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.

Glory O'Brien's History of the Future

King, A. S. (2015). Glory O'Brien's history of the future: A novel. New York, NY: Hachette Book Group. Life has not been ideal for Glory. Her mother committed suicide when she was four and wonders if her end would be the same. As graduation approaches, she does not have a plan of what life will hold after that.  Until one night things changed for Glory, visions, the power, to see people pasts and future. Overwhelmed with the visions, Glory is scared of what the future will bring; power and greed in many ways. While making notes of the visions, Glory hopes to document enough to leave behind just in case she doesn’t make it back.

Adolescent’s age 14 and older will find the book deals with depression and mental illness and suicide. This science fiction novel allows readers to look into the future and the past to see changes within history. Teachers can use this book to compare real life historical event. Students can analyze both informational an fictional pieces of text.

The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

Black, H. (2013). The coldest girl in Coldtown. New York, NY: Hachette Book Group. In a world were cities are walled shut to contain the monsters, predators, and preys, once you cross the wall, there is not turning back. These cities are called Coldtowns.  After waking up the previous night’s party, Tara finds that she is engulfed with corpses around her, all attacked by vampires. Those who survived, her ex, who is now infected, and another boy who is mysterious in his own ways. Does he have something to hide, a secret he is keeping? In order to save herself and the boys, she must venture to Coldtown risking everything. IS she ready to cross over and leave everything behind?

This fantasy novel is intended for adolescents ages 14 years old and up.  Tara knows what happens to those who transform, she saw it with her own mother. The book deals with guild, love, rage, and revenge, as well as horror. Librarians and teachers need to know what extend students are interested in horror before offering the novel.

This novel can be compared to other vampire series, such as Twilight. Teachers can complete a cross text analysis to see who similar and differences there are between the two.

Six of Crows

Bardugo, L. (2015). Six of crows. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Co.

Known convict, Kaz Bekkker, has been offered a job so big that he is going to need help pulling it off.  He commissions six outcast; another convict, sharpshooter, a runaway, a spy, a heartrender, and a thief.  The question is can they pull off this job or are they going to kill one another before completing it? With multiple points of view, the reader will become engaged with alternating back and forth and seeing the heist til the end.

This book is intended for adolescents 12 years old and up. Readers will become enticed with the mysteries of each character and their role in the story.

Teachers can use this thriller to practice inferencing, guessing what they think will happen next.

Feed

Anderson, M. T. (2012). Feed. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.

Set in a dystopian society, 100 years in the future, teenager, Titus, has a transmitter that feeds encouragements, suggestions, and advertisements on how to live their lives. While on the Moon partying, Titus meets Violet. After experiencing what it is like to live as normal humans due to their feeds being hacked and disconnected, Titus seeks to find out what exactly the feeds are about and what they mean, all while his love interest, Violet, disagrees with him.  Titus must also

This fantasy novel is intended for adolescents 14 years old and up and is comparable with the many novels relating to dystopian societies.  With moon travel so easily to obtain and technology implanted into humans and feeds suggesting how human live their lives, Titus continues to live according to the feeds and not accept how things have changed around him. Teachers can use this novel to compare and contrast existing dystopian societies and extend their lessons with comic strips of favorite scenes or posters of a feed. Teachers can also discuss how media has taken over for young adults and the influence it has today.