Grasshopper Jungle
This book certainly defies all boundaries for young adult fiction. It is a science fiction book that is creepy, dark, humorous, and full of insight into the mind of an adolescent boy struggling with his sexuality. It is written from the point of view of Austin Szerba, a self-described historian, who is meticulous in writing down all that happens to him and how his history intersects with current events. He lives in the small town of Ealing, Iowa, along with his best friend, Robby, and girlfriend, Shannon. He is constantly agonizing over his love for each of them and whether there is something wrong with him for loving and being sexually attracted to both. His life is fairly boring until one day Robby and Austin witness a scientific experiment gone wrong and the deadly results. Soon their town is being taken over by six-foot-tall insects whose two goals are eating (humans and each other) and mating. Austin, Robby, and Shannon must find a way to put a stop to the end of the world while figuring out the dynamics of their relationships.
This book certainly is bizarre and at times violent and graphic. It deals with sexuality and doesn't hold back at all in describing the hyper-sexual thoughts of a sixteen-year-old boy. The author uses dark humor and the surreal to describe the realities of Austin's struggles in life. His writing style is unique and straightforward. Austin's inner monologues are insightful and honest.
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