Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Boy saves the world to save his sister in gripping tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
When ALEX WISE VS. THE END OF THE WORLD begins, 12-year-old Alex is preoccupied with common middle-school concerns, with a few complications. He wants to ask his crush to go to a concert with him—and the crush is another boy. He feels unappreciated by his father—and his father has left the family and married a woman with a son his age. Alex is also sad that his best friend Loren is going away for the summer. But when a shadowy figure starts trying to grab his sister, and his mother sends both kids on a summer cruise with their father, Alex's priorities change completely.
Is It Any Good?
Frequent surprises make this book a thrilling read. Enemies become allies, and friends become villains. In Alex Wise vs. the End of the World, superpowers fail, and unexpected strengths make themselves known in the nick of time. Author Terry J. Benton-Walker naturally weaves in Black LGBTQ+ representation. Main character Alex thinks and talks about his concerns and experiences as he realizes he likes boys, and though it's not the main focus of the story, it's a gentle, age-appropriate introduction to exploring sexuality. Despite the apocalyptic end-of-the-world setting, Alex faces situations many middle-school readers will relate to, like parental communication issues, sibling relationships, and shortcomings in sports. His relationships with his bestie, his little sister, and his teacher are endearing, and the action keeps the pages turning. A great first installment that will leave readers wanting more.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the theme of courage in Alex Wise vs. the End of the World. How does compassion help a person be courageous when they are scared?
In Alex Wise vs. the End of the World, communication doesn't always make things better right away. Discuss some ways communication can be hard. Have you ever had to share something you knew might hurt someone? Can you think of a time when communication led to misunderstanding? Did more communication help? How?
A metaphor is a figure of speech that is used to emphasize the meaning of an idea. "The end of the world" is often a metaphor for "the worst thing that could happen." What would feel like the end of the world to you?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Communication , Compassion , Courage
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Random House Children's Books
- Publication date : September 6, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 416
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : March 13, 2026
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