It takes a lot for a book to leave me completely stunned and awestruck. Grasshopper Jungle did just that.

What is so striking about Smith's YA novel is the blunt and often brutally honest voice the main character narrates in. Smith writes with such intelligence and bravery. It is the short, but poignant dialogue and the weird factor that makes this book diabolically creative and memorable.

I had no real expectations when I cracked open the cover, but I was drawn into the world of Ealing, Iowa and the struggles of Austin's sexuality and selfishness, which so many of us who have gone through teenage angst and discovery can relate to. Austin's obsession with the connections between everything and anything in the world creates a flow to the story line that not only adds to the uniqueness of Grasshopper Jungle but also grounds it.

Never have I read a book with so much truth and open honesty. I felt like I was looking into the souls of Austin and Robby, without the need for excessive dialogue or wordy paragraphs, and that makes for an excellent read. I have a feeling Grasshopper Jungle will be a must read for teenagers and adults a like for years to come.