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abandoned silo. This bunker, known as Eden, was constructed in the 1970s and was built by McKeon
Industries. McKeon had been in charge of the production of the mysterious objects that the boys had found, including the vial of Contained MI Plague Strain 412E. The trio explore the facility and learn through watching a five-part film that McKeon Industries had been developing “unstoppable soldiers”, which in reality were large, invincible praying mantises. The project was so successful that Eden was constructed in the event of an outbreak to preserve mankind. After viewing the first three films, Robby and Austin are forced to retrieve the remaining films. Outside of Eden, the praying mantises hatch out of their victims and begin to do their two favorite things: eating and mating.
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proceed to beat up Austin and Robby, causing Robby to bleed all over the asphalt. After picking up Shann, Austin and Robby head to the roof to retrieve their lost items. The boys discover some weird objects on the roof including a flamingo and film strips. They find their belongings and decide to sneak inside the store through the roof access. Inside, they discover several mysterious objects in the office of the owner, Johnny McKeon. One of these items, Contained MI Plague Strain 412E, is stolen by Grant
Wallace, who has broken into the store. The vial is shattered outside onto Robby's blood stain and Robby, Austin and Shann drive away. Unknown to anyone, the strain begins to take control of its first victims.
302:, is probably 85% autobiographical and that Austin is based on his feelings during the time. Smith also stated that Austin's last name, Szerba, is actually not a real Polish name and that he made it up because he liked the way the S and Z looked next to each other. After a quick investigation, Smith found out that the name could have been used as an Americanization of the real Polish name Szczerba; this inspired Smith to include flashbacks of Polish history in
184:, set in the town of Ealing, Iowa during a modern economic recession, is narrated by the main character Austin Szerba. Austin often struggles with his own sexual thoughts and feelings for both his best friend Robby Brees and his girlfriend Shann Collins. Although Austin focuses on the present, he also tells stories of his Polish ancestors. The reader later discovers that the novel is in fact Austin's self-recorded history.
295:. The title of the novel comes from Smith's hobby of running; one of his favorite places to run is a small hilly area near his home. Every August that area would become infested with grasshoppers so he nicknamed it Grasshopper Jungle. The area of Grasshopper Jungle that appears in the novel is based on an area very similar to one that Smith would play around during his childhood.
266:, deeming it too dark and harmful for young readers. Smith took this accusation personally, causing him to only write for himself and stop publishing. Around the same time, his son had gone off to college and, after a few weeks, became homesick and wanted to read one of Smith's stories; Smith happily agreed to give his son his newest creation,
248:: Austin Szerba's girlfriend. She's called "Shann" by Austin and Robby. Shann attends the girls' side of Curtis Crane Lutheran Academy, and has been dating Austin since eighth grade. At the beginning of the novel, Shann's mother has recently married Johnny McKeon and they move into the McKeon mansion.
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While skateboarding through an alley and smoking cigarettes together near the Ealing Mall, Austin and Robby are attacked by a neighboring gang of bullies, led by Grant
Wallace, who steal their skateboards and shoes and throw them onto the nearby roof of "From Attic to Seller Consignment Store" and
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On their way to retrieve the films, Austin is attacked by Hungry Jack, who, for unknown reasons, scampers away at the sight Robby. The boys return to Eden and learn from the film that only Robby's blood can defeat the creatures. Robby's blood is extracted and placed into paint-balls in order to
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At the end of the novel, Austin confirms that they were not successful in reversing the effects of the plague and that the world has been taken over by large praying mantises, with a small number of survivors living in Eden. Shann gives birth to Austin's son Arek, and Austin and Robby live their
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During a visit to a gay bar, Robby and Austin watch as one of the first infected, Hungry Jack, sheds his human exterior turning into a giant praying mantis after he is hit by a car. After finding a hidden message in Shann's house, Shann, Robby, Austin discover an underground shelter under an
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and smokes often with Austin. Attends Curtis Crane
Lutheran Academy. It's Robby's blood that activated Contained MI Plague Strain 412E; inadvertently making him their creator. Once this is discovered, he allows his blood to be extracted even though he is afraid of needles.
285:, which also took place in the town of Ealing, Iowa, the same town that the novel takes place in. Smith bases his characters after real people he has met and his settings off of real places he has been to. According to Smith, Baby, the talking bird from a flashback in
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has been praised for its unusual take on the coming-of-age genre which is described as having “a markedly different tone and timbre” when compared to other young adult novels. The book's bizarre, dark style is positively compared to that of
270:. His son loved it and pushed him to consider publishing it. Smith stated that he wrote the novel straight through, with no outline or basis on what it was going to be and he liked to throw random things that he found through
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has been described as “intricate” and “grimly comedic” with respect to character development and plot structure. The novel has garnered some slight criticism, mostly due to the "kooky" science fiction aspect.
237:: Best friends with Austin Szerba, always hanging around him, in love with Austin, but is afraid to tell him. Goes by "Robby". His father, Robert Brees Sr., left when Robby was in eighth grade. Enjoys
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fight back against the unstoppable soldiers. They return to the surface only to discover it is too late; the bugs have already repopulated and now completely outnumber them.
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was in the development stage of creating a film adaptation to the novel and the release for the film has not been announced. Sony has hired
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289:, was a real bird that his niece owned and Hungary Jack, the hobo, is someone Smith knows and even made an appearance in his second novel,
223:, historian, feels that history is important, records events that happen in his journal, is confused about his sexuality and often has
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There are currently four editions of the novel: hardcover, e-book, audio, and a paperback version released on March 10, 2015.
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166:. The story follows the life of two young high school boys who fight for their lives during an apocalypse.
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Academy in the fictional town of Ealing, Iowa. Austin has an older brother, who is in the army.
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784:"New Regency in Talks to Pick Up Edgar Wright's 'Grasshopper Jungle' Adaptation (Exclusive)"
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given the "scattered", "outlandish" nature of the narrative. Smith's storytelling in
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of sexual intimacy with
Shannon Collins and Robby Brees. He attends Curtis Crane
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lives in the underground silo only leaving during the winter months to scavenge.
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758:"Comic-Con: Edgar Wright Still In Insect Mode On Sony's 'Grasshopper Jungle'"
658:"Fiction Reviews of 2014 Boston Globe–Horn Book Award Winner and Honor Books"
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has been awarded the Boston Globe-Horne Book Award for
Fiction 2013.
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to help
Rosenberg in producing the film. On April 12, 2017,
493:"Take Five with Andrew Smith, Author, 'Grasshopper Jungle'"
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Smith has said that Austin Szerba, the main character of
427:"Interview with GRASSHOPPER JUNGLE author Andrew Smith"
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were created by Smith from one of his comics called
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547:"BOOK REVIEW: GRASSHOPPER JUNGLE BY ANDREW SMITH"
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364:as a screenwriter. They have also brought in
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393:Smith, Andrew (24 September 2019).
140:Exile from Eden: Or, After the Hole
733:"Grasshopper Jungle: Andrew Smith"
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840:Children's science fiction novels
158:novel written by American author
33:Cover of the first edition (2014)
880:2014 LGBT-related literary works
756:Fleming, Mike Jr. (2014-07-25).
110:Print (hardback & paperback)
865:LGBTQ-related children's novels
860:LGBT-related young adult novels
855:LGBT speculative fiction novels
830:American science fiction novels
709:"Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards"
260:published a piece on his book,
656:Heeden, Katrina (2014-05-28).
575:Thompson, Clive (2014-02-14).
545:Herstik, Lauren (2014-06-29).
292:In the Path of Falling Objects
173:, which was released in 2019.
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517:"Interview with Andrew Smith"
425:Hennis, Olivia (2014-07-03).
277:The three main characters of
118:400 (hardback, first edition)
782:Kit, Borys (12 April 2017).
523:. 2014-04-06. Archived from
16:2014 book by Andrew A. Smith
835:2014 science fiction novels
825:American young adult novels
683:Suchy, LeAnn (2014-03-14).
491:Staggs, Matt (2014-04-04).
256:In the summer of 2011, the
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84:(US) Electric Monkey (UK)
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274:searches into the book.
764:. Penske Business Media
788:The Hollywood Reporter
399:. Simon and Schuster.
875:Electric Monkey books
850:Fiction about insects
464:(Podcast). 2014-02-12
73:sci-fi, coming of age
53:Christian Fuenfhausen
815:2014 American novels
685:"Grasshopper Jungle"
604:"Grasshopper Jungle"
360:as the director and
310:Reception and awards
870:Penguin Books books
431:Young Entertainment
325:Slaughterhouse-Five
258:Wall Street Journal
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22:Grasshopper Jungle
845:Novels set in Iowa
820:Apocalyptic novels
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737:Amazon.com
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380:References
349:Adaptation
252:Background
204:Characters
154:is a 2014
366:Nira Park
78:Publisher
793:12 April
762:Deadline
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229:Lutheran
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177:Synopsis
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552:Nerdist
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211:: Main
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
