A Million Tiny Missiles All at Once

by Lucas Maxwell

Elias’s brain is a swamp of fears and bad things. His once-loving
brother Bo has become a stranger, and his parents are at
breaking point.


When Bo falls in with dangerous people, Elias decides he’s
the only one who can bring his family back together. But what
begins as a simple pizza-night plan quickly spirals into chaos.



Can Elias find a way to reach the people he loves the most
before it’s too late?



The stunning debut novel from Lucas Maxwell, winner of
the Times/Chicken House Competition 2024
Set in wintry Nova Scotia, Canada and inspired by the
author’s childhood, this special novel explores themes of
family addiction and growing up neurodivergent
Perfect for fans of The Perks of Being a Wallflower,
My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece
and Orbiting Jupiter

For readers aged 12 and up

Genres: Young Adult, Family

227 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2026

Reviews

[Amina]

✰ 3 stars ✰

“Get up, boy, you ain’t licked yet.”

This was a poignant and touching YA story. 14yo Elias' firm and sadly private resolve in protecting his 17yo brother, Bo, was heartbreaking. It was heartbreaking because most people, including his parents, didn't really see him as someone to be taken seriously due to his neurodivergence, so it wasn't necessary for him to be privy to the more serious matters concerning his brother. 😟

I felt his annoyance and frustration in that regard, especially since he was more intuitive, more perceptive, and more determined to prevent Bo from falling deeper into the wrong hands. I’ve been told I think too much. How he longed for the caring, more friendly version of his older brother to return. It was painful to see how hard he tried to hold it together when so much around him was falling apart. 💔

“Stop feeling so sorry for yourself. You are going to do whatever you want to do. You are.”

The story is set in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, in 1993, which I felt contributed to the story. Since it is partly inspired by the author's own childhood, it does make a little sense. The winter cold was a tangible presence in Elias' desperation while tracking his brother down. Their parents' slight lack of attention and awareness regarding their kids' antics also felt more relevant and convincing due to the time period.

Ofc, no one is ever entirely to blame, and I know it's not their fault either that Bo became the troubled teen that he was. I just felt there was a certain neglect of their kids that enabled their lives to head in certain directions - which, sadly, were difficult and dangerous ones. 😔 Elias' family slowly falling apart due to Bo's disruptive nature was heart-wrenching; they were helpless against his erratic behavior.

But what is prevalent and palpable throughout is the quietly affirming sibling love that needs no explanation for how innate it is. It is Elias' driving force, the first chapter sets up how far the brothers would go for each other, so it's not even a question that he would do anything for Bo. 🫂

“... and I thought we’d already chosen, chosen to survive whatever the hell this life was.”

The tension and fear built up like a distant echo, where I felt that evil forces still had Bo in their grasp, and when it took that sharp, drastic turn for the worse, at a moment Elias had the chance to shine on his own to show his own worth - he proved that their brotherly bond was an unbreakable force; I feared the worst... (no spoilers) 🥺

As the story is written from Elias' perspective, there were certain instances where the writing relied heavily on telling rather than showing. It disrupted the flow, imo, and made it difficult to fully connect with the dynamics and scenes. 😕 And while it did end on a hopeful, bittersweet note, I still felt bereft of --- something. I don't think I ever got a clear cut idea of why Bo was the way he was or that his problems entirely went away. It felt lacking of explanation, which I felt it should have offered a little more clarity. 😥

I do applaud the author's ability to balance the heavy and serious tone with the quirky and humorous levity of Elias' jokes, that desire to win a Pizza Hut dinner that he hoped would fix all their problems. It was subtle but effective, and it was a notably meaningful inclusion, especially as it breathed character into Elias' personality and heart. 💟

“I’ve got a joke.’
‘Spill it, I need one right now.’
‘I’ve been thinking of taking up meditation.’
‘Is that so?’
‘Yeah, I figure it’s better than sitting around doing nothing.”

[Emily Katy]

A beautifully written YA debut by Lucas Maxwell that is inspired by his own childhood, providing insight into how addiction affects family life and what it can be like growing up neurodivergent.

[Bev]

Moving, funny and family centric, this story about a neurodivergent teen trying to win a pizza meal for his family made me laugh and shed a few tears too. Very evocative of what it’s like growing up in a small town where everyone knows your business, the characters are relatable and addiction is dealt with very sensitively whilst still showing the effects on loved ones.

[nina]

Couldnt put it down, truly emotionally fantastic in all the best ways possible. So many pages bookmarked, so many feelings felt. Just as it should be 🤞

[Bridget]

Well done Lucas Maxwell! I've been a fan of your librarianship for years, and now you've given us a great YA read.

This book exudes the cold of winter in the middle of a Canadian winter. The snow, rain, sleet and hail hit a person like a million tiny missiles all at once, the cold is in your bones. You carry it around in your jacket and the walk to school or to investigate where your missing brother might be, this kind of cold is bone-chilling and miserable. Elias is a lonely boy, living in a small town where everyone knows your business and where his Dad is the cop is hard when you are a little bit unusual, and when your mum and dad fight over his brother, who seems to have turned into someone you don't recognise. Elias wants to win the talent competition at school, he wants his family to get the pizza meal prize. It would be a moment of brightness in their world. It might bring them together. But, it's hard to do that when your life is disrupted by sadness and cold. School is full of people who pick on him and his brother, and his defender against the bullies, isn't turning up.

This is a little book that packs a big punch. I'm going to thrust it at readers who like John Green and Kwame Alexander. It feels very real, and I'll be buying more copies of it. Highly recommend.

[Kate S.]

I love books with heart. This is one of them. Set in wintery Canada and following the life of Elias and his family. I loved the relationship with the two brothers; I loved being taken to Canada in the nineties; and I loved a story that has empathy at its core. Bravo Lukas Maxwell! Stunning debut.

[Aimée Hope]

I want to wrap Elias and Bo in heavily insulated bubble wrap so that no person (or windsnap) can hurt them.

Loved this book.

[Julia]

This was very moving and dealt with hard topics in a very sensitive way. I’m glad I picked this up!

[Beth]

Such a unique, emotional read!

[Dena]

A multi emotion experience reading a proof copy of A Million Tiny Missiles: Nostalgia, heartache and hope.

I could feel Elias' cold fingers and toes as well as his yearning for his brother, told through his wonderfully honest (and at times relatable) perspective that was so easy to become swept into.

An absolute delight to read.

[Izzy]

This is a phenomenal debut that I will be pushing into everyone and anyone’s hands.

An absolutely beautiful exploration of what it’s like to grow up neurodivergent, the impact of addiction (on one person and their whole family), the strength of brotherly love and the importance of true friendship.

Elias, our protagonist, will always have a place in my heart — his compassion, resilience and bravery is truly beautiful and admirable.

[Ilana Lindsey]

Elias is a fourteen-year-old boy living in Canada during a devastatingly cold winter. All he wants is to win the talent contest at this school so his family can enjoy the prize of a pizza dinner at the new Pizza Hut in town. He's challenged by the way his peers, and many adults, treat him due to his autism, and the fact that threatening men keep dropping by the house looking for his beloved older brother, Bo.

A Million Tiny Missiles All at Once is an engrossing YA novel that reminded me of the books I loved when I was a teenager. It held echoes of S. E. Hinton and Paul Zindel. It is a novel for young people, but that made it no less engaging for me as an adult. The prose is poetic and moving and Lucas Maxwell captures Elias' voice so perfectly I felt deeply enmeshed in his psyche. As an autistic adult who remembers clearly what it was like to be an autistic teenager, this is the kind of representation I've been craving. It's not cutified, it's not sugar-coated, it doesn't present autism as a "super power", but it also shows Elias' strength and love and mind and humanity in ways that made me love him deeply.

The story had me by the heart throughout and I wanted nothing more than for Elias to be happy and okay. It was hard watching him struggle, especially against the people treating him badly because of who he was, but it felt real. The ending left me satisfied and happy. It's a beautiful book and I recommend it to anyone of any age who enjoys stories of family drama, perseverance, and courage.

[kate fitzgerald]

A really great read! Really evocative of a time and place. A very moving depiction of brotherly love and neuro divergence.

[Joshkun Mehmet]

This is a fictional story about fourteen-year-old Elias, whose brother Bo is expelled from school and begins to fall in with the wrong crowd. As Bo drifts away, Elias grieves the loss of their once-close bond, while his neurodivergence heightens his anxiety, often pushing him into overwhelming sensory overload.

The harsh brutality of the Canadian winter is brought vividly to life, but what truly stands out are the beautifully observed relationships—between Elias and his family, as well as with the friends who shape life in their small town.

Though written as a YA novel, it is both funny and deeply relatable for readers of all ages. I read this in one sitting and found it utterly heart-wrenching, completely compelling, and an absolute joy to read.

[Lauren]

This story about an autistic teen who tries to win his family one perfect pizza dinner will break your heart and mend it again.

Based on events from the author’s own life, it explores bullying, family struggles, prejudice, brotherhood, addiction and rehabilitation through the sweet and sensitive mind of Elias, a fourteen-year-old wannabe comedian with a quick wit and a heart of gold.

Elias has always looked up to his brother, Bo, who he knows will do anything for him. So when Bo falls in with the wrong crowd, Elias worries he’ll end up in the back of their dad’s police car (or worse). And what’s more, their parents are arguing, and their dad is thinking of moving away. All Elias wants is to win the school talent show pizza prize, so they can spend some time together. But with shady characters hanging around, a body that’s often at odds with his mind, and people picking fights with him at school, Elias’s only hope is to make good friends, do his best and hope it doesn’t all fall apart.

Reading this, you’ll laugh, gasp, want to yell at (or hug) the characters, feel the cold of a Canadian winter on your cheeks and learn a ton of puns and jokes. Fans of The Perks of Being a Wallflower won’t want to pass it up; it has the same perceptive, simple style that makes scenes and phrases stick in your head. It’s a quick read (easily devoured in one sitting), but the characters remain with you long after. Especially Elias, who just wants to cause joy, and his grumpy mentor, Crawford, who sees the good in him and encourages it.

I’m so glad this book is being published, providing a relatable voice to young, neurodivergent teens tackling the difficulties of growing up. The realistic (if very sad) family circumstances explored, and the fact the story doesn’t shy away from hard themes, make it important representation as well as an eye-opening read for those of all ages. I’ll be recommending it.

A huge thank you to @chickenhousebooks and @lucasjmaxwell for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Annie]

There’s something extra special about reading a first novel from someone you know, and A Million Tiny Missiles All at Once did not disappoint. Lucas created a story full of heart and vulnerability. I’m so proud of what he’s created here — a remarkable first book and the beginning of what I hope is a long writing journey.

[Tash]

This is such a special book. And I truly believe every single person should read it.

It is moving, heartfelt and humorous. The first line has you chuckling and feeling shocked all at the same breath. As we move through the story you experience so many emotions. It is very rare to have a story move you in so many ways.

This book tackles tough and hard hitting themes. It is not easy to show others the world through the lenses of someone who is neurodivergent and how those around them respond and treat them. Maxwell does this in a way that I have never seen in a book, it very raw and very real.

This book moved me in a way that I haven’t been in a very very long time. It is a story that will stay with me.

Thank you chickenhouse books & Lucas Maxwell for sending me a proof copy of this book ahead of its release.

[Denise Gale]

I managed to pick up a proof of this brilliant book at a recent Chicken House event, I was eager to read it as it sounded amazing and it didn’t disappoint!
Winner of the Chicken House/Times Children’s Fiction Competition for 2024 which will be published next year. It’s a brilliantly executed story about a 14 year old autistic boy who also has anxiety. When his brother starts hanging with the wrong people his life starts to implode! Lias is also a wannabe comedian and is determined to win the school talent show as he is convinced this will bring his family together again! I was totally hooked on this story which only took me a day to read, I love finding stories that are realistic with male characters as I feel there isn’t nearly enough around and this feels like a classic in the making!

[Gráinne O'Brien]

This book is full of heart and humour. A magnificent story about a family going through a hard time and a boy who wants to fix it all. It will shatter your heart and help you put the pieces back together. Maxwell deliveries a stunning book that will remind every reader what it is like to be young and want the best for the people you love.

[Vonprice]

An incredibly powerful and moving #YA novel with an autistic teen protagonist navigating family upheaval in a small Canadian town.
My full review can be found here: https://vsviewfromthebookshelves.home...

[Mark Kielty]

I’m taking a short break from reading fantasy which is something I rarely do, but I found the perfect start with A Million Tiny Missiles All at Once by Lucas Maxwell. I got to know about this book via Lucas’s podcast, Booklings Chats, where he interviews children’s authors about their books.

I only really have one word for this book and that is “excellent”.

I didn’t think I’d love this book as much as I did and it shows it’s worth taking a step outside your normal genre reading every once in a while.

The book follows fourteen-year-old Elias, who is growing up in the 1990s rural Canada. He is autistic, but he’s much more than that. He’s funny and fiercely loves his family which he demonstrates throughout the book.

His family appear the be falling apart around him, particularly his older, seventeen-old brother, Bo, who has fallen in with the wrong crowd. So, to save them, he plans to win the school talent show – first prize – a family meal at Pizza Hut.

Firstly, I have never been to rural Canada, but Maxwell has this talent where he immerses the reader into the book’s setting. I felt like I was there, like I could feel the snow bite into my skin the way it did Elias. A million tiny missiles all at once captures the bitterness of Canada’s winter, and it’s lines like this that make me envious as a writer.

Because Elias thinks differently to most kids, it makes for an interesting narrative. He’s straight talking, explains what he does and doesn’t understand, and is up front about his challenges. What I love about Elias is that you know exactly where you stand with him along with the characters around him. He’s the opposite of an unreliable narrator. One thing you will learn is that he is not stupid, contrary to what is said by the people around him.

This book explores themes like toxic masculinity, how young men and boys feel they need to act, and how mismanagement of anger can result in destructive consequences. Maxwell doesn’t shy away from violence, to which Elias is often a victim. However, I loved those moments where Elias stands up for himself. Because for him it was never about showing off or trying to meet perceptions of what it means to be a man. For him, it was about standing up for his family.

The flashbacks contrast nicely of what Elias’s family was like in the past, and what they’re like at the time of the story. In the past, they were a family that were tight and loved each other. During the story, you see how fractured they are, the arguments, and how his brother treats Elias. You understand why Elias is so desperate to fix things, to make things how they were, and because of this, you root for him all the more.

There’s a quote on the back cover by Sarah Crossan stating, “Will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page.” I often see quotes like this on the back of books, but this is one of those times where the quote really resonated with me.

If, like me, you're looking to take a break from reading fantasy, then this is a great place to start.

If you’d like to listen to Lucas Maxwell speak about his book, or listen to his podcast in general, you can listen below:

https://soundcloud.com/booklingschat/...

[Hasliza Rajab]

I felt like putting this book down after the first four chapters because I didn't know where the story was going. But then I reached the next chapter, and I was absolutely awestruck. I found myself thinking, “Can you get through this, Elias?”

This is the story of a 14 year old boy who has a brother he loves, Bo. But Bo is struggling with many problems as he grows up, and the family starts to fall apart. One thing is certain, Elias believes he can bring his family back together despite all the struggles they are facing. One day, his school organises a competition, and he really wants to win it. If he can win the competition and convince his family to celebrate together over pizza, maybe things will finally feel normal again. But as Elias tries to fix his family, he begins to realise that some problems are much bigger than he can handle alone.

It's quite heartbreaking to get through this book, knowing what Elias himself is going through. But the author successfully balances these heavy themes with humour. Elias has this quirky and sometimes unintentionally funny way of looking at the world. At one point, he asks his mom, “Was I a mistake?” Other than that, even when things around him are difficult, his little observations and reactions bring some much needed lightness to the story.

The story is simple. It's about a boy who simply wants his family to be okay. Elias's journey made me laugh, well...broke my heart a little, and reminded me that we cannot always fix the people we love, even when we desperately want to.

Sometimes, all we can do is love them wholeheartedly!

[Carole]

This is a great realistic YA novel. Elias is a fantastic quirky character and the whole book feels authentic and relatable. His older brother Bo has fallen in with a bad crowd, staying out late and causing their parents to worry. Both Elias and Bo are bullied at school, not least for their Dad being a cop, and Elias struggles without Bo around to stick up for him. But Elias has a plan - if he can win the family pizza feast at the school talent show, maybe things will be better. Some great humour (and some terrible dad jokes!), a grumpy but kind-hearted neighbour, and a bitterly cold winter setting all add to the appeal. Highly recommended for secondary school libraries.

[After Last Chapter]

Absolutely loved this book! The story follows Elias - neurodivergent teen living in Canada with his brother Bo and his parents. When his parents relationship starts falling apart and his brother gets in serious trouble that could get him arrested (or worse) Elias starts trying to find a way to fix things. His solution is to win his school talent show by telling jokes and winning a trip to Pizza Hut for his family. This book was raw, funny and heartwarming. Elias' family loves him to bits and they never diminish his decisions or goals no matter how out of reach they seem. There are difficult moments that every family faces - relationship difficulties, money trouble, teenage angst, bad influences... Their family is not picture perfect or "aesthetic" and that's what makes this story so relatable. Ode to growing up and never giving up. A fantastic read for teens and adults! 5 stars!🌟

#amilliontinymissilesallatonce #yabooks

[Christopher Galvin]

A Million Tiny Stars

This was an exceptional read, with powerful heart wrenching writing, and a protagonist you could really root for (even some of his jokes were all right). For some reason, it reminded me of To Kill a Mockingbird, but I can't say why. Just brilliant.

[Debra]

This is a quick read and centres around one family and their two sons. Told from the perspective of the younger, 14 year old Elias, it’s actually about his older brother Bo as the story evolves we learn that Bo has an addiction, and we see the devastating effects this has on their family. The sibling love that Elias has for Bo is one of the most powerful parts of this book. I wish we got to know more about how Bo fell into addiction, and I wish we could have seen more from the Mum and Dad’s perspective. Because of that, I felt that was more telling than showing and that made parts of the book a bit clunky. I’m also not sure it has enough depth to be compared to The Fault in our Stars but it is a good book.

[Kirsty]

This has real heart behind it. Has a lot to say about family dynamics and what it like to be someone who is neuro diverse.

[Hanani Fernweh]

Its a good POV writing of an autistic person. The familial love is so strong.

[Sifa Poulton]

I received a review copy from the publisher in preparation for a UKYASpotlight interview. it has not affected my opinions.

A MIILLION TINY MISSILES ALL AT ONCE is a complex and poignant story of a family struggling with addiction.

Elias is autistic and possibly also has Tourette's (it's mentioned in the book but passingly). I love finding books with neurodiverse characters - there were so few when I was growing up and, while there's still a very long way to go, it is so nice to see more.

I really liked that the focus of the story wasn't "here's a kid struggling with autism". Being autistic is just part of who Elias is. Yes, being autistic means he is facing additional challenges, but much of that is thanks to the ableist bullying of those around him. I really liked that it wasn't a struggle book, wasn't pitting autism (or the community's reaction to it) as the big thing to overcome. We need more books like this.

The book deals with addiction and its cost on the individual but also their community - the strain on friendship and family. However Elias is being kept somewhat in the dark about it all, so the topic is never addressed head on, instead the symptoms are show and the conversations his parents have around him are somewhat oblique. It was an interesting and effective technique for keeping the focus on the consequences rather than the addiction itself.

It's set in 1993, but story wise, it feels like a contemporary novel (they just don't all have smart phones and the internet!) It feels a bit weird that the '90s is now considered "historical" but alas it was 30+ years ago. If you like contemporary novels, it will still appeal!

In all, this is a very solid debut.

[Nic]

*I pre-ordered from Waterstones and it arrived before pub day.

I loved A Million Tiny Missiles All at Once by Lucas Maxwell.

As a teenager/ young adult, I devoured books like this–character driven books with a distinctive narrative voice, capturing life unflinchingly.

It was fitting that the epigraph was a Ken Kesey quote, as reading this put me in mind of his storytelling including its portrayal of working class lives, its flow and its deep-delving observational narrative style.

Elias is living through the harshest period of his life in every sense. ‘A windsnap out of the north’ has buried Nova Scotia in a thick layer of snow. Elias is navigating high school as a neuro-divergent kid in the 90s and his brother, Bo, is losing himself. What will be left of them when the thaw finally comes?

The writing is at once raw and lyrical, as it combines Elias’s world view, and inner voice, with the gritty reality of their lives. The depiction of life in a poor rural community feels very authentic: some kids leaving school early to enter the sawmill, one of the main opportunities in the area; others falling into crime and addiction.

Add in the cold snap, which seems to hold the community almost in a suspended state, the feeling of captivity intensifies everything. When Elias signs up to tell jokes at the school talent show, it’s an act of resistance; a chance for Elias to transcend; it’s a culmination; it’s a symbol of hope. But will he even make it onto the stage?

A book about family life, coming-of-age and beating the odds with some banging 90s references and some genuine laugh-out-loud moments. It’s a really fantastic debut that completely floated my boat.