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Antuna's Story (The Antunite Chronicles #1)

Terry Birdgenaw

Start date: October 2, 2022

Finish date: December 31, 2022

Discussion: The Read Section

Why we're reading this: BOTQ 2022 Q4
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What Members Thought

Oct 23, 2022 Kat rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kindle-unlimited

ANTUNA’S STORY is a terrific young adult sci fi/fantasy tale about insects who are teleported through space via a wormhole to an alien planet and their experiences on their new planet. The writing is fun and witty, with podcasts, clever witticisms, and fun dialogue I enjoyed. Antuna, or “first ant” is a main character, but I would really call this an ensemble cast, with bees, spiders, roaches, worms and more playing a role. I enjoyed the author’s clever naming… Spifry the spider, Beebee and Beeg ...more

25 likes · Like · see review

Jun 28, 2022 Lynn Helton rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: challenge-readers-unbound-2022, speculative-fiction

On the surface, this is a sci-fi tale about Earth insects and spiders who have found themselves transported somehow to a far-off planet where they must figure out how to survive. But there’s so much more in this book.

It is an engaging and entertaining story. It’s wonderfully imaginative and goes into detail about how its insect and spider characters communicate and might view their world. The inclusion of the insect emotions/non-verbal speech (and a dictionary at the back to decipher them) was a ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Jan 17, 2023 E.K. Frances rated it it was amazing

Witty, original, and chilling.

Antuna's Story is about a set of earth insects, spiders and worms that get transported through a wormhole to another planet.

The writing is descriptive, clever, and at times witty. There are many levels to the book; it's the type of book kids could study at school as there are lots of subtle undertones throughout the story, from the rhyming phrases, the funny insect names (Brilliant, Beesphere the playwright), and the way the insects express their emotions.

The start ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

May 21, 2022 Ann Birdgenaw rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I loved this book! A fresh approach to Animal Farm with an insect twist! Earth insects are transported through a wormhole to a different planet. They survive, thrive and fight for territory in this allegorical novel. Antuna is a strong female ant who helps to bring the different insect species together to survive on the ' island from home'. But even Antuna can't stop the war from destroying the friends she's made and the progress of the colony. Can't wait for book two! ...more

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Jun 16, 2022 Rik Ty rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Great Teaching Aid or Parent-Child Read-Along…On The Perils Of War-Mongering

Yes, sorry, but there are spoilers here.

No doubt, this is an unusual book, so this might be an unusual review. In the book, we are being told the story by the descendants of insects that were pulled to another planet through a wormhole (during the cretaceous period). The descendants inform us that they have studied humans totally, and that they have filled the story they are about to tell us with word play and puns and p Great Teaching Aid or Parent-Child Read-Along…On The Perils Of War-Mongering

Yes, sorry, but there are spoilers here.

No doubt, this is an unusual book, so this might be an unusual review. In the book, we are being told the story by the descendants of insects that were pulled to another planet through a wormhole (during the cretaceous period). The descendants inform us that they have studied humans totally, and that they have filled the story they are about to tell us with word play and puns and pop culture references that we are sure to love. This is a very charming notion – and I have to say, that when the author gets this right – it’s funny, and when the author gets this wrong -- it’s still funny (an insect being wrong about a joke you will love is still funny).

It's going to be hard to truly discuss this book without using spoilers and It will be hard to recommend it without discussing it.

However, it is very easy to say that this book is 100% heartfelt. The writing is clear and to the point. The characters are sweet, and presented simply: insects with thoughts and emotions, caught in a challenging situation.

Most children go through a time when they are fascinated by insects: fireflies glowing on summer evenings, ladybugs coming to pay a passing visit, even people who don’t like bugs, like these occurrences, and most kids are interested in more than this. So, at first, it seems like a perfect thing to say that this book is ideal for a parent / child read-a-long – where the parent reads some and the child reads some. It would also work with the parent reading the entire story – I suggest including parents because most of the puns and jokes will go over a child’s head without explanation, and also because most of the scientific terms and ideas related to insect life included in the book, are mentioned in passing, and could be missed if they aren’t discussed – not all, but definitely some (it seems, early in the book, that knowledge about insects is the point of the story (it’s not)).

In the very beginning of the book, a small patch of woodland eco-system gets pulled from Earth to another world. The other world accepts the small eco-system with no problem, but the transplanted insects have to adjust quickly. In these early days, a group of young insects (2 bees, an ant, a termite, and a spider) become unlikely friends. Parents and children will delight in these scenes (worms, flies, beetles and roaches have also made the trip). Cooperation and innovation help the new settlers thrive, and parents and children would delight in reading these scenes to each other as well.

But here is where the parent/child read-a-long idea reaches a cut off point. And I am sorry to say, this counts as a spoiler, so if you don’t want to know more, please stop reading.

Old squabbles between the species re-assert themselves. Perhaps I don’t need to go into more detail except to say that parents and children who read this book together will wind up talking about propaganda, war mongering, deceit, betrayal, racism (species vs species), chauvinism, brain-washing, self-delusion, defeat, martyrdom, and senseless, untimely death. So, I think the pool of parent/child readers actually shrinks quite a bit here. It may not disappear entirely, but if the idea intrigues you, please know going in that this will be a sad book to read with your kids.
So, what readers does that leave?

Students? Absolutely. High School, College, Junior High School, and maybe even Elementary School students will find plenty to discuss in this gentle book. It deserves a spot on the shelf with Animal Farm. It’s sweeter. It’s simpler. It reads something like a children’s book, but it too, has warnings to impart.

Teachers – both official, and not – take a look.
...more

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Jul 12, 2022 Florian Armas rated it really liked it · review of another edition

A sort of a cosmic cataclysm, generated by the asteroid that transformed the dinosaurs on Earth in lithographic memories, sent a large plot of land from our planet to a faraway one, through an accidental wormhole. Only the insects survive, and they will start an original civilization on an Earth-like planet. So, the story begins, written with ‘pheromones’ and translated in some mysterious ways by a skilled narrator. The novel brings to the reader two parts that are quite different. The first one ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 15, 2022 P.L. Tavormina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

4 stars, rounded up to five.

This story takes place far, far away, but it has parallels to our issues here on Earth. Readers might recognize lessons like a need to band together with those we don’t agree with, to overcome common challenges; a need to work against our own biases, the importance of learning history so we don’t repeat it. This is a tale with a lot of heart and wisdom, suitable to younger readers.

We follow chirpy and sweet characters. They’re spunky and brave, sly and clever, with n ...more

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Jun 14, 2023 Jenny Graves rated it it was amazing

I read the last one in this series first, so I enjoyed going back to the beginning and find out how the story started. And what a beginning it was!

Although the author calls this a Young Adult book, I think it’s really one that can appeal to all ages from about 10 upwards. It certainly appealed to me. On the face of it, it’s an adventure story about how insects coped when they were uprooted and transplanted from Earth onto a new planet. But really, it’s about much more than that.

The story is abou ...more

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Nov 11, 2024 P.J. Ashton rated it it was amazing

Being honest, I read the first couple of chapters and it wasn't my cup of tea, being a young adult kind of story. I liked the format where the story was told via a podcast, and the presentation of ants and other insect species as a humanity parallel was rather unique.

But then, something happened. All hell broke loose, and the book went extremely dark. Writing this review, a day later, after reading the book twice, I still cannot stop thinking about it and in my book, this is the mark of a fantas ...more

1 like · Like · see review

May 21, 2022 James Joseph rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I never imagined that a story about insects transported to another planet would make me laugh out loud or cry my eyes out, but Antuna's Story did both. I learned a lot about ant behavior but also appreciated the allegory's references to human frailties from the past and present. It's a timely reminder about the futility of war and the perils of autocratic rule. ...more

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Aug 21, 2025 Linda Sanchez rated it really liked it

Antuna’s Story is an imaginative and powerful read that blends science fiction with meaningful themes. I loved how the author used the world of insects to explore ideas of friendship, diversity, and the struggle between good and evil. The story is fast-paced and full of action, yet it also makes you reflect on real-world issues like discrimination, power, and unity.

The characters, from Antuna to her unlikely allies, are endearing and memorable, and the allegory woven through the book gives it a ...more

1 like · Like · see review

May 21, 2022 Soph rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Great dystopian tale of insect aliens trying to survive on a different planet. It's out there! With a cute female ant who brings natural enemies together in order to survive. ...more

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Jun 29, 2023 Juliette Godot rated it it was amazing

I wish I would have read this one first. Antuna's Story is the first story of the Antunite Chronicles. It is well-written and immersive, and I highly recommend it for young teens up to adults.

This adventure story follows a small group of insects who found themselves on another planet. At first, they work together to make a life for themselves making friends across the different species. Soon, however, greed begins to take over. One ant makes himself and his colony appear to be victims, villainiz ...more

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Jun 01, 2024 Terry Birdgenaw rated it it was amazing · (Review from the author)

5-Star reviews from BookView Review, Prairies Book Review, Editor's Weekly, and Readers' Favorite

"A GOLD BADGE WINNER - SIMPLY OUTSTANDING!

Birdgenaw combines riveting adventure and masterful world-building in his debut, the first book in The Antunite Chronicles.

When a sudden apocalyptic event transports Antuna, a tiny ant, and a few other species of insects to a far-off planet, survival becomes a priority. There is only one way that the survivors can stay alive: Make a team and work together to ...more

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Mar 17, 2024 F. Pettit rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-and-reviewed

Antuna's Story is a fun, sci-fi adventure for young adults who love creepy crawly critters. It takes a serious yet entertaining approach to unexpected environmental events and the social change that can occur as a result.
The writing is detailed and offers some interesting scientific insight into the real behaviours of the insect world. Sometimes, it felt like there were too many made-up words and names to remember but readers will get used to it.
In all, it’s an engaging way to prepare young fo ...more

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Nov 21, 2023 Amber Daulton rated it really liked it

Prehistoric Earth is thriving with dinosaurs and insects alike when a great meteor strikes. A chunk of earth breaks off and is transported through a wormhole where the surviving insects must band together to forge a new life for themselves. Hatred, jealousy, pain, and betrayal soon tear these newfound allies apart as a certain few wish to conquer the various insect colonies in an evil quest for power. Thankfully, Antuna and her friends rise against this tyranny and pave the way for peace for fut ...more

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Jun 27, 2023 Amanda Stuntz rated it really liked it

This story was a pleasant surprise that I enjoyed reading.

When a metorite hits earth it makes a black hole that transports several different kinds of insects to a new planet. This story is mostly told through Antuna’s, who is an ant, point of view. Together with her other insect friends, they try to get all the insects to work together, but it doesn’t work out the way they planned.

This was an interesting story that kept me entertained the whole time. The only part that felt slow and a little bor ...more

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Jul 23, 2022 Peter Boyde rated it it was amazing

Cool scifi story about part of Earth and it's creatures being sucked through a worm hole to another planet and how they might work together to survive. My son and I enjoyed this book because you learn a lot about insects and how smart they are. My son enjoyed the fun and funny interactions between the different insect species as they forged alliances. Some sad scenes where it inevitably breaks down and some 'insect' violence. Recommended for readers who loved Animal Farm and Watership Down or th ...more

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