An Absolutely Remarkable Thing

April May stumbles upon a mysterious robotic sculpture in New York City and films it for social media, not realizing identical structures have appeared simultaneously in cities worldwide. Her video goes viral, catapulting her into sudden fame as the first person to document these entities, dubbed "Carls." The novel follows April's navigation of newfound celebrity status while she and her friends work to understand the Carls' purpose. The appearance of shared dreams containing puzzles adds another layer to the mystery, as people across the globe begin experiencing identical nighttime visions. As April becomes the face of the Carl phenomenon, she finds herself at the center of a polarized global debate about these unexplained visitors. Her role evolves from accidental discoverer to influential voice in a worldwide conversation about humanity's response to the unknown. This debut science fiction novel examines the nature of fame in the digital age and explores how social media shapes public discourse around unprecedented events. The story raises questions about human reaction to the unknown and the power of online platforms to unite or divide.

Readers highlight the book's commentary on internet fame, social media dynamics, and viral celebrity culture. Many note its relevance to current online discourse and appreciate the realistic portrayal of becoming suddenly famous. Readers liked: - Fresh perspective on millennial experiences - Authentic voice and humor - LGBTQ+ representation - Fast-paced plotting - Integration of social media elements Common criticisms: - Main character comes across as unlikeable - Ending feels abrupt - Some find the social media focus tedious - Several readers note the protagonist's privilege undermines the story Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (157,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (3,800+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (2,800+ ratings) "The commentary on fame and social media hit close to home" - Goodreads reviewer "April May's character flaws made it hard to connect" - Amazon reviewer "Perfect capture of internet culture, but the sci-fi elements feel secondary" - LibraryThing review

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🌟 Hank Green co-founded VidCon, the world's largest conference for online video creators, which began in 2010 with 1,400 attendees and now hosts over 75,000 annually. 🎓 Along with his writing career, Green runs several educational YouTube channels, including Crash Course and SciShow, which collectively have over 15 million subscribers. 🔬 Before becoming an author and content creator, Green earned a Master's degree in Environmental Studies and initially planned a career in scientific research. 📚 The book's protagonist, April May, was partially inspired by Green's own experience with sudden internet fame after launching the YouTube channel VlogBrothers with his brother John Green in 2007. 🏆 "An Absolutely Remarkable Thing" debuted at #1 on the New York Times Best Seller list and was optioned for television by Anonymous Content in 2019.