53 pages • 1 hour read
Patrick NessMore Than This
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2013A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
More Than This by Patrick Ness follows Seth Wearing, a teenage boy who dies by suicide and wakes up in a strange, desolate version of his childhood hometown. As he explores what he believes to be his personal hell, he learns that humanity entered an alternate online reality to escape an ecological collapse. Seth meets other teenagers who also "died" and together, they evade a machine that seeks to reinsert them into the simulation while confronting their own traumas and the nature of reality. Topics include suicide, suicidal ideation, domestic abuse, anti-LGBTQ+ biases, and physical violence.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Patrick Ness's More Than This is a compelling mix of mystery and philosophical introspection, praised for its imaginative premise and deep emotional resonance. Critics admire its complex characters and thought-provoking themes. However, some find the pacing uneven and the resolution unsatisfying. Overall, it offers a rich, if occasionally challenging, reading experience.
Who Should Read More Than This?
Readers who enjoy introspective, genre-blending novels with young adult protagonists will appreciate More Than This by Patrick Ness. Fans of John Green's Looking for Alaska and Neal Shusterman's Scythe series will find the blend of mystery, emotional depth, and speculative elements compelling and thought-provoking.
RecommendedReading Age
14-18yearsLexile Level
HL800LBook Details
Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
Fantasy
Mystery / Crime Fiction
LGBTQ
Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Emotions/Behavior: Guilt