Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

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In this science fiction novel, Austin Szerba is a hormonal and sexually fluid teenager in a small Iowa town. He has a girlfriend, but may also be in love with his best friend Robby. One day, the three of them are hanging out when they are attacked by Gran Wallace and his gang. One thing leads to another, and the group accidentally releases a plague that turns people into gigantic praying mantises with insatiable appetites for food and mating. Austin, Robby, and his girlfriend Shann find a bunker hidden underneath a silo. There they find out the origin of the plague, and equipment to survive. They figure out that the plague was caused partially by Robby's blood, and therefore his blood is needed to end the plague. They use Robby's blood to kill the bugs with paint balls, but are too late to save the town. Throughout the book Austin is sexually attracted to both Robby and Shann, and is as overtly sexual as the praying mantises. In the end Austin has a child with Shann, but partners with Robby in their post-apocalyptic world. This novel starts out as realistic fiction, and smoothly transitions to science fiction. Best for grades 9 and up for substance abuse and extreme sexuality.

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

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