Apocalypse NOPE!! by Deidre Huesmann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Apocalypse NOPE!! by Deidre Huesmann is a Young Adult novel about a girl named Ivy Jean who, through a series of circumstances, is tasked with facilitating the end of the world after being saddled with the 4 Horsemen- or, rather, Horsepeople- of the Apocalypse. This book was an absolute pleasure to read- it was a page turner from the first page to the last, largely due to how utterly charming and compelling the characters were. Ivy-Jean is a well-rounded protagonist who I feel many teenagers, especially girls, will relate to. I think we can all agree that at some point or another, like Ivy-Jean, we’ve felt as if we weren’t enough and have yearned to be loved and accepted by those around us, especially when navigating our high-school years. As for the Horsepeople themselves, War is so gleefully destructive that it’s lovable, Death is the kind but silently dangerous friend we all wish were in our corner, Famine is determined and principled but compassionate and Pestilence, while a pest (ha!), is an interesting and fascinating character. The relationships between Ivy-Jean and the 4 Horsepeople are fleshed out as they’re given ample room to breathe and develop in quiet moments between the flurry of world-ending activity and action. A part of this development stems from how funny some of their interactions are. It turns out that entities with the literal power of Gods at their fingertips are still prone to misunderstandings and the sheer absurdity of humanity, which serves as a vehicle for some of the book’s best humour.

Another thing this book has in spades is diversity- something that is super refreshing to see in our current climate. Almost all of the main characters belong to the LGBTQIA+ community including the main character, and some fall outside the gender binary. Subjects such as sexism and the patriarchy, racism, and homophobia are addressed tactfully and respectfully and in such a way that really echoes the frustrations of our modern-day society. Those belonging to such groups being able to see themselves reflected in such fantastical and multifaceted characters is a wonderful thing, especially because such diverse characters are often just reduced to their status as a minority in other stories.

Beyond amazing characters and diversity, Apocalypse NOPE!! also boasts vivid and sharp description that enlivens every scene in the book. Being a tale that revolves around those with the unequivocal capacity to end the world with a mere sneeze, one would expect it to contain some colourful action and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. The action is quick and fast-paced, and Huesmann’s writing provides the reader with a front-row seat to all of it. At certain points, I was within the text of the page and at the scene- standing right next to Ivy-Jean as we marvelled at the horrific and magnificent powers of the Horsepeople.

All-in-all, Apocalypse NOPE!!, despite the title, is not something you’re going to want to say ‘nope’ to. If you’re looking for a book with quirky and intriguing characters and a well-paced plot that also serves as a commentary on contemporary society, then you need not look further.

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