Smith, Andrew. (2014). Grasshopper Jungle. New York, NY: Penguin Random House.
Awards: 2015 Michael Printz Winner
Grade level: 7-12
Pages: 388
Lexile level: 910L
Subjects: Survival, Friendship,
Gender-identity, Insects, Science-Fiction
Summary: Austin and Robby Brees were beaten up behind the Ealing Mall (Grasshopper Jungle) by some boys from Hoover High School. Robby got a bloody nose and use the blood to write a message to his attacker on the concrete. Both friends climb to the top of the mall's roof and find an access trap door that led them to the story where Austin worked. They shuffle through his bosses's belonging and find a globe with some writhing labeled "Contained Plage 412E." Their attackers also find the mall's access trap and steal the globe. While escaping they dropped the globe on top of Robby's blood, the boys get infected with a strange plague that turns them into huge, man-eating praying mantis. Austin, Robby and their friend Shann find an underground shelter name the Eden Project which contains all survival necessities. In order to stop the praying mantis they have to shoot them with Robby's blood, but they are unsuccessful. All three friends and their parents start a new life in Eden.
Reader response: The novel can be use to teach cross curriculum between Language Arts and History. In the novel, Austin recorded his life's history and that of his ancestors. Students can research information about their ancestors and make connections to their lives. In this science-fiction novel, the characters encounter unusual fantasy like creatures, and at the same time experience teenage love. Very unique.
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