Mike isn't the Chosen One. 
 He's not one of the "indie kids" that always seem to be at the heart of whatever paranormal adventure is going on in the middle of his town. He's just trying to find the courage to tell one of his best friends that he's in love with her, fix his family problems, and graduate before his high school blows up. Again. This is the story of the kids who are always in the background of the supernatural stories- the ones that just live here. 
 This is the first book I've read by Patrick Ness and I am definitely a new fan. I laughed my ass off reading this thing. It is first and foremost, satirical, making fun of all the books out there that focus on The Chosen One- the one quiet kid who is always at the heart of some otherworldly mystery, and their quirky friends who are always along for the ride. And let's not forget the inevitable love triangle. 
 I loved the two stories going on here: first the main story with Mike, Mel, Jared, and Henna; and then the small snippets of what the "indie kids" were up to at the beginning of each chapter. It was a very clever set-up, and it worked beautifully. It was hilarious how stereotypical but also how true it was. I loved Mike and all of the other characters. It made me think about all the fantasy books I've read, and what all the other kids were doing in those stories, oblivious to the apocalyptic events happening behind closed doors. This book was a perfect mix of fantasy and contemporary. It showed the real problems faced in a lot of families today, and focused on mental health and trying to overcome that. It was a story of one guy's journey of just trying to get by day to day, and being perfectly okay with that. I could see myself in Mike, and I think that's part of the reason I loved it so much. One of my favorite quotes that reflects this novel perfectly is: 
 "Not everyone has to be the Chosen One. Not everyone has to be the guy who saves the world. Most people just have to live their lives the best they can, doing the things that are great for them, having great friends, trying to make their lives better, loving people properly. All the while knowing that the world makes no sense but trying to find a way to be happy anyway." 
 THAT is what this book is about, and it is absolutely wonderful. Magic, mystery, suspense, and cleverness to spare- it won't disappoint.