Exile from Eden
Teens tour the apocalypse in zany, touching sci-fi satire.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Exile from Eden is a sequel to the Prinz Honor-winning Grasshopper Jungle. Written by Andrew Smith (Rabbit & Robot), this satirical science fiction novel follows Arek (a boy), Mel (a girl), and Breakfast (another boy) as they explore the world in the wake of an insect-based apocalypse. Violence is mostly directed against the giant insects, although Breakfast is captured by a survivor who may intend to assault Mel. Arek is in love with Mel and wants to have sex with her. Expect lots of swearing (including "s--t" and f--k") and talk about masturbation and sex, especially from a boy's point of view. Smith tends to make his satirical points through repetition, so if you find it funny the first time Breakfast scratches his scrotum, you are assumed to find it hilarious the 90th. Not for every taste, but may appeal especially to male reluctant readers.
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What's the Story?
At the beginning of EXILE FROM EDEN, 16-year-old Arek, having survived the end of the world in an underground bunker, chafes at the close confines. When his two fathers fail to return from an excursion aboveground, Arek and his best friend, Mel (a girl), take off in a motorhome to see what's left of the world. Along the way, they encounter naked, wild Breakfast, a boy who travels with a chimp named Olive. Together, they search for Arek's dads and try to understand what the world was like before it was overwhelmed by giant killer insects.
Is It Any Good?
Lots of readers want to imagine what happens after the end of the world, and this antic science fiction novel paints a satirical picture of a collapsed culture ready to welcome the return of humanity. A sequel to Grasshopper Jungle, Exile from Eden stands sturdily on its own. Author Andrew Smith does everything he can to make readers root for Arek, Mel, Olive, and Breakfast as they encounter -- and misinterpret -- the world others left behind. Some may find the humor sophomoric and repetitive, but there's a sense of genuine purpose behind it, to affirm humanity's resilience in the face of disaster. Exile from Eden won't suit every taste, but fans of rule-breakers like Kurt Vonnegut may be won over by its ragtag charm.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Exile from Eden imagines the end of the world. Why do readers enjoy stories about Doomsday?
Why does Arek's father say that "All stories are true"? Do you agree with that? What are some of the consequences of believing such a thing?
Arek spends a lot of time thinking about losing his virginity. Why is that act so important to him? Why does Mel, a girl, think about it differently?
Book Details
- Author: Andrew Smith
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Adventures, Bugs, Friendship
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: September 24, 2019
- Number of pages: 368
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: January 8, 2020
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