For teens navigating the bewildering chaos of first love and the end of the world, this story offers a hilarious, action-packed, and surprisingly poignant adventure.
A parent might reach for this book when their mature teen is navigating the overwhelming and often confusing landscape of sexuality, identity, and their place in a chaotic world. Grasshopper Jungle uses the absurd, B-movie premise of a giant praying mantis apocalypse as a backdrop for a deeply personal story. The narrator, Austin, chronicles the end of the world while simultaneously trying to understand his love for both his girlfriend and his best friend. The book's strength lies in its unflinchingly honest, profane, and hilarious portrayal of teenage confusion. For older teens (15+), it normalizes complex feelings about identity and desire, wrapped in a wildly entertaining sci-fi adventure that is perfect for starting conversations about life's messy, beautiful truths.
Graphic descriptions of giant insects killing and eating people; monster-based violence and gore.
Substance ReferencesMild
Some mentions of teen characters smoking and drinking.
Sensitive Topics
Identity and sexuality, specifically bisexuality, are central themes. The book's approach is direct, frank, and secular, focusing on the narrator's authentic confusion and exploration. It includes frequent and open discussions of horniness, masturbation, and sexual attraction. Violence is graphic and creature-based, but often presented with an absurd, dark humor. The resolution is ambiguous yet hopeful, suggesting a changed world where humanity, and Austin, have found a new way to be.
Ideal Reader
A mature teen, 15 or older, who appreciates dark, absurd humor and isn't afraid of profanity or frank discussions of sex. This is for the reader who feels like their own inner world is a confusing, hormonal apocalypse and would connect with a narrator who puts those feelings on the page without apology. A great fit for fans of Kurt Vonnegut or John Green's more philosophical work.
Parent Prep
This book requires significant context and is not one to be handed over without a heads-up. Parents should preview the first few chapters to understand the explicit nature of the language and sexual content. The entire book is frank about teen sexuality, contains constant profanity, and has scenes of graphic, sci-fi violence. It is best suited for a reader mature enough to handle these topics openly. A parent might be looking for this book after hearing their teen express deep confusion about their feelings, their sexuality, or their identity, saying things like, "I don't know what I want," or, "Everything feels so messed up and chaotic."
Age Experience
A younger teen (14-15) will likely focus on the wild plot, the gross-out humor, and the action of the bug apocalypse. An older teen (16-18) is more apt to appreciate the deeper thematic layers: the exploration of bisexuality, the commentary on history repeating itself, and the existential dread filtered through a uniquely funny and authentic voice.
What Makes It Special
Its narrative voice is the key differentiator. Unlike many YA books that handle sensitive topics with a gentle touch, Grasshopper Jungle dives headfirst into the messy, profane, and confusing reality of teenage hormones and identity. It uses an over-the-top sci-fi plot as a brilliant metaphor for the internal chaos of its protagonist, making it a uniquely honest and unforgettable read.
Read plot summary
In the small town of Ealing, Iowa, sixteen-year-old Austin Szerba chronicles the end of the world. He and his best friend, Robby, accidentally activate a strange green substance that unleashes a plague of giant, perpetually hungry and mating praying mantises. The story is Austin's attempt to create a historical record, weaving together the unfolding apocalypse with his own personal history, his family's Polish heritage, and his deeply confusing love for both his girlfriend, Shann, and for Robby.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Austin frequently says, 'This is the truth. This is history.' Why do you think he insists on framing his personal, chaotic story in these formal terms?
2
The giant praying mantises are driven by two instincts: to eat and to reproduce. How does their behavior serve as a metaphor for what Austin, Robby, and Shann are experiencing as teenagers?
3
Throughout the book, Austin is deeply in love with both his girlfriend Shann and his best friend Robby. How did the story's apocalyptic events affect his journey to understand his own sexuality?
4
Austin spends a lot of time telling stories about his family's past. How do the histories of his parents and his Polish ancestors connect to the main plot about the end of the world in Ealing, Iowa?
