Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith

WARNING!!!! MATURE HIGH SCHOOL!

Because I’m paranoid.

Actually, you might have to be in high school and a bit immature to appreciate this book so…just play it by ear.

I’m going to make this summary short and sweet; this story is about unstoppable 6-foot tall praying mantises, the end of the world and a boy trying to figure out his true sexuality. That’s pretty much it.

This is the weirdest book I’ve ever read and I’ve read some pretty strange books. I feel like this would be one of the books on the banned books list cause this book is rated R in my opinion.

Warning: The word ‘sh**’ is used a lot in this book, like every other line, so if you’re sensitive to cursing you might not want to read this book. Or you can do what I do and ignore/block out the cursing.

The two main characters, Austin and Robby, remind me a little of the three weird but great high school boys I used to hang out with in high school; a.k.a. my boyfriend and his two friends I hung out with because I couldn’t find anyone better. If any of the three of you are reading this, I’m kidding! I still hang out with them and they really haven’t changed much.

If you’re an immature teenage boy you might enjoy this book. Then again I’m not sure teenage boys still read. I’m not even sure if teenagers in general still read. I don’t remember any of the kids in my high school reading for fun. Then again I was probably reading and not paying attention. You know that one weird kid in your class who always has their nose in a book; I was one of those kids. I’m getting off topic here. What I’m trying to say here is if you’re an immature teenage boy, I highly recommend this book.

I also recommend never reading this book in a public place. It’s just awkward.

The Girl I Used To Be by April Henry

High School

When Olivia’s mother was killed, everyone suspected her father of murder, but his whereabouts remained a mystery. Fast-forward 14 years; new evidence now proves Olivia’s father was actually murdered on the same fateful day her mother died. That means there’s a killer still at large and it’s up to Olivia to uncover who that may be. But can she do that before the killer tracks her down first?

I’ve read a couple of books where the main character finds out one of their parents is a killer but I’ve never read a story where the parent was thought to be the killer but turns out to be a victim. That’s a new one. It’s always nice when the authors mix it up.

I’ve read many books where the teenage female main character spends most of the story complaining/whining and being a brat about something.

Examples: Complaining that the love of your life is a vampire (Twilight by Stephenie Meyer), complaining that your older sister is hotter than you (All-American Girl by Meg Cabot), complaining that you don’t have your cellphone during the end of the world (The Rain by Virginia Bergin), stupid stuff like that.

Olivia on the other hand has every reason to complain. For 14 years she’s thought her own father killed her mother in a horrific way and she’s been bounced around from foster home to foster home. She does complain a little but she’s doesn’t spend the entire story complaining. She actually does something unlike some female character I’ve read about.

You might or might not have noticed a recurring theme in each of April Henry’s books; strong female characters put in horrifying and deadly situations. I’ve read many books that had strong female characters but the girls kept getting off topic by talking about boys and feelings. I used to like this but then I got a boyfriend and realized boys aren’t as ‘charming’ as those books made them out to be. April Henry’s girls are always focused on the big picture and they wait until after the dangerous situation is over before thinking about romance.

Well that’s the last of April Henry’s books. I hope you all enjoyed it.

'Point Last Seen' Series, Book 1 - 2 by April Henry

High School

Alexis, Nick, and Ruby have very different backgrounds: Alexis has spent her life covering for her mom’s mental illness, Nick’s bravado hides his fear of not being good enough, and Ruby just wants to pursue her eccentric interests in a world that doesn’t understand her. When the 3 teens join Portland County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, they are teamed up to search for a man lost in the woods, what they find instead is a dead body. In a friendship that will be forged in danger, fear, and courage, the 3 team up to find the girl’s killer before he can strike on of their own.

This is the first book in the ‘Point Last Seen’ Series and it is awesome.

*****

When a woman’s body is found in a Portland park, suspicion falls on an awkward teen who lives only a few blocks away, owns several knives, loves first-person shooter video games, and doodles violent scenes in his school notebooks. Nick Walker goes from being a member of a Search and Rescue team to the prime suspect in a murder, his very interest in SAR in seen as proof of his fascination with violence. How is this even possible? And can Alexis and Rudy find a way to help clear Nick’s name before it’s too late?

The thing I like about these books is that it not only shows you the point-of-view of the main 3 characters but also into the mind of psychopath of each story. When you’re in the psychopath’s mind it gives you a hint of who the psycho might be but then it turns in a different direction and you learn you were wrong the whole time. This happens in both books.

I don’t know if April Henry plans on writing a third book but I’m hoping she does.