11.03.2014

Staff Pick: Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
From goodreads.com:

Sixteen-year-old Austin Szerba interweaves the story of his Polish legacy with the story of how he and his best friend , Robby, brought about the end of humanity and the rise of an army of unstoppable, six-foot tall praying mantises in small-town Iowa.

To make matters worse, Austin's hormones are totally oblivious; they don't care that the world is in utter chaos: Austin is in love with his girlfriend, Shann, but remains confused about his sexual orientation. He's stewing in a self-professed constant state of maximum horniness, directed at both Robby and Shann. Ultimately, it's up to Austin to save the world and propagate the species in this sci-fright journey of survival, sex, and the complex realities of the human condition.

Pick it: if you are looking for a totally different spin on end-of-the-world novels. This reminded me of a YA Kurt Vonnegut book - I'm a big fan. Highly recommended for older teen boys, but I think this book has appeal for anyone looking for a unique sci-fi read.

Pair with: The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier - it's a minor plot point in the book, so you might wonder what all the fuss was about. You could also head downstairs to the adult section and check out Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut for another apocalyptic read.

Reviewed by: Deena

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