Grasshopper Jungle: A History

Smith, A. (2014). Grasshopper jungle: A history. New York, NY: Speak.

Accidents happen, but what about releasing indestructible mutant insect that are taking over? Oh, and these mutant insect are only interested in food and sex. Not only has Austin and his best friend, Robby, just unleash a death wish, but Austin is also confused about his sexuality.  He loves his girlfriend, Shann, but has intense feelings for Andy? Austin’s thought are all over the place, he cannot seem to focus. What teenager could when the world is being attacked?

This science fiction novel is appropriate for adolescents 14 year of age and up.  Smith presents a story that is humorous, but also deals with surviving the mutant insects while trying to figure out one’s sexuality. The characters also deal with bullying from peers within their deserted town and drugs within their families.  

This novel would be ideal for a book club or a small group of students. Discussion amongst the students can be about discovering who they are, weeding through the emotions and mix feelings.  Side discussions could be about the science fiction part of the novel and the events that came to be with the release of the mutant insects.

Inexcusable

Lynch, C. (2015). Inexcusable. New York: Simon & Schuster BFYR.

Loved by his family and peers, Keir is viewed as an All American football star, until he hurts a player on the opposing team one night, giving him his new nickname, Killer. His reckless behaviors within the story are viewed as innocent and harmless. But when things begin to take a downward turn, Keir struggles with finding his place and commits the ultimate mistake when he date rapes a girl he thought he loved. Denying such an event, Keir is faced with realization he committed a crime against a friend when under the influence of alcohol and drugs and now must face what is coming for him.

This realistic novel is intended for adolescents 15 years old or older due to the content of denial, sexual violence, rape, alcohol, and drugs. The point of view of Keir is a defenseless rapist. As the story is told alternating events of Keir’s end of high school, the reader is taken aback when realizing what really happens and cannot help but feel uneasy for Keir and sympathy for the victim in the end.

This novel can be used to demonstrate how being under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol can change the world around you in a split second, how decisions are altered and the consequences of our actions.

The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Alexie, S., & Forney, E. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. New York: Little, Brown. When the opportunity comes for Junior to step off the reservation, he is both excited but filled with guilt. As a Spokane Indian, he is faced with abandoning his heritage and faces ridicule for it from his peers on the reservation. With support from his parents, Junior decides to attend another school that is 22 miles away from home. With daily challenges of getting to and from school, being accepted by his peers at his new school, his peers on the reservation, and most important being rejected by his best friend, Junior emotionally journeys through high school knowing he did the right thing in making a bad situation better for himself.

This books is intended for ages 12 year-old and up. While going back and forth between the reservation and his new high school, Junior deals with alcoholism, death of a loved on, tragic accidents, acceptance of his peers and locals, and poverty, while also trying to figure himself out like any other teenage boy, especially when it comes to the opposite sex. Junior handles a lot in this realistic fiction.

The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian would be a good novel for adolescent boys to read as they begin to discover who they really are and learning to do and doing what makes them happy.

Looking for Alaska

Green, J. (2005). Looking for Alaska: A novel. New York: Dutton Children's Books.

Miles Halter leaves his home in Florida and begins boarding school in Birmingham, Alabama. He has not left behind very much at all as that he has no friends, just his parents. At 16 years-old, he receives a new nickname, Pudge. He meets his roommate, Chip, who in turn will introduce him to Alaska, Chip’s best friend. Alaska is the girl that all the boys fall in love with, even Pudge.  Through his new friendships, Pudge experiences drinking, smoking, pranks, and his first sexual encounter with his first girlfriend, Laura. As their stories come to life and they learn about each others life, Alaska reveals her unhappiness, but it is how she dealt with it, that caused her life to end. Was it an accident or suicide? Pudge and Chip look for clues, for answers, anything to help them cope with the loss of their friend, Alaska.

This book is meant to be read by young adults 16 years and up. The content of the book contains alcohol, drugs, reference to sex, and death. Green presents a realistic fiction piece that encounter today’s teens. The protagonist, Pudge, discovers who he is, makes friends, and deals with grief as he lost the girl he loved, but never got to really tell. The story is full of action as pranks are pulled on the students within the boarding school as well as trying to stay under the Eagle’s radar.

Looking for Alaska is the 2005 Printz Winner.

Gabi: A Girl in Pieces

Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi, a girl in pieces. El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press. A girl chronicles the events that she encounters her senior year of high school. One best friend becomes pregnant, while her other best friend reveals to his parents he is gay and deals with their rejections. On a daily basis, Gabi deals with her best friends issues, to a drug addict of a father, to the fear of being rejected from her ideal college, Berkeley.

Gabi’s experiences are meant for students of the age 15 years old or older due to the content of sexuality, drug addiction, teen pregnancy and abortion. As the protagonist of the story, Gabi controls her story and what decisions she encounters. Although the setting changes, to the common teenager it will seem unimportant as Gabi takes us between her home and her school. It’s the events that happen between the two that contribute to the intensity of the story.

Gabi, a girl in pieces is a good piece to use for a girls book club. It identifies with high schoolers today and could be use to bring out issues that teens are afraid to address with their peers. They can relate to the content of the book and feel good about reading.