Grasshopper Jungle

Smith, A. (2014). Grasshopper jungle: A history. New York: Dutton.

Austin, Robby and Shann are as close as best friends can get. Austin is caught in a constant state of confusion due to his love for both Robby and Shann. Adding to their coming-of-age emotional confusions, life for these three teenagers becomes increasingly difficult with the discovery of the Plague Strain 412E. The release of Dr. Grady McKeon’s plague sets in motion the development of 6 foot tall human eating Unstoppable Soldiers. Austin is determined to discover the history behind the Unstoppable Soldiers recording his own history along the way. His discoveries lead him to Eden, a silo created by Dr. McKeon. It is a home underground stocked with everything needed to sustain life for many years. The Unstoppable Soldiers begin feasting and multiplying at an alarming rate. The end of mankind is inevitable. The three teenagers hold the fate for the future of the planet. Robby’s blood is the only ammunition and finds it is useful by shooting it through paintball guns. Unfortunately, there is not enough of Robby to keep up, so retreating to Eden is their only option for survival. Four years later, mankind has been wiped out, but Shan and Austin have created a life of their own named Arek. Grasshopper Jungle is creatively written in a spiraling fashion that repeats and reveals connections between the characters and their families. This Michael L. Printz award winning science fiction book will have high school students and adults alike enthralled by its humor, captivating plot and unique writing style.