Brad About Books: Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

Read from October 19 to 21, 2013

GRASSHOPPER JUNGLE
Expected Publication Date: February 11, 2014
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (Penguin)
Format: ARC
Page Count: 388 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

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 and the complex realities of the human condition.

Grasshopper Jungle is truly a one of a kind gem that shouldn't be missed. With marvelous characters and superb, masterful writing, Grasshopper Jungle is easily one of the most thought-provoking and incredible novels I have ever read. 

You will never find a book like Grasshopper Jungle, in both the sense of the plot and of the brilliant way it was crafted together by Smith. As Austin and Robby unleash the end of the world in their small Iowa town, they both discover themselves along the way while trying to save humanity. What I really loved about Grasshopper Jungle was how it never always focused on the danger at hand - there are many scenes where the characters are just sitting around, discussing life and the things pertaining to them at the time, and it fit the characters perfectly. They're misfits and they don't always have the right answers. How Smith weaved together Austin, Shann, and Robby's character and developed them even further blew me away. Grasshopper Jungle is an absolute must-read!

Andrew Smith has a fantastic writing style. He was able to manage to weave two stories - the story of the end of the world and the story of Austin's family legacy - and intertwine them together to make them one bigger, epic story, without shadowing or taking away from one or the other. Grasshopper Jungle will forever change the way you view the misfits that surround you; whether it's for the better or for the worse, they're always changing in ways never noticeable unless you become entwined with their world. Smith has created a genius, mind-bending story that packs an epic punch and leaves its mark. 

From Austin trying to discover his place in the world to the best friend relationship the characters share, Grasshopper Jungle shares a true perspective of what it means to be lost in a world full of possibilities. It's smart, it's dynamic, it's enthralling, it's phenomenal. Grasshopper Jungle will not only consume your mind - it will be the only thing you think about, long after the final page has been turned. Grasshopper Jungle is truly remarkable.

Overall, Grasshopper Jungle is a dazzling, heart-pounding read that has left a mark on me and captivated me from start to finish. Spectacular!

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