Alex Wise vs. the End of the World

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By Terry J. Benton-Walker

Publisher Description

Welcome to the summer of the apocalypse. One 12-year-old boy leads the charge against the forces of evil as he tries to stop the Four Horsemen from taking over the world in the start to a wildly funny and addictive fantasy series about accepting yourself and finding your inner hero.

Alex Wise feels like his world is ending. His best friend, Loren, is leaving town for the summer, his former friend and maybe sort of crush Sky hasn't spoken to him since he ditched Alex on first day of sixth grade, and now his mom is sending him and his annoying younger sister, Mags, on a cruise with the dad who abandoned them. And, as if things couldn't get worse, a creepy shadow monster may or may not be stalking him.

But none of this could prepare Alex for the actual end of the world. Too bad that is exactly what's coming, after the definitely-real Shadow Man kidnaps Mags and she is possessed by the ancient spirit of Death—one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Luckily (depending on who you ask), Alex is possessed as well by a powerful god who imbues Alex with their powers in an effort to stop the Horsemen…if he can figure out how to use them. So begins an epic battle between good and evil: Alex, Loren, a grumpy demi-god, and Alex's fourth grade teacher vs. Death, Pestilence, Famine, War, and the waves of chaos and destruction they bring to LA and soon the rest of the globe. Just your average summer vacation.

Alex is more used to being left behind than leading the way, but now he's the only one who can save his sister—and the world. That is, if he can unlock his new powers and see himself as the hero he is.

“Never has the apocalypse been so fun!"
—Mark Oshiro, author of THE INSIDERS and co-author with Rick Riordan of THE SUN AND THE STAR: A NICO DI ANGELO ADVENTURE.

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36 Reviews

3.5

RoyalReads

Created 18 days ago

Jor

Created 3 months ago

“I thought this was great! Middle grade is not something I gravitate towards, but I saw this audiobook available on Libby and decided to give it a go - I’m interested in what kids are reading today and how our world is reflected to them through media. And I’m so happy to read an adventure story with such queer joy. Kids need to see this message. Yes, there’s hardships, but there’s beauty too. I love the friendship between Alex and Lauren, and the way that Alex fights for his sister. I love seeing Alex learn to appreciate himself and stand up for himself throughout the novel. I don’t think this is a series that I feel compelled to continue, but genuinely if anyone has kids and asks me for a recommendation, I will send this their way - it’s definitely something that I think will appeal to most children and I think it was really well done.”

Believable Change and grow Diverse representation Likeable Minor characters stand out Multilayered Relatable Strong relationships Strong villain

Lisa Houston

Created 3 months ago

“This is NOT a book for elementary students IMO. I listened to the audiobook and I just didn’t like this book. Review written with CHATGPT. Welcome to a summer unlike any other—the summer of the apocalypse. In this hilarious and action-packed fantasy series debut, a 12-year-old boy embarks on a journey to stop the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, discovering the power of self-acceptance and inner heroism along the way. Alex Wise’s life feels like it’s falling apart. His best friend, Loren, is leaving town, his ex-friend and maybe-crush Sky hasn’t spoken to him since the first day of sixth grade, and now his mom is shipping him and his pesky younger sister, Mags, off on a cruise with their estranged father. Oh, and there’s the minor detail of a creepy shadow monster that may or may not be stalking him. But things go from bad to apocalyptic when the mysterious Shadow Man kidnaps Mags, who becomes possessed by the ancient spirit of Death—one of the Four Horsemen. To make matters worse, Alex himself is suddenly inhabited by the spirit of a powerful god. Now, he must learn to harness these newfound abilities to prevent Death and the other Horsemen—Pestilence, Famine, and War—from plunging the world into chaos. Teaming up with Loren, a grouchy demi-god, and even his fourth-grade teacher, Alex faces waves of destruction as the battle between good and evil hits Los Angeles and threatens to engulf the globe. It’s a far cry from a typical summer vacation. Usually overlooked and unsure of his place in the world, Alex must step into the spotlight as the only one who can save his sister—and humanity. But can he unlock his powers and embrace the hero he was meant to be?”

Juno

Created 4 months ago

DeAndre Caldwell

Created 4 months ago

Change and grow

About Terry J. Benton-Walker

TERRY J. BENTON-WALKER grew up in rural Georgia and now lives in Atlanta with his husband and son, where he writes fiction for adults, young adults, and children. He’s also the author of the young adult contemporary fantasy series Blood Debts. He has an industrial engineering degree from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Georgia State. When he’s not writing, he can be found gaming, eating ice cream, or both.