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Comments (26)

Community comments are the opinions of contributing users. These comments do not represent the opinions of King County Library System.
What did you think about this title?
1 to 25 of 26 items
Sep 08, 2022
Austin and his best friend Robby get beat up for being queer (even though Austin's totally not...maybe...it's complicated) and have their stuff tossed onto the roof of the run-down mall they call Grasshopper Jungle. When they go up to get…
Jan 30, 2019laurendouglass rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I'm not quite sure where to start with this review.  It seems unfair to recommend and review a book by first raving about the author's previous novel, but I think that Grasshopper Jungle is unique enough to warrant a bit of…
Sep 29, 2018JCLBeckyC rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
What a wild ride. I don't even know how to describe what this book is about. It's about EVERYTHING. Sex. Adolescence. Armageddon. Sex. Friends. Love. Heroes. Sex. Science Experiments Gone Horribly Wrong. Manhood. Sex. Economic depression.…
Jun 16, 2017
I have read Winger by Andrew Smith and really enjoyed the narration. I was not disappointed by Smith's Grasshopper Jungle. I loved the frequent philosophical conversations and thoughts that occurred. Also, it wasn't gory, which is nice.
Mar 11, 2017nw_writer rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
A brilliant example of what "edgy" YA can be. This book manages to be offbeat and real at the same time, with believable characters, vivid settings, and a compelling plot. It is much more than just a book about an invasion of giant insects…
Oct 05, 2016
Enjoyed the writers style immensely; quirky and creative. He manages to mix plot line, characterization and irrelevant details in a most engaging way.
Aug 27, 2016TEENREVIEWCREW rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Grasshopper Jungle is a science fiction, apocalyptic, and coming of age novel told from the eyes of a 16-year-old Austin Szerba, the protagonist and the narrator of the story, who also happens to be a historian at times. As Austin tries to…
Jul 25, 2016dtsopnde rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
{SPOILERS...kinda} What an...odd..interesting book. I couldn't stop reading it because I was convinced there would be leading up to this epic..and definite ending. As anticlimactic as the ending was, I didn't feel let down. So I guess…
May 31, 2016econsidine rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Honestly, what even was the plot of this book? Haha - giant praying mantis apocalypse with really intense world-building and a healthy dose of teenage sexual confusion. I really enjoyed this book, but you can't really like it unless you…
Mar 16, 2016danomcd rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
I agree with a lot of the comments already made. The writing style is pretty interesting - but the repetition gets very annoying (I just started to skip the entire paragraphs that seemed to be included every 3-4 pages). The sexuality…
Jun 25, 2015CRRL_CraigG rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Austin is brilliantly funny in his matter-of-fact take on the end of the world, but it is not all wisecracks and violence. Even amidst the sarcasm, we find genuine moments of emotion for these teens. They struggle for not only survival,…
Jun 25, 2015Fredinthelibrary rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Not my favourite of Smith's but a great story none-the-less. As usual, he creates a complicated puzzle with all the pieces falling into place at the end. Chatty, complicated and weirdly fun.
May 27, 2015BUNBUN1978 rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
I did not hate this book but I was definitely not a fan. There were parts I liked I enjoyed the subplot with Austin's confused Sexuality. But you can only read the words Balls piss and the s word some many times with out getting highly…
May 07, 2015MsLise rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This is the best book I've read in a long time - and not just for young adults. Witty, highly entertaining, completely original. Hop to the shelf and grab it!
Apr 27, 2015willowtree36 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Absolutely amazing, with all the quirkiness that makes it an unforgettable read.
Mar 30, 2015JCLGreggW rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Deeply weird and deeply brilliant, this funny, sexual, and wholly unique coming-of-age novel by Smith begins in an alley behind a strip mall in tiny Ealing, Iowa, where giant insect-like supersoldiers are about to take over the world. I…
Mar 22, 2015hanstra rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I loved everything about this book- the writing, the plot, the relationships- until the ending. The ending was really disappointing and just sort of trailed off into an unsatisfying and inconclusive end.
Nov 14, 2014Chapel_Hill_StephenA rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This is one of my favorite books from 2014! Strange and beautiful, this book is filled with delightfully weird and supremely gory action, memorable characters, and one of the most compelling love triangles in recent memory.
Oct 22, 2014gh0stie rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
A short, brief description; A teenager is confused with his sexuality, there are giant six foot praying mantises, and the end of the world is caused by unstoppable corn. Grasshopper Jungle is definitely one of my favorite books. The…
Sep 25, 2014joelbutler rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
A horny teen historian chronicles the end of the world by giant bug soldiers. A funny stream of consciousness history that sometimes repeats itself too often. The teens also come off as a bit uncaring about all the deaths happening around…
BCD2013
Jun 12, 2014
NYPL Staff Pick Austin Szerba is obsessed with writing down his history but in his small Iowa town there isn't much to write about except his complicated love life with his gay best friend Robby and his girlfriend Shann. Life gets more…
BCD2013
Jun 12, 2014
NYPL Staff Pick Austin Szerba is obsessed with writing down his history but in his small Iowa town there isn't much to write about except his complicated love life with his gay best friend Robby and his girlfriend Shann. Life gets more…
Jun 06, 2014LibraryK8 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This novel probably the BEST written books I have ever read. It is original, funny, engaging and disturbing. I encourage you to loose yourself in it.
May 30, 2014katrinka28 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
This book was so weird it bordered on wonderful. That's a thing right? You know like a pint of some odd ice cream flavor that you try just one spoonful of but keep going back to just to make sure you still don't quite like it and then…
May 23, 2014JCLDennisR rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
What a fun, crazy book!