Homicidal Aliens and Other Disappointments

Jesse's own words complicate the apparent hero narrative: he doubts that he is a hero, yet says he wants to fight. His uncertainty about his abilities and destiny makes the story's focus more than simply defeating an enemy.

The invasion involves widespread killing and enslavement, and one passage evokes cold, fireless nights. The threat is large-scale and the survival setting may feel intense; consider how your reader responds to peril and loss.

Jesse is treated as a Chosen One, although he is unsure how he killed an alien leader. What do you make of the gap between other people's expectations of him and what he understands about himself?

You could read together in short sections and pause when Jesse questions whether he is a hero or says he wants to fight. Invite your reader to consider what he knows, what he is guessing, and how those differ.