Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White

Bibliographic Information:

Title: Hell Followed With US

Author: Andrew Joseph White

Publisher: Peachtree Teen

Copyright Date: 2022

ISBN: 9781682635636

Format: Print Prose Book

Genre: Horror/ Science Fiction/ Dystopian/ LGBTQIA+/ Neurotransmittal Atypicality

Awards: None

Interest Level: 14-17 (School Library Journal-Amanda MacGregor)

Plot Summary:

Benji, a 16-year-old trans queer boy, is running from the cult who experimented on him and created the Flood which started Armageddon decimating the worlds population. Benji desperately is trying to find a place beyond the grasp of the Angels and his mother. He is determined to be good, to not let his previous family use him as a bioweapon. When the Angels and their biohazard monster pets, the Graces, nearly capture Benji, a rag tag group of teens from the Acheson LGBTQIA+ Center (ALC) save him. Benji has to keep his past a secret from the ALC, except that their autistic and handsome leader Nick knows Benji is mutating into a biblical monster designed to destroy anyone in opposition to the cult. But to Benji's relief he is able to seek refuge whilst he learns more about his identity as a monster. But can he really trust his new found friends?

Author Background:

Andrew Joseph White is an autistic trans writer who also is an excellent artist! He is from Virginia and grew up obsessed with monsters and imaging what it would be like if her could be one too! From George Mason University he received a MFA in creative writing. His works are bestselling novels regarding queer and disabled rage. Other works from Andrew Joseph Whiter are The Spirit Bares its Teeth, Compound Fracture, and his upcoming debut adult novel You Weren't Meant to be Human.

Critical Evaluation:

I do not have an extensive history with horror, so I was excited to dive into this novel. What even was that? A terrifyingly intriguing story that taunts questions of how religion, morality, and humanity intertwine. Hell Followed with Us is a unique, very compelling, and extremely honest depiction of love and identity! I've never read anything like this before. This novel made me reconsider so many things that I have constructed in my head and taught me so much about myself, how I viewed the world, and provided alternative perspectives. This book is not for everyone, but regardless of this I can't stop recommending it to people. This book is a challenge and a rageful scream. The diversity in this book is extensive but also done so in a thorough and inclusive way that makes you wish all books were like it. Benji, my heart. Nick, what a stud. Theo, hate, but also, poor guy, he had no chance. I want to be a part of the Watch, they are so bada**!

Creative Use for Library Program:

Worry Lizards- In Hell Followed with Us, the main character, Nick, has autism and anxiety. To help regulate his emotions he carried around a beaded lizard and played with it to help calm himself. He encourages Benji to make his own beaded lizard to help with his anxiety and regulate. Librarians will provide fun colored beads and teach teens how to make their own worry lizards to carry them around like Benji and Nick. Teens can create other animals and make extras to give out to some of the children of the library and other patrons who have a neurotransmittal atypicality. The lizard to the left is one that Andrew Joseph White created when he was in the third grade and still uses today.

Speed Round Book Talk:

If The Last of Us met The Thing but queer and set against an extreme cultish christian backdrop during the end of the world. May need poncho to protect yourself from the gore and waterworks.

Potential Challenge Issue and Defense Preparation:

I am honestly more surprised I have not heard more discourse about this book being a banned book. The conservative Christians must be in an uproar with this book. But that's the point! Andrew Joseph White wrote this out of rage based on emotions from within. This themes and ideas presented by groups in this book are not too different from what we are, have, and unfortunately will most likely continue to face. Many queer (and straight) teens face persecution from their religious communities, this novel gives these teens a space to feel their rage, to feel seen, and maybe provide a voice. There is a saying that people dispute "A truly great library contains something in it to offend everyone." I think that this book will offend some people, but those who really read it will hopefully see that queer teens are screaming for help, a voice, a space to be themselves. This book is that for them and needs to be read.

Reason for Inclusion:

Like to what I said before, Hell Followed With Us is a unique novel one that does not cry for help but screams in rage. The sentiments in this novel are shared with teens across the globe and may even open the eyes of teens who have been living in a suppressed, unsupported, and traumatic life. I am including this novel because it opens eyes, it questions constructs, and taunts an examination of world as we know it. Plus this book is something that might not only save some teens life but also inspire them to change the future of their community for the better. Hope is powerful but so is rage!

Check Out:

Andrew Joseph White is a talented artist and often draws sketches of his characters, below I am sharing some of his art as well as fan art for Hell Followed With Us. The descriptions of Benji's transformation is so intriguing and almost unimaginable, I wanted to show different depictions of Benji as he turns into Seraph.

References:

Andrew Joseph White. (n.d.). About. Accessed June 2024 from https://andrewjosephwhite.com/about

Goodreads. (n.d.). Hell Followed With Us. Accessed July 2024 from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57911600-hell-followed-with-us

School Library Journal. (2022, June). Book Review: Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White. https://teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2022/06/23/book-review-hell-followed-with-us-by-andrew-joseph-white/

White, A. J. (2023, June). behold, the original bead lizard I made in, like, third grade lol [Post]. X. https://x.com/AJWhiteAuthor/status/1665375169160835073/photo/1

@ajwhiteauthor. (2021 July). Day 24 of #22Debuts - An important relationship in your book 👁 #22Debuts is a chance to meet the debut authors [Post]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CRt5ES5rW7U/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

@cicada_days. (2022, October). Something spooky for Halloween! A painting for my traditional art class, redesigning the cover of Hell Followed With Us by [Post]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/CkW_PX_JkdZ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

@killabrachys. (2024, April). Fanart for @ajwhiteauthor 's #hellfollowedwithus of Benji/Seraph ❤️❤️. I drew Benji in that transitional phase where he's at the river going thru [Post]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/C54l0Aexh_i/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==