World Literacy

Beyond the social commentary, there is a legitimate sci-fi puzzle at the center of the story. The Carls are not just standing around; they are giant alien lockboxes that require humanity to work together across time zones and languages to solve shared riddles. That dynamic gives the plot a collaborative, brainy energy that keeps the pages turning.

For parents, this book is an easy bridge into media literacy. It does not argue that the internet is inherently evil, nor does it pretend that going viral is harmless fun. Instead, it lays out the machinery: how polarization happens, why extreme voices get amplified, and how quickly public adoration can turn into targeted hate. High schoolers reading it will get a great story alongside a clear look at the digital world they move through every day.

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